They were two powerhouses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w52GH6EloDQ
They were two powerhouses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w52GH6EloDQ
I like their harmony
Some of the best harmonies in Pop music were produced by the Supremes, Mary, Flo and Diane.Quote:
Originally Posted by daviddh
It's too bad that, on so many [[not all, but a great many) of the airplay singles, Flo and Mary were made to sing in unison rather than to harmonize.Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
The times the three of them harmonize together, you knew they were made for each other.
They're the founding mothers of the Supremes. Period. Anyone that came after them had big shoes to fill and they couldn't fill them, sorry.
I know what you mean. It was a case where money took over and surpassed artistry in importance.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAl
Etta James, who knew all three Supremes said that she could not understand why they were "singing like that" , like here in this video. She knew they all had great, powerful voices and thought that they should have been doing more Soulful material, but that is not what Motown wanted out of them.
Coming from Etta James, that is like high praise! If she felt they were capable of doing more soulful material, that's like WOW! Really nice to hear her praising their voices.Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
The first time I heard The Supremes really harmonize was when I hear the singing some of those standards. I was blown away to say the least. Listening to a great deal of their hit recordings, you'd NEVER know these ladies could do some serious damage vocally. Especially with the "There's A Place For Us" CD, there are tunes where Flo, Mary and Diana are just tearing the house down with their strong vocal blend. Then I'd hear "My World Is Empty Without You" and it was almost like 2 different groups.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAl
Listen to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxe3z9Fm5Mo
and this one.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XKlNFSLjjE
This is why I would put the Original Supremes up against ANY female singing group and they would still come out on top in my opinion. All three of them were great singers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFRC6LbfZ6g
"Especially with the "There's A Place For Us" CD, there are tunes where Flo, Mary and Diana are just tearing the house down with their strong vocal blend. Then I'd hear "My World Is Empty Without You" and it was almost like 2 different groups."[/QUOTE]
You’re right "Waiting...”
I’m convinced that “My World...” stalled at #5 on the [[pop) charts because of the poor mix of Mary and Flo on the backing vocals. Just listen to the 2012 remix on the expanded “I Hear A Symphony” album. That’s how the single should have been issued.
You’re right "Waiting...”Quote:
Originally Posted by mowest
I’m convinced that “My World...” stalled at #5 on the [[pop) charts because of the poor mix of Mary and Flo on the backing vocals. Just listen to the 2012 remix on the expanded “I Hear A Symphony” album. That’s how the single should have been issued.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree with that!
Here is the 2012 mix :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZYPdOX1ac
I still remember the day I bought the "Where" album and got it home. Couldn't stop staring at the cover, especially Flo. I TORE UP THIS SONG! I still love this song. Maybe it wasn't the right song at the right time for radio or the general public, but for me, it was/is as good as any of their other hits. Hearing Flo and Mary doing their parts was fantastic!Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
That album, "Where Did Our Love Go?" was in our basement and it seemed in everyone's home we visited back in those days! I still have it packed in storage. I swiped it from my parents when I came home on a college break! LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance
naughty, Naughty, NAUGHTY!Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
[[Geeze how long has it been since anyone has heard anyone say that!)
You thief Marv!
Well heck, by the end of the sixties, they weren't even playing it anymore. hehehehehehehe!Quote:
Originally Posted by detmotownguy
I've said it before, and I'll say it now. All of the examples given above [[except My World) demonstrate the beautiful harmonies which these three ladies provided. Florence and Mary were excellent background singers; I love their voices and their roles. The song, "My World is Empty Without You", although I love it, is a composition that does not lend to having background vocals [[with the exception of some light oooo's). In hindsight, I believe it should have been shelved or even assigned to another artist because it doesn't work as a Supremes release if one is looking to hear all three adequately [[a lead singer and background vocals). There was no way at that time that it would be released as a 'Diana Ross' single. The background voices, very low in the released editions) are placed there to say that it is a Supremes [[group) recording. The background parts, not to the fault of Mary and Florence, are more of a distraction than an enhancement to the song. Every live performance I have ever heard of this song by the Supremes heightened the distracting background vocal lines. Again, it's not that Mary and Florence are not good singers; it's just that their contribution [[via the arrangers and producers) was needed.
Should the background vocals level been moved up in the mix? NO!
My world is empty without you is my favorite Supremes single. I just love it the way it is. It is perfect to my ears.Quote:
Originally Posted by jobucats
I love the released version also; but in response to some others' opinions, I don't believe the background vocals should have been any higher in the mix; and I don't believe 'it's shame' one doesn't hear Mary and Florence more distinctively on this particular output. This one worked for what it was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebrock
Quote:
My world is empty without you is my favorite Supremes single. I just love it the way it is. It is perfect to my ears.
I agree with both above. I love the recording as it is and for what it was and is. One of the best Supremes and Motown singles ever. Diana Ross is superb on it and HDH production is amazing.Quote:
I love the released version also.This one worked for what it was.
I can't argue with history, I say keep it the way it was released. PERFECTION
I think HDH was going for an amazing effect here. M and F are almost like ghostly voices. Haunting. lingering in the background. While they're not loud, they're high impact. it adds to the desperation of the songQuote:
Originally Posted by jobucats
I think part of the reason the harmonies were skipped was the speed with which they were doing things. if you read the liner notes and the recording dates, M and F would come in and record many songs all in one day. In the effort to crank out as much content as possible, i think the producers decided to forego complex background vocals just so they could complete songs faster.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAl
Also a key component of HDH productions was it's simplicity. catchy lyrics, extremely "singable" melodies for lead and backgrounds.
