Follow-Ups That Should Have Been Bigger

[TomatoTom123]

I have always thought that Motown was very good at following up after hits, getting the balance right between not being too similar, but not being too dissimilar either. Take The Supremes' five consecutive #1s, for example, which was an excellent piece of following-up! But sometimes follow-ups failed to deliver and become as big a hit as their predecessors, in most cases unfairly so!!!

So, are there any follow-ups that you thought should have been bigger hits? I have to go for The Temptations' "It's Growing" and Jimmy Ruffin's "I've Passed This Way Before" both of which are virtually AS FANTASTIC as "My Girl" and "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted?" but were relatively small hits. How 'bout you?

[kenneth]

Interesting topic. "Quicksand" by Martha and the Vandellas comes to mind for me. A great, great song...but I think too similar to its "parent," "Heat Wave." A driving beat, a rising chorus, all based around the theme of a natural disaster. I only ever knew it as an "oldie," so I always enjoyed it on its own merits but considering it came out so close to "Heat Wave," I think it played in the former record's shadow.

[stingbeelee]

If I remember correctly, "Quicksand" went top ten, all the way to number 8. So it was a "hit"; but probably not as big a "hit" as Motown wanted it to be. It is unfortunate that it is all but forgotten, and rarely played on oldies stations. It is one of my favorite Martha & The Vandellas records.

[TomatoTom123]

"Quicksand" is a fantastic song and deserving of a hit! I believe "Heatwave" went to #4 so "Quicksand" at #8 isn't bad. Of course you never hear "Quicksand" even though it was a Top Ten hit. Even better, however, is the follow-up to the follow-up, "Live Wire", which is an absolutely fantastic song!!! Sadly it didn't even crack the Top Forty, peaking at #42...

[Motown Eddie]

I've always felt that Martha & the Vandellas' "Wild One" should've been a bigger hit since it followed the sound of "Dancing In The Street" closely.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

The Marvelettes' "You're The One", which immediately followed "Don't Mess With Bill". Cleverly written and produced by Smokey, it was styled in the same sexy vein as its predecessor. I've always loved that record. Wanda Rogers and The Andantes did a great job on it, and it deserved to be a much bigger hit than it was. Strangely, it never appeared on an album until nearly two years later on The Marvelettes' "Sophisticated Soul" in Fall of 1968. [[Better late than never, but, still, it should have been a hit.)

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I've always felt that Martha & the Vandellas' "Wild One" should've been a bigger hit since it followed the sound of "Dancing In The Street" closely.

Me, too, Eddie. I loved "Wild One" and still do. Same goes for Martha's "You've Been In Love Too Long". Those two records were gettin' down!

[RanRan79]

So, are there any follow-ups that you thought should have been bigger hits?

I hesitate to reveal my answers because they were big hits. Not only do I think "It's Growing" was a great follow up to "My Girl", but so was "Since I Lost My Baby", both of which, if I'm to be honest, I actually prefer to "My Girl". They both managed the top 5 R&B but I'm surprised they didn't reach number one. I'm equally amazed that they didn't even hit the top 10 pop.

"Without the One You Love" followed "Baby I Need Your Lovin" for the Tops and I've always thought that was a poor follow up. [[Although it is one of my favorite Tops tunes.) "Ask the Lonely" was a perfect record and I can't believe it wasn't as big as "Baby I Need Your Loving".

"Nothing But Heartaches" is an excellent song and I don't know why it didn't become the Supremes' sixth chart topper. Everything about it is perfect to my ears.

It's a travesty that Martha and the Vandellas' "My Baby Loves Me" follow up "What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love" wasn't a top 10 cut. Perhaps of all the songs I've mentioned this is the one that baffles me the most. I don't understand why it didn't catch on with the public. The track is great, the lead is great, the background is great, the lyrics are great. So sad that the general public passed on it and few remember it today.

[RanRan79]

I've always felt that Martha & the Vandellas' "Wild One" should've been a bigger hit since it followed the sound of "Dancing In The Street" closely.

I agree with that.

[BayouMotownMan]

1. Don'tcha Love It-Miracles. Patterned after Do It Baby but funkier
2.. I'm Here Again-Thelma Patterned after Don't Leave Me This Way but richer production
3. Reach Out I'll Be There-Diana Ross. One of her best vocals, patterned after ANMHE

[marv2]

I always thought High Inergy's "Lovin' Fever" should have been a bigger hit than it was. It received quite a bit of airplay, whereas the immediate follow up to their hit "You Can't Turn Me Off" called "We Are the Future" did not get much airplay. .

