While this is more fan-fiction than reality, I always imagined what an acid fever dream of a performance "Up The Ladder To The Roof" would be with both Jean and Diana on lead vocals. While their voices are distinctive in their own rights, I always wondered what Diana would sound like singing the song and if it would work for her. That lead me to wonder what they would sound like at the same time.
Flo on Itchin’ would be the bomb.
Nope! Those records would not have been anything without Mary Wilson. She gives them a spark. She sang full lead on He's My Man in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebrock
on the very early stuff, motown wasn't as good with keeping records. but you're right about their keeping track of stuff. if for no other reason than they had to pay the Andantes for their work.Quote:
Originally Posted by luke
will do this by era. and haven't figured out where they could have incorporated more three-part harmonies, little line trade offs [[like Breathtaking Guy) and shared lead lines. too many to list frankly
Pre WDOLG
*let me go right way - Flo lead
*Funny how time slips away - would have at least liked to try flo on this on. or mary too
*Who's loving you - mary
*Too Hot - Flo
*Save me a star - mary
*I'm giving you your freedom - mary
DMF post WDOLG
*i wouldn't change any of the A side singles - except maybe Love Is Here and given each girl a solo speaking section
*Going down for third time - flo
*Johnny One Note - Flo
*Remove this doubt - mary
*Unchained melody - Mary or even flo
*these boots are made for walking - flo
*come and get these memories - would be interesting to hear flo's take on this
*heatwave - again, wonder what flo would have done with it
*what becomes of the broken hearted - mary
*I'm gonna make you love me [[spoken part) - mary
DRATS
*Will this be the day - mary
*ode to billie joe - mary or cindy
*STormy - mary or cindy
*Beginning of the end - mary
*Autumn leaves - mary or cindy
Jean era
*Precious little things - Cindy
*floy joy, touch and auto sun - all three would have been 3-way leads
*Once in the morning - have M and L come in on third verse, maybe each taking a line and then doing some 3-part harmony
*Love it came to me this time - jean is gorgeous here. such amazing control and restraint. but would be fascinating to hear M and C doing parts too
*Bad Weather - Lynda
*All I want or Cheap Lovin - Lynda
Scherrie era
*He's my man, early morning, this is why - scherrie, most definitely
*Can we love again - cindy
*alt version of You Can't Stop A Girl in Love - cindy
*We should be closer - Scherrie or susaye. love Mary's version but curious as to how these other two would handle a sensual ballad
*Don't let my teardrops - scherrie, again she's a stunning vocalist. Mary rocks this one but would love to hear scherrie's attempt too
I'm working on a little animation for UTLTR and it has Cindy and Mary and Jean as the cabin crew on a space flight, while Diana and Flo are piloting the ship together. I'm having a lot of fun making it. I think of the song as being a sci fi gospel song in its feeling: I could easily imagine it being on something like the Jetsons or 2001 A Space Odyssey.
I really do agree with the folks who say Mary's voice is more suited to ballads then pop: it is a very deep husky voice that almost sounds etheral and as a young girl/woman incredibly mature. I would have loved to hear her take on Not a Juvenile Delinquint as thats my fave Frankie Lymon song. However I think she would have done well with pop songs written for her strength: energetic but long steady beaty lines and verses. Pretty Baby is my favourite Mary led lead, as it sounds haunting, but I really enjoy He's my Man and Early Morning Love however really show the versitility she had gained in her long years in service as a Supreme by that point. Breathtaking Guy and Where did our Love Go have the kind of steady, drawn out, taut lyrics that Mary excels in.
