Originally Posted by
danman869
There are plenty of bootlegs that have been floating around for a long time now of the "Right On"-era tracks and they are just BEGGGGGGGGGING for a "Right On: Expanded Edition" to come out officially from Universal [[heck, we can't even get to 1968's "Reflections: EE" and I'm talking about 1970's "Right On: EE"?! But I digress...)
Of the list mentioned above, however, there are clues and released material by other artists of the time that can give a glimpse into what The New Supremes were likely recording:
"Steppin' on a Dream" - Although the completed version was unreleased, it was clearly intended for the "New" Supremes. Within a few months, Hank Cosby recut the track in a different key and recorded it on The Ruffin Brothers. YEARS ago, before I'd acquired the Sups' version on boot, I snagged a 45 of the Ruffin Brothers' version and got an aural glimpse into what it sounded like. I think it's a good tune on both.
"Loneliness Is a Lonely Feeling" - Of course, Deke recorded this on Martha Reeves in late 1967/early 1968. That version is very much the LA version fo Classic Motown and [[if he was the very likely producer of the Sups' version in 1970) he totally reimagined it for the new era of 70s Motown. You can listen to Martha's version [[and you've gotta love it, IMO), but The Sups' version in '70 is a whole different ball of wax. It grows on ya!
"Send Him to Me" - The boot with Mary's lead sounds very much unfinished and missing some instrumental overdubs, IMO. You can hear the original version [[and more polished sounding than The Supremes' version from 1970) if you listen to Debbie Dean's version from late 1967/early 1968 that recently came out on "Motown Unreleased 1968 - Part 1." Like "Loneliness," the earlier version is going hard for the Classic Motown sound. Deke's work with The Supremes in 1970 is clearly reaching to put his songs into the new '70s Motown sound. With a proper mix, Mary's version from the vault might actually sound good and apropos of the RO era, but...for now, only having a Sups boot, I prefer to listen to Debbie Dean's previously unreleased version.
"If You Let Me Baby" - Another Mary lead that has stayed in the can and the boot is kind of muddy [[and/or it needs a proper mix) was originally recorded by Chris Clark in the early days of 1969 with Deke producing. He apparently decided to revisit it again with The Supremes in those early days of 1970. You can hear Jean singing background on The Supremes version [["Aaah-oooooh!" LOL). Would love to hear a clean, unvaulted mix on this one!
"Mind, Body and Soul" - This track is likely the same one used by Syreeta in 1970 [[see her "Rita Wright Years" CD). I'll bet it's the LA-based Blackberries backing Syreeta because 1) it's a Hal Davis/LA track, and 2) the same voices are behind Jean on the boot. I'm not sure this one by The Supremes for RO feels very...Supreme-ish to me, but...I'd still take a clean mix on it!
"How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone" - Jean kills this one. I recall it's been theorized that this track was one of the first Jean recorded after signing her contract with Motown/before she was officially added to The Supremes. Even though DRATS [[read: Diana and The Andantes) recorded the song a year before, the new arrangement and Jean's passionate vocal make this one a winner, IMO. However, the background vocalists don't sound like Mary and Cindy to me. Maybe it's the Blackberries? Although, it kind of sounds like Brenda and Patrice Holloway. Go figure?! Anyway, I would've welcomed this as an album cut on RO because it just KICKS. Hope we'll get this on a RO:EE someday!
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" - This boot has been floating around for a long time. It doesn't sound very Supremes-ish...however, "Motown Unreleased: 1966" FINALLY explained why: The Supremes' version is a Brenda Holloway track from 1966 with wah-wah guitar overdubs [[likely to help the 1966 track sound contemporary for 1970). There are different background vocals on The Supremes' version, but...it doesn't sound like JMC or just M/C. It is probably The Blackberries or...the Holloway Sisters...? Another track that is good, but...the blatant "this isn't The Supremes behind her" on the boot's mix make it feel like it would've been a bit out of place on RO.
"I Want to Go Back There Again" - I've never heard a bootleg of this by The Supremes [[though I'd LOVE to...anyone? Anyone?), but I'd bet that...once again...the same Hal Davis-produced track used by Syreeta was used for Jean. I wouldn't be surprised. Heck, the track was used a couple of years later for Diana's previously unreleased 1972 SOLO version of the song. Looking forward to hearing what it really was for The 70s Supremes.
"You've Got to Pay the Price" - Just a comment on this last song. CLEARLY this is The Andantes backing Jean. This was another song initially cut in August 1969 during that time when Jean first started recording, but not yet with Mary and Cindy. By the time vocals were added to the track in January 1970, they certainly could've used Mary and Cindy [[or the JMC background blend), but... this is pure Andantes. It could've been on RO, but...like a few of the other [[GOOD) tracks on RO that are clearly Andantes in the background, it would've caught a fan's ear and prompted the question, "where are Mary and Cindy?"
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