[BayouMotownMan]

Lovin' Fever was not a followup, High Inergy had two prior singles before it. Love Is All You Need and We Are The Future

[woodward]

I always felt that the "B" side of Heat Wave, A Love Like Yours, was awesome. It did not get a lot of airplay but on certain stations it did. Same thoughts on the "B" side of Locking Up My Heart, Forever, was beyond awesome. It suffered because it was I thought issued as Locking Up My Heart as the "A" side and the "B" side was way superior.

[DJMoch]

Honestly, I'm surprised "Nothing But Heartaches" didn't do better than it did, and it managed to stop the Supremes #1 streak in its tracks. I honestly like it more than "Back In My Arms Again".

[Motown Eddie]

Stevie Wonder's "Nothing's Too Good For My Baby". While it hit the Billboard Pop Top 30 [[at #20), it wasn't as big as the song that it was patterned after, "Uptight [[Everything's Alright)".

[luke]

Remember Me follow up to ANMHE. Great performance great song. Only made it to number 16 in USA

[imakicola]

Honestly, I'm surprised "Nothing But Heartaches" didn't do better than it did, and it managed to stop the Supremes #1 streak in its tracks. I honestly like it more than "Back In My Arms Again".

Honestly I think nothing but heartaches is like the one supremes song I can't stand. It's not even remotely catchy to me and the recording is such low quality that the voices are blurry.

[BigAl]

Same goes for Martha's "You've Been In Love Too Long".

This song might have fared better had so many DJs not flipped it over and started playing the B-side, which was "Love [[Makes Me Do foolish Things)," which was essentially a solo by Martha [[delivered beautifully, I might add). Both are great songs but I believe the play-split served to prevent either from making much headway.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

This song might have fared better had so many DJs not flipped it over and started playing the B-side, which was "Love [[Makes Me Do foolish Things)," which was essentially a solo by Martha [[delivered beautifully, I might add). Both are great songs but I believe the play-split served to prevent either from making much headway.

I agree, BigAl. I know that was the nature of the record business back in the day, but I never understood why. You would think that double-sided airplay would attract twice as many fans which would garner twice as many sales, thus pushing the record twice as far up the charts. Instead, double-sided airplay cuts into the record's chart position. Man, there oughta be a law!

[arr&bee]

the marvelettes' "you're the one", which immediately followed "don't mess with bill". Cleverly written and produced by smokey, it was styled in the same sexy vein as its predecessor. I've always loved that record. Wanda rogers and the andantes did a great job on it, and it deserved to be a much bigger hit than it was. Strangely, it never appeared on an album until nearly two years later on the marvelettes' "sophisticated soul" in fall of 1968. [[better late than never, but, still, it should have been a hit.)

you took the words right out of my mouth,my favorite marvelettes song,shoulda been a big hit.

[JohnnyB]

1. Don'tcha Love It-Miracles. Patterned after Do It Baby but funkier
2.. I'm Here Again-Thelma Patterned after Don't Leave Me This Way but richer production
3. Reach Out I'll Be There-Diana Ross. One of her best vocals, patterned after ANMHE

Diana's Reach Out, I'll Be There immediately comes to my mind as a single I thought would have done better on the charts. Perhaps had it been released as the immediate follow up to ANMHE it would have been bigger. It's definitely inspired by ANMHE, but also a strong performance on its own merits IMO...

[florence]

Remember Me follow up to ANMHE. Great performance great song. Only made it to number 16 in USA

Remember Me is my favourite DR song, big hit in the UK.

More often than not it was airplay which held Diana back in the US chart [[Billboard).

Interesting that in both Cash Box and Record World which at that time were compiled solely on sales it went top 10 as indeed did Reach Out And Touch and Last Time I Saw Him.

[kenneth]

I thought of another...maybe the most obvious one. "Twistin' Postman" was a blatant "let's do it again" follow up to the Marvelettes' [[and Motown's) first Number 1 record. I actually like "Twistin'" quite a bit. Its instrumentation, especially during the bridge, is early Funk Brothers at their best. I think it would have done a lot better if it had been about anything other than a Postman! I have a feeling even kids at the time would have viewed it as an obvious rip-off of "Please."