Florence, well one thing I like about two of my fave songs of hers, Buttered Popcorn and It Doesn't Matter How I say It, is how she makes very risque double entendres sound cute an innocent, so they come off as coy and tongue in cheek rather then salacious or pornographic. In Buttered Popcorn she's a bouncy, vibrant, naughty teenager in the prime of her youth and innocence, but in the latter song she's a sweet young mother who still has her youthful mischief and sense of fun. For that reason I agree with the poster who said Flo would have done well on Love is like an Itching in my Heart. Diana does well on it, as she always does, but I think Flo would have made it even bester. It's more suited for Flo's deep velvety growls and purrs then Diana's sweet dulcet coos. I would have also liked to hear Mary's vocals be more prominent, as I think with her deep voice it adds a natural support for Flo's range, while Diana's higher pitch serves as a nice contrast. When you have three diamonds to play with, there's oh so many ways they can sparkle....
These are great suggestions. I could definitely hear Flo doing "Too Hot" and "Right Way".Quote:
Originally Posted by sup_fan
I think the released version of "Itchin" suited Diana as well as it would have Flo, but I think the early unreleased version is really the one that Florence would've ripped to shreds. That was a lost opportunity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coppelia-Birdsong
this isn't exactly an alt lead but certainly a missed opportunity.
for the R&H set, i'm dumbfounded that they didn't do a 3-part harmony version of Sing For Your Supper. it was written to be performed by a trio!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing_for_Your_Supper
Everyone who sang is listed in the Motown Recording logs, not just the Andantes.
Ran, I've always thought Flo should have sung lead due to my love of the song and Flo, but when I first heard the lower key version with Diana, I knew that the song was perfectly suited to Flo. Oh, what might have been!Quote:
Originally Posted by RanRan79
I always felt Flo would've THROWN DOWN on Love Is Like An Itching in My Heart, Let Me Go the Right Way and Going Down for the Third Time.
BUT those songs were perfect for Miss Ross too.
Yup. Even in a lower key, Diana sounds great on it. I know it's hard for people to comprehend anything other than the version they've been hearing forever, but I have to wonder if "Itchin" would've done even better if released in the lower key. Diana sounds so sexy on it. But that was a key that Florence could've settled in. Had Gordy decided to throw a curve ball, I don't think he nor the fans would've been disappointed in Flo having the lead on that single.Quote:
Originally Posted by thanxal
I had never thought about "Right Way" until it was mentioned in this thread, but Flo would've been great on it. As it is, she was tearing up that background.Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightman
Nope! Mary's vocals were flat and uninspiring. Totally unsuited to those songs, and the public agreed. Scherrie may well have made the difference between hit and flop on the pop charts.Quote:
Originally Posted by marv2
Right. I'm guessing that may have been the reason BG decided to not give it to her? She was killing that background! I love Flo's voice.Quote:
Originally Posted by RanRan79
I do too. She's tied with Diana and Jean as my favorite Supreme voice.Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightman
Same. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by RanRan79
As far as I'm concerned, those three are the voices of the Supremes.
Lol Yup. At least they are the reasons I'm a fan. No disrespect to Mary, Barbara, Cindy, Lynda, Scherrie or Susaye, but I'm a fan of the Supremes because of Flo, Diana and Jean. I do, however, respect the other Supreme voices very much, as I particularly enjoy Mary, Lynda and Scherrie's lead singing, and definitely acknowledge that Mary's voice is an integral part of every lineup. She's an underrated vocalist IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightman
^ You're telling the truth there lol
Marv I totally agree. The original Sups are the best. Three distinct sounds. Their blend/harmony can’t be beat! I find the Andantes background to be somewhat generic. I esp like Sups Roostertail performance. Of course there are other great female groups, but they had that unique harmony.
I agree ☝️ with Mary’s contributions. Esp on The High Energy output.Quote:
Originally Posted by RanRan79
I like the rock edge of Itchin and the extended version is wht I Listen too when painting -helps to get me thru the task. You can really feel that song! Flo would have been great too. I doubt anyone other than the Funk Bros. could give that recording the same vibe.
IMO Mary made He’s My Man with her very sexy vocal. Scherries’s tendency to oversing can get almost histrionic. Mary kept it real and sultry.
I would love to hear Flo on Itching - and Levi as well. The problem with Levi is he wouldn’t have nailed the verse, but could have torn up the chorus......Diana’s lead is superb - just in the wrong key.