I always regretted not getting 'This Is The Story" box set when first released. I have purchased every Motown CD released over that last 20 years or so but missed this one. I even managed to get the first few Motown Singles box sets from Hipo when there weren't shipping to the U.K. I remember seeing TITS for sale on Amazon here in the U.K. for about £20 but let it go and of course it was never on offer again. Now if sells for rediculous amounts [[currently £600+ on Amazon UK)
i read that the classic story of Romeo and Juliet is the inspiration for the lyrics of this song
Mine, as well. I think it was a great decision to not include outside-Motown cover songs. I would love to read a really fully detailed book about the making of 'Right On', though I know it will never happen. I always wonder if the creators realize a masterpiece is in the works while it's happening, or if it's just 'another day at the office' making the best music that can be made that day. I wish Jean had had a fuller recording career, but am happy that Motown recorded so much of her. I've been streaming a YT posted version of 'Promises' and love it -
I think you'd be disappointed. There is no "making of the Right On lp." As was customary at Motown when they were trying to get a hit on an artist, Gordy opened up the new Supremes to all producers at Motown to compete and get a hit on the new group. When Up The Ladder was chosen and Frank Wilson clearly the victor, it meant he would get the new couple releases on the new group. The Right On album is merely a compilation of the best of all the material produced on the Supremes in late 69 and early 70. In fact, a couple of tunes were recorded before Jean was officially in the group. Jean Terrell signed on as a soloist as did all Motown recording artists. That way the company could use her as they saw fit. When Frank Wilson took over the group, the next two lps were more of a concept, but Right On was merely 12 good songs thrown together with a creative title and issued as the group's first lp with Jean.
Well, that's a distillation of the non-existent book, and thanks - I presumed as much. It's interesting how masterpieces such as Aretha's SITD and MR&TV's BM are this sort of mish-mash affairs. Ultimately, SOMEBODY chose these songs, running order, etc. And it ended up brilliantly. It seems, as do the other 2 lps I mention, as organic entities. Thanks for your info -
Many other Supremes albums just seemed to be thrown together, and maybe this one was as well but it sure as hell did not come across that way. Jean was recording solo for Motown as early as mid 1969, but is not sure which of those songs ended up on "right on". This is the one 70's Supremes album that has more than enough outtakes for an expanded edition. I loved the artwork too. Motown seemed to really believe in this album , and with good reason.
The songs that jean did before her inclusion into the supremes has been an interesting topic. If I'm correct, Take a closer look at me , wait one minute, then we can try again and I got hurt trying to be the only girl were the songs in question.
o do think RIGHT ON should get an expanded edition. not sure if it will but I think there is enough interest in this to warrant it. or perhaps a expanded - lost and found combo .......similar to what they did with A GO GO but ,here we are only at 1966, we have a while to go to get to 1970. so I am thinking maybe 2020 for RO. lol.
Jean had denied she was signed to Motown as a solo artist.
i agree that Right On is a strong lp. while it might not have an overall theme, it still holds together well. Clearly effort was placed on song selection and identifying tracks that would be somewhat cohesive.
The write up on the Ross project is quite interesting. My only [[slight) disagree is over Everybody. I just don't think that it's a strong song. the mix is rather monotonous and uninteresting. doesn't have nearly the production qualities of Ladder. I think if they'd tried a few different things with it, it might have done better. a slightly faster tempo to keep in moving, more sharing of lead lines between the girls.
Frankly I think Loving Country would have made a better follow up. While the album track is long, it wouldn't have been too difficult to make sufficient edits to make it an appropriate single length.
Baby Baby is another strong song. very different for the girls. more aggressive. frankly it hints at some of the strong, aggressive vocals and sound of Time To Break Down.
Many of the other tracks are great album filler but don't have that "sparkle" like Ladder. Then We Can Try It Again, Just Take A Closer Look. work great in the album but they're not unique or special enough, IMO, to be a single. The ballads on the lp are very nice though
Not a fan of Everybody but that album is in My top five fav. I was a tyke when my mom bought me the album and even at that young age I hung the album cover on the wall! The girls were hot! The album even sounded good even on my cheapo bedroom record player. I remember the neighborhood was talking abt the girls appearing on the Glen Campbell special promoting Ladder - they wore those pink pant suits. Damn they looked good. At a recent concert Mary noticed that they names didn't match the photos in the Detroit TV guide that was like the Bible- never ever Left he top of the TV 📺. I bel they had Mary and Cindy mixed up. Mary took it in stride and had a good laugh about it. She made a comment on how fans kept this "stuff" for years. "Y'all have all this good stuff". She is so much fun when she autographs after the concert. She does read the detail on articles etc when sighing. Great lady!