Then, of course, there was the Marvelettes' "Paper Boy" [[although it was a B side) which seemed to try and copy the formula "one bridge too far." Even my hometown newspaper, the Detroit Free Press, bring mentioned in the lyrics couldn't save this one!

Come to think of it, I'm surprised the Marvelettes never covered Jerry Butler's "Hey Western Union Man", Johnny Rivers' "Memphis, Tennessee" [[remember "Long distance, Information, give me Memphis, Tennessee") or their colleague Mary Wells' "Operator!"

[arr&bee]

I loved[truly yours-the spinners-1966]it followed[i'll always love you]but didn't do as well.

[RanRan79]

I thought of another...maybe the most obvious one. "Twistin' Postman" was a blatant "let's do it again" follow up to the Marvelettes' [[and Motown's) first Number 1 record. I actually like "Twistin'" quite a bit. Its instrumentation, especially during the bridge, is early Funk Brothers at their best. I think it would have done a lot better if it had been about anything other than a Postman! I have a feeling even kids at the time would have viewed it as an obvious rip-off of "Please."

Then, of course, there was the Marvelettes' "Paper Boy" [[although it was a B side) which seemed to try and copy the formula "one bridge too far." Even my hometown newspaper, the Detroit Free Press, bring mentioned in the lyrics couldn't save this one!

Come to think of it, I'm surprised the Marvelettes never covered Jerry Butler's "Hey Western Union Man", Johnny Rivers' "Memphis, Tennessee" [[remember "Long distance, Information, give me Memphis, Tennessee") or their colleague Mary Wells' "Operator!"

I'm not surprised that "Twistin Postman" didn't do better. I hate it, but aside from that it just doesn't capture any magic, IMO. I do love "Paper Boy" though. Lol

[jsmith]

In the UK in the late 60's, it was mid 60's uptemp dancers that were being re-activated and were making the pop charts here. The likes of the 4 Tops, Isley Bros, Miracles, Martha & V's, Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, Jnr Walker, Jimmy Ruffin & Marv Johnson all hit the UK pop 45 charts.
In many cases, none US 45 tracks were put out here as follow-ups with only the releases of the Temptations and Supremes following the US lead.
So here, things were very different to back in the US for a period of about 2 years+. I think the guys at EMI did a great job and helped the likes of Marv Johnson, R Dean Taylor, Jimmy Ruffin [[to a lesser extent Edwin Starr) & more to reactivate their careers.
BUT it did [[on many occasions) make finding a follow up to a recently reactivated track [[that had become a UK pop hit) very difficult.
MIND YOU . . it did result in "Tears Of A Clown" which then repeated it's UK 45 success all around the world.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Another Motown follow-up that really tripped my trigger but failed to burn up the charts was the Four Tops "Something About You". It was a high-octane production and performance number, perfectly created for the dance floor. Written and produced by H-D-H, I equate its energy with The Supremes "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart". Should have been a top-of-the-charts hit.

[TomatoTom123]

Another Motown follow-up that really tripped my trigger but failed to burn up the charts was the Four Tops "Something About You". It was a high-octane production and performance number, perfectly created for the dance floor. Written and produced by H-D-H, I equate its energy with The Supremes "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart". Should have been a top-of-the-charts hit.

Oh, definitely, Gary! I love "Something About You"... it's an infectious,
rollicking non-stop floorfiller!!!! But, for me, follow-ups don't come much better than The Tops' previous single, "It's The Same Old Song". You see, the best way to follow-up on a #1 hit, after being accused of making songs that all sound too similar, is to create a tune entitled "It's The Same Old Song". Give it an incredibly catchy hook and fierce vocal performance [[matched only by The Funk Brothrs' playing) and VWA-LA! Such a clever, and utterly, utterly fantastic song. Can't believe it didn't hit #1 like "I Can't Help Myself"... it definitely should have!

Gary, I also love "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart". It is quite possibly The Funk Brothers' best performance, ever. Should have been another #1 of course!!!!

[kenneth]

There was also Edwin Starr's "Stop the War Now," the follow up to "War." But I don't think "Stop" deserved to be a big hit; it really was the same song, just turned on its side, in a way.

[TomatoTom123]

There was also Edwin Starr's "Stop the War Now," the follow up to "War." But I don't think "Stop" deserved to be a big hit; it really was the same song, just turned on its side, in a way.