So i don't think it was meant as a slight to M or F. Especially given that producers did a lot of 3 part work for them on Sam Cooke, Country, Liverpool, There's a Place, R&H.
You’re right "Waiting...”Quote:
Originally Posted by mowest
I’m convinced that “My World...” stalled at #5 on the [[pop) charts because of the poor mix of Mary and Flo on the backing vocals. Just listen to the 2012 remix on the expanded “I Hear A Symphony” album. That’s how the single should have been issued.[/QUOTE]
Same can be said about Reflections. I thought that song should've at least been #1 and if Mary and Marlene's voices were brought to the forefront in the version that was released, it would've been their 11th number one [[before Love Child and Someday).
Same can be said about Reflections. I thought that song should've at least been #1 and if Mary and Marlene's voices were brought to the forefront in the version that was released, it would've been their 11th number one [[before Love Child and Someday).[/QUOTE]Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightman
in regards to Reflections, Ode To Bille was such a huge sensation at the time that Reflections just couldn't quite break through. i wonder if 1) the group name wasn't changed for that single and 2) they had done some TV spots during the summer to promote it. That could have been enough to break through.
My World stayed at #5 for 2 weeks in Feb 66. the first week the Top 5 was:
Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie
These Boots were made - Nancy Sinatra
Up Tight - stevie Wonder
My Love - Petula Clark
My World - Supremes
then the Top 5 changed to:
These Boots - N Sinatra
Lightnin' Strikes - Christie
Ballad of the Green Berets - Sgt Barry Sadler
Uptight - Stevie Wonder
My world - Sups
the following week Green Berets went to #1 and was there for 5 weeks. also entering the Top 5 were Listen People by Herman's Hermits and California Dreamin' by Mamas and Papas
one more thought
if low background vocals were to blame for a song not going #1, then how do you explain You Can't Hurry Love? the single version is very hard to hear. they come up a little more at the first part of the chorus when all 3 girls are singing together. but then drop way down again. Yet it not only went #1 but was one of the biggest singles
in regards to Reflections, Ode To Bille was such a huge sensation at the time that Reflections just couldn't quite break through. i wonder if 1) the group name wasn't changed for that single and 2) they had done some TV spots during the summer to promote it. That could have been enough to break through.Quote:
Originally Posted by sup_fan
My World stayed at #5 for 2 weeks in Feb 66. the first week the Top 5 was:
Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie
These Boots were made - Nancy Sinatra
Up Tight - stevie Wonder
My Love - Petula Clark
My World - Supremes
then the Top 5 changed to:
These Boots - N Sinatra
Lightnin' Strikes - Christie
Ballad of the Green Berets - Sgt Barry Sadler
Uptight - Stevie Wonder
My world - Sups
the following week Green Berets went to #1 and was there for 5 weeks. also entering the Top 5 were Listen People by Herman's Hermits and California Dreamin' by Mamas and Papas[/QUOTE]
That Top 5 is a testament to how great music was in those days. Every one of them is now considered a classic and is still being played somewhere. It is also proof of just how competitive things were in the 60s. You can go half a year now and not get that many high-quality songs in the 10 at the same time.
I love the vocals on the newer mix. Stronger “I need you babe “ emphasizes the whole theme of the song.
Some Oldies stations replaced the original versions with the remixed versions from "The #!'s" that came out around 2002.Quote:
Originally Posted by luke
Because Diana's voice was the one that mattered. Next?
I still hated that they destroyed that, those great, great harmonies. I receive more listening pleasure when the harmonies are present. Take for instance "Nothing But Heartaches" the backing vocals are almost being shouted. They sound good but not as good as their harmonies on their earlier recordings.Quote:
Originally Posted by sup_fan
Then why hasn't it mattered for the last 35 years or so?Quote:
Originally Posted by PeaceNHarmony
i appreciate the variety of the backgrounds. There's actually quite a bit of the hit records with backing harmoniesQuote:
Originally Posted by marv2
Baby Love - Flo and Mary sing in harmony on the "baby, baby, baby, baby" at the end of each verse. hard to hear mary a bit but if you listen closely you'll hear it
come See about me
Back in my arms
the happening
Reflections
love is here - just a little bit, at the end of the bg vocals during the spoken sections
some that did NOT need it:
You Can't hurry love - F and M assume the role of mama, telling the girl to wait and be patient. the unison approach is appropriate here
Hangin On, Itchin, Stop - both of these benefit from the shear power of the bg vocals being in unison. harmonies would have diminished the strength a bit
My world - as i said, M and F are the haunting voice in the background. unison works best here too
where they might have best incorporated it:
I Hear a Symphony - given the majestic sound and track, 3-part harmony would have been gorgeous here.
I agree regarding the harmonies for "I Hear a Symphony". HDH could have been more creative in this area. Mary and Flo could have sung just about anything, instead, they had them repeat the chorus over and over.Quote:
Originally Posted by sup_fan
from what we've read, IHAS was cranked out in just a matter of days. The track was cut on 9/22, strings added 9/28, lead vocals added 9/29 and then released on 10/6.
so probably in the interest of time they just did what they did
I do really like how the track modulates through keys. adds a level of sophistication. and how the instruments build in the backing track too after the bridge. that's where the addition of some harmonies would have worked great. during the verse "those tears that filled my eyes, i cry not for myself..."
We’ll if you want to go there. Why hasn’t it mattered for Mary for the last 50 years! LolQuote:
Originally Posted by marv2