I would agree that when I first heard the Right On LP, I danced for joy. The songs were fantastic and I loved the sound of Jean's voice. The Loving Country is actually my favorite song from the LP. I didn't understand why Everybody's Got The Right To Love was picked as the second single, but I thought it sorta matched Diana's Reach Out & Touch in theme and style. That said, it seemed a bit bland to me - I like it but it's not one of my favorites. Then I heard the version from greatest Hits & Rare Classics. Now, that is the version that should have been on the original LP. The background vocals are heightened and the song has a bit more soul flowing through Jean's interpretation. I am happy to have both.
I agree - the released EGTRTL was blah. but with some more spark and excitement, it would have been better. But they introduced a big, lushly orchestrated, almost ethereal sound with Ladder. Loving country fit this well and then the obvious culmination of this "sound" was Stone Love. Everybody is nothing like these other tracks in terms of production style or arrangement. But it possibly could have
I think Right On is one of the supremes best albums. it just has a wonderful sound to it. I would have added Life Beats to it. I lso feel EGTRTL was the wrong choice to be a single. I haven't neard the Rare Classics version in a while so thanks for reminding me about it. will go and have a listen.
even if this is a direct to download only. rather have one way than no way at all
I think "Bill When are You Coming Back" should have been the official follow up to "Up the Ladder to the Roof" the DJ's in Detroit and Toledo were playing it often anyways. People just couldn't get enough of the New Supremes so they were not waiting for next single they just flip the record over and started playing and getting requests for "Bill......." I also liked one particular version of "Everybody's Got the Right to Love" that Hal Jackson played every Sunday on his program on New York's WBLS. It was a good song and a good follow up overall. It was a Top 40 Hit for the ladies.
I loved LC as well, but my bid for follow-up to either UTLTHR and EGTRTL [[I seem alone here but I love the arrangement!) would be 'Bill'. My only issue with RO is the absence of Cindy and Mary on some tracks, and perhaps it was time for each to have a lead.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_t...er_to_the_Roof
Marv I remember riding in the car and WJR am station played Bill. It was radio friendly. Also remember JP McCarthy playing you turn me around mentioning it was Mary singing lead. The radio jocks knew their stuff in those days. They sure supported Motown in those days. Interesting per Wiki- the first Supremes single to make the United Kingdom Top 10 since "Reflections" in 1967.
Last edited by detmotownguy; 06-14-2017 at 08:15 AM.
There have been times that the b side have became a group's next single. I'll be around by the spinniers is a prime example
I was suprised to hear that but you are right. The highest chart placing between 'Reflections ' and 'Up The Laddder' were 'In And Out Of Love ' and 'Someday' which both made number 13. 'Im Gonna Make You Love Me' did make it to number 3 but that was with The Temptations of course.
Here is another interesting fact about "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
It has completely different singers on it [[Jean, Mary and Cindy) than were on "Someday We'll Be Together".
Mary and Cindy are indeed on Up the ladder to the roof but the Andantes are in the mix with them as well. Same with Stoned Love, heavily.
The Andantes are not on Ladder or Right To Love. Jean, Mary and Cindy did the beautiful backing harmonies, with Cindy being easily picked out of both songs.
I agree that the wrong mix of Everybody kept the record down. I think universally everyone thought Then We Can Try Again would be the next single. [[No Supremes at all on backing vocals there).
When I interviewed Jean in 1978 she said they had rather reluctantly settled for Bill to go as the first single. At the last minute Frank Wilson got Ladder from Vince DiMirco. Gordy felt that Bill's reference to the Vietnam war was better suited to one of his other groups, but not the darling Supremes. Bristol then submitted Life Beats, another great track but was rather unorthodoxed to be a single. Motown knew that the first single had to sound like a Supremes song but be modestly different so as to not sound like Diana Ross. Up The Ladder was the perfect song.
There are no Andantes on Stoned Love. That's Jean, Mary and Cindy. In fact, that high note in the backing harmony just before Jean sings Can't you feel it...that is also Jean Terrell.
On the New Ways lp the Andantes add some filler on Bridge Over Troubled Water and I Wish I Were Your Mirror. Cindy is quite audible on Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music, Shine on Me and Time To Breakdown.
Now on Touch he did use additional backing voices on most of the cuts, apparently seeking a choral effect.
The Andantes are all over the Floy Joy lp. On the title track the only time it's Mary, Jean and Cindy singing un-augmented is on the line "How much joy do I get from you." The only track on this lp that doesn't feature the Andantes on some are all of a track in Precious Little Things.
Milven. I've heard. "If you" for years and brought it up here in the past!
There are definitely more than three voices in the background for "Up the Ladder to the Roof", I hear Jean the most out of anyone in the background for that song though. With "Stoned Love" there are several parts in the song that sound very Andante-ish to me like "pray for peace", "don't you hear the wind...", "say it like it is". I'm not saying that Cindy and Mary don't contribute to the song just that there are others there...to my ear at least.
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