Yea, that one's interesting, kenneth. It is a blatant copycat follow-up but as far as blatant copycat follow-ups go, it's a great song! It's got a good, catchy chorus and the "give peace a chance" bit is great. The verses don't quite have that frantic, powerful feel to them like "War" though. Also, "Stop The War Now" was a more specific demand, relating only to the Vietnam war [[which means that the song has kinda dated) whereas "War" has that powerful, timeless message! Still, I like "Stop The War Now" very much.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles follow-up to their irresistible "Going To A Go-Go" was "Whole Lot Of Shaking In My Heart [[Since I Met You)". I LOVED that record when it came out, and I still adore it today! It's a real floor stomper crammed full of Smokey's usual unique and clever lyrics. Why it wasn't a huge hit in the early Summer of 1966 remains one of life's mysteries.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

you took the words right out of my mouth,my favorite marvelettes song,shoulda been a big hit.

"You're The One" was hot, arr&bee! Other than Jr. Walker's early hits, Motown rarely featured an organ in their recordings. But, Man, on "You're The One", that organ was right out front and prominent from the opening note of the intro to the very last note of the fade-out. Earl Van Dyke did a great job on that record, and, as always, Smokey was a master at inspiring the best performances from Wanda. [[I'll bet she loved her recording sessions with Smokey!) For me, that was a thrilling record with a unique arrangement and production, and a top-notch performance from Wanda and The Andantes. You gotta wonder -- what the heck happened on the charts?

I also agree with you regarding The Spinners "Truly Yours". For me, that remains one of Motown's prettiest records they ever released -- right up there with Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted".

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Oh, definitely, Gary! I love "Something About You"... it's an infectious,
rollicking non-stop floorfiller!!!! But, for me, follow-ups don't come much better than The Tops' previous single, "It's The Same Old Song". You see, the best way to follow-up on a #1 hit, after being accused of making songs that all sound too similar, is to create a tune entitled "It's The Same Old Song". Give it an incredibly catchy hook and fierce vocal performance [[matched only by The Funk Brothrs' playing) and VWA-LA! Such a clever, and utterly, utterly fantastic song. Can't believe it didn't hit #1 like "I Can't Help Myself"... it definitely should have!

You know, Tom, I loved The Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself" from the very moment it hit the airwaves in Spring of 1965. That record was so incredibly fresh and exciting! But when I first heard "It's The Same Old Song" a few months later, I was bored stiff by it. It just seemed so inferior. Of course, now, some 52 years later, I love it! Go figure!!!

[TomatoTom123]

You know, Tom, I loved The Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself" from the very moment it hit the airwaves in Spring of 1965. That record was so incredibly fresh and exciting! But when I first heard "It's The Same Old Song" a few months later, I was bored stiff by it. It just seemed so inferior. Of course, now, some 52 years later, I love it! Go figure!!!

What!? Gary, that's crazy!!! Haha, I love it...

[Philles/Motown Gary]

What!? Gary, that's crazy!!! Haha, I love it...

Yeah, well.... Call me unpredictable!

[Motown Eddie]

Here's another one; Marvin Gaye's "One More Heartache". Clearly in the mold of his previous hit "Ain't That Peculiar", I've always felt it should've been a bigger hit at the time.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Here's another one; Marvin Gaye's "One More Heartache". Clearly in the mold of his previous hit "Ain't That Peculiar", I've always felt it should've been a bigger hit at the time.

Love 'em both, Eddie! Kudos to Marvin AND The Andantes!

[DJMoch]

Honestly I think nothing but heartaches is like the one supremes song I can't stand. It's not even remotely catchy to me and the recording is such low quality that the voices are blurry.

Oh well, different strokes for different folks. A lot of their earliest stuff I'm not too keen on. It's always interesting to see people's likes and dislikes, sometimes it's surprising.

[144man]

Honestly I think nothing but heartaches is like the one supremes song I can't stand. It's not even remotely catchy to me and the recording is such low quality that the voices are blurry.

I can't agree. I can barely hold a tune, yet I could sing "Nothing But Heartaches " from memory after only hearing it once.

[TomatoTom123]

"Nothing But Heartaches" is reallly very excellent. Familiar but not too similar to The Supremes' previous hits. Coulda and shoulda been another #1. [[Mind you, I think every decent Motown song should have hit #1...!!!)

