Bad Weather: From Tamla Motown: The Stories Behind the UK Singles

[jobeterob]

A Supreme since the middle of 1967, Cindy Birdsong had become pregnant in 1971, forcing her to contemplate retiring from the group who were continuing to tour relentlessly. In sessions for Floy Joy, an understudy had been found in Lynda Lawrence, a vocalist with a professional association with Stevie Wonder who presumed to promise her a place in the Supremes. Not officially departing until 1973, it was already long apparent that Birdsong was no longer a part of the act, following the group's 1972 UK tour in which Lawrence had claimed her place on stage, and so in their fourth incarnation since becoming famous, the group set about recording this stand- alone single, unusually released in the UK ahead of America.

Taking care of duties, Stevie Wonder supplied the track, co written by Lawrence's brother, Ira Tucker [[Wonder's road manager) and most likely derived from the 1968 Spinners track "Bad Bad Weather [[Til You Come Home), which had appeared as an American 45. Originally looking to Lynda Lawrence to perform the song, group etiquette dictated that Jean Terrell handle lead duties on this punchy number, the most hard edged single the group had released. The track was recorded between live dates at Detroit's Elmwood Casino, the likelihood being that the vocal at least was taped at Motown's own studios which would be the final time the Supremes used the Detroit facility.

Hanging with the density of brass instruments and blasting whistles, Bad Weather shuffles along with its bongo laden percussion track, Wonder's production touch pulling the sound toward that of his own contemporary releases. Whether such a move was well judged can be determined by the single's performance on release in which it flopped on both sides of the Atlantic. And despite having enjoyed the experience of working together, a proposed album project was duly shelved, The Supremes left smarting from the disappointment. Lacking direction for the rest of their careers the group would never recover their commercial standing, Bad Weather their last hit.

[thisoldheart]

i have always loved "bad weather" ... to hell with the charts or sales figures!

[rovereab]

i have always loved "bad weather" ... to hell with the charts or sales figures!

Totally agree! I was hoping it was the start of a new direction for the Supremes.

[alanh]

Indeed - 'Bad Weather' was a truly great single. It's a real pity we didn't get more of the same. The single peaked at 37 on the UK charts, not total disaster, but nowhere near the success it deserved or the group had achieved in the past. In the US it merely reached 87 on the Hot 100 and 74 on the Soul chart. Oh what could have been. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have a had an album too!?

[Jimi LaLumia]

in another thread, we discuss the slurred speed/BPMS/changing pitch of "Bad Weather:, which, by the way, was not a hit, nor did it deserve to be one in that presentation [[the speed/BPMS as heard in the 'live' Soul Train version would have made for a more successful record...
and by the way, "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" was a Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching the Top 40, and THAT was the last real hit for The Supremes!

[soulwally]

One of my 70s motow n favourites too. I stopped reading that book, it began to really irritate me. Most likely inspired by bad bad weather? I wouldnt have thought so.

[Jimi LaLumia]

http://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?8510-Jet-Lagged-Supremes-Singles

[skooldem1]

I wonder if Lynda had sung this song, would it still be considered a favorite by some?

[jobeterob]

I wonder if Lynda had sung this song, would it still be considered a favorite by some?

Of course not! LOL

This book is odd. Many of his conclusions are hard to follow ~ particularly where songs came from, what they sounded like etc. But there are interesting bits of information ~ if they are correct.

[Ngroove]

Lacking direction for the rest of their careers the group would never recover their commercial standing, Bad Weather their last hit.

No; their last hit, I would say, "You're My Driving Wheel" as both that and "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" made Top 10 Dance / Disco in 1976.

[davidh]

Bad Weather was never a fav of mine. it lacked the charisma of the earlier hits. i agree with Jimi, it drags along and with no peak. to me it is over produced and merky. although the song has grown on me, i do think the live version is better.
the version that appears on the 2000 box set is cool with the fade out- fade in

[captainjames]

Bad Weather finally grew on me after a while but when I first bought it without hearing it first on the radio [[as a matter of fact I don't think I ever heard it play'd on the radio) I thought Oh no something is wrong with this. Honestly, I think when it got in the middle and all the yelling, whistle blowing, racing up and down the chords I got lost.

[snakepit]

One of my 70s motow n favourites too. I stopped reading that book, it began to really irritate me. Most likely inspired by bad bad weather? I wouldnt have thought so.

Coudn't agree more......there are some ridiculous claims made about songs and their 'origins' in that book.

[Amithesameboy]

Coudn't agree more......there are some ridiculous claims made about songs and their 'origins' in that book.

Interesting viewpoints. I thought it was a fine book, with a great deal of effort having gone into it. No-one else in the world has ever taken the trouble to undertake such a task so I think Terry Wilson deserves a lot of credit.

[Jimi LaLumia]

let's face it; the first, studio version of"Bad Weather" was a mess, and a sad career ender for Jean Terrell...instead of running to Smokey, running to Stevie, etc for 'name' status, they should have been on the lookout for another Frank Wilson and the type of tunes from the first 2 albums..and spare me the changing times babble, Ross hit with "Touch Me in The Morning" in the first half of the 70's, and stayed in the same zone[[besides the disco hits)
right through "It's My Turn" by 1980..it's called 'give the people what they ant..

[jobeterob]

And disco hits didn't really do much; that chart was based on the amount of play the songs received in clubs; and I believe when it started, it was mainly New York clubs; and they then expanded it to other cities. But club play didn't put a lot of those songs on the R & B chart or the Pop chart, nor did it sell a lot of records.

[Jimi LaLumia]

however, as I stated, "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" was a national Billboard Hot 100 pop hit, making it's way into the U.S. Top 40, and thereby, was the last hit, and a way bigger hit than "Bad Weather" was...

[davidh]

Jimi, i agree and Let My Heart was on the charts for 14 weeks

[RossHolloway]

This song is the Supreme's version of Diana Ross's song Sleepin.

[Jimi LaLumia]

at least "Sleeping", in regards to 'pitch control',stayed constant, not slurring ,swaying and shifting like a drunk on the BPM's highway, as "Bad Weather" did..very sad.. they would have done better with their cover of "Love Train" as an extended dance track..