[vgalindo]

I love "Nothing But Heartaches". I think it should have hit #1

[daviddh]

I always liked Nothing But Heartaches. a fav of mine . but looking back on it I think Motown didn't promote it correctly as I remember , or it seems they were confused as to what the NEXT song should be...they had the Supremes perform Mother Dear twice on tv in place of NBH. I am sure that lack of promo hurt the song. as I look back you can see what songs the supremes performed on tv and how many times and the chart positions.
I remember when they performed Come See About Me the following week it jumped back to #1.
in 1970 ed Sullivan made a deal to have DR and the Supremes on but BG pulled DR out of public eye for about a year. I don't still understand this but I am assuming he thought her absence would create a huge wave of sorts. he was wrong.Sullivan was furious and he never had the supremes on again . I don't think those early DR songs got much pr.
I was kinda young so my memory is faded but I don't remember her on tv much then other than her own tv special. to me , out of sight out of mind!!! so no record sales

[daviddh]

I also thought Nathan Jones is a cool classic that didn't do badly but thought it should have been bigger. they performed it once on Tonight Show but I think that was it. this song was rock but soulful at the same time . under rated in my opinion.

[johnjeb]

I liked The Miracles' "I Don't Blame You At All" better than "Tears of A Clown" [[which I didn't care for when it was released, but I now appreciate how catchy it is) and had hoped "Blame" would be a bigger hit. Seems like it's totally forgotten today, along with some of the other great songs mentioned in this thread.

I also liked Edwin Starr's "Stop the War Now" better than "War".

I love "Something About You". Not a fan of The Marvelettes' "You're The One", I almost always skip over that song.

Lots of mention, in this thread, for "Nothing But Heartaches". I was recently binge-listening to the 16 Big Hits volumes and realized that "Heartaches" and "Itching" are the only two "hits" by The Supremes not included in that series. Motown must have still been nursing their wounds from those two songs missing the top of the charts. [[Three of The Supremes earliest releases, "I Want A Guy", "My Heart Can't Take It No More" and "Run, Run, Run", are also not included, but no surprise there. Interestingly, one B-side, "Going Down For The Third Time", is included.)

[jobeterob]

Take A Look Around by the Temptations should have been a bigger hit; I don't know what it followed anymore

Remember Me should have done better

[RanRan79]

I liked The Miracles' "I Don't Blame You At All" better than "Tears of A Clown" [[which I didn't care for when it was released, but I now appreciate how catchy it is) and had hoped "Blame" would be a bigger hit. Seems like it's totally forgotten today, along with some of the other great songs mentioned in this thread.

Same here. I can listen to "Clown" but I almost never specifically play it. I love "I Don't Blame You At All".

[TomatoTom123]

I also thought Nathan Jones is a cool classic that didn't do badly but thought it should have been bigger. they performed it once on Tonight Show but I think that was it. this song was rock but soulful at the same time . under rated in my opinion.

Totally agree, david. "Nathan Jones" didn't do badly, making the US Top 20 and peaking at #16 [[here in the UK it was a #5 smash!) but there's no reason why it couldn't and shouldn't have been a #1. It's vibrant and energetic and just fantastic!

[TomatoTom123]

I love both "Tears Of A Clown" and "I Don't Blame You At All"...! "I Don't Blame You" was actually something of a British hit [[just missing out on Top Ten at #11) and deservedly so. A great follow-up to the catchy "Tears Of A Clown". I never hear it on the radio today though????!!! A shame!

[TomatoTom123]

Take A Look Around by the Temptations should have been a bigger hit; I don't know what it followed anymore better

rob, I believe "Take A Look Around" followed "Superstar [[Remember How You Got Where You Are)". I like both very much but I'm not sure if it [[a mid-tempo ballad) was the best choice to follow [[the funky, rock-ish) "Superstar". Nevertheless it made #30 in the US and #12 in the UK!

[TomatoTom123]

I have to go for The Temptations' "It's Growing" and Jimmy Ruffin's "I've Passed This Way Before" both of which are virtually AS FANTASTIC as "My Girl" and "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted?" but were relatively small hits.

I have been paying attention to the radio recently and the only Jimmy Ruffin song they EVER seem to play is "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted?"... oh, that and "Hold On To My Love". I don't know about you but this frustrates me endlessly!! Why not play the equally-excellent follow-ups "I've Passed This Way Before" and "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" [[both of which were Top 30 hits here in the UK) for a change? How about, even, one of Jimmy's Top Ten UK hits like "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound" or "I'll Say Forever My Love"...? [[They just NEVER DO!)

*sigh*

Maybe I'm just listening to the wrong radio stations... LOL