1969 Singles Live?

[marybrewster]

SHAME released January 6
COMPOSER released March 27
SIGN released May 9

Based on how quickly these singles were released [[is that some sort of record? 3 singles in 5 months?) I'm curious to know if any of these were ever performed live, especially COMPOSER. SHAME and SIGN of course were presented on Sullivan; is it likely COMPOSER was just a throw away?

[reese]

I think someone posted that SHAME was performed live but only briefly because Diana did not like it.

[bradsupremes]

According to Cindy, "I'm Livin' In Shame" was briefly in the live show but removed as Diana didn't like singing it. They would have had a chart for it as we heard it on The Hollywood Palace. They appeared on The Tonight Show in March 1969 and "Shame" had just hit the top 10 like a week or two earlier so its quite possible they performed it live there, but unfortunately those tapes were erased by NBC.

There was a review from the Waldorf engagement in May 1969 that said they did "No Matter What Sign You Are." I haven't come across anything about "The Composer" ever being in the show.

[gman]

I was waiting in line at Walgreens about 3 years ago....and I almost fell over...the overhead was playing THE COMPOSER!!!!....I said WOW! loudly and the young couple in front of me turned around....I told them I am a lifelong Supremes fan and NEVER heard that song on a radio...never heard The Weight either....

[marybrewster]

I wonder if Diana didn't like singing it because she was so close to her own Mother? Maybe the lyrics of abandonment and death were too much?

Or maybe that it was just a ridiculous song, cooking bread and homemade jam, lol.

[sup_fan]

my guess is that Diana was always drawn to more positive songs. love and heartache. even though Love Child was a bit scandalous, it's still a positive message. Shame isn't just a silly song but the main character isn't really a positive image. she's sort of a terrible person and selfish and self absorbed. Given some of the PR issues and ego issues that were being tied to Diana, i bet she thought this song was just too negative

[pj1]

According to Cindy, "I'm Livin' In Shame" was briefly in the live show but removed as Diana didn't like singing it. They would have had a chart for it as we heard it on The Hollywood Palace.

And for that performance Mary & Cindy's voices are used on background and at times are louder than Diana's.

[Ollie9]

And for that performance Mary & Cindy's voices are used on background and at times are louder than Diana's.

All three women sound great here.

[marybrewster]

All three women sound great here.

I wonder why the 2nd verse was omitted. The song, in this context, doesn't tell the entire story of why the subject is living in shame, and really makes no sense.

[reese]

I wonder why the 2nd verse was omitted. The song, in this context, doesn't tell the entire story of why the subject is living in shame, and really makes no sense.

I agree. I assume it was cut for time.

[BayouMotownMan]

[QUOTE=bradsupremes;774332]According to Cindy, "I'm Livin' In Shame" was briefly in the live show but removed as Diana didn't like singing it. They would have had a chart for it as we heard it on The Hollywood Palace. They appeared on The Tonight Show in March 1969 and "Shame" had just hit the top 10 like a week or two earlier so its quite possible they performed it live there, but unfortunately those tapes were erased by NBC.

Brad I remember that appearance. They did Love Child. Then Ross was seated next to Bill Cosby who was hosting in Johnny Carson's place. Mary and Cindy were escorted backstage. Diana spoke to Cosby about moving to LA and how excited she was to be living there now. Then the two spoke about the MLK murder which the one year anniversary was coming up. Diana then joined Mary and Cindy back on stage and did Somewhere, they was they did it the night King was killed in 68 on the Carson show. Living In Shame was not performed.

[bradsupremes]

Brad I remember that appearance. They did Love Child. Then Ross was seated next to Bill Cosby who was hosting in Johnny Carson's place. Mary and Cindy were escorted backstage. Diana spoke to Cosby about moving to LA and how excited she was to be living there now. Then the two spoke about the MLK murder which the one year anniversary was coming up. Diana then joined Mary and Cindy back on stage and did Somewhere, they was they did it the night King was killed in 68 on the Carson show. Living In Shame was not performed.

Amazing how they would repeat the same songs. I know for their November 1969 appearance they did "The Lady Is A Tramp/Let's Get Away From It All" again.

Do you remember what they wore on that March 1969 appearance?

[JohnnyB]

What was BG’s fascination with The Lady Is A Tramp?? I absolutely love the Supremes’ performances of it, but why not promote a new single or ANYTHING else from their repertoire. I was surprised Lady was performed on two separate Hollywood Palace appearances as well. Diana was still performing Lady on the Tonight Show in 1977. I don’t get it…

[TheMotownManiac]

SHAME released January 6
COMPOSER released March 27
SIGN released May 9

Based on how quickly these singles were released [[is that some sort of record? 3 singles in 5 months?) I'm curious to know if any of these were ever performed live, especially COMPOSER. SHAME and SIGN of course were presented on Sullivan; is it likely COMPOSER was just a throw away?

they did shame in January and in March 1969 in coliseums, but, I’m told, not at the fairmont.
I don’t know anyone who ever heard the composer live
My cousin saw them three nights in a row in August 1969, and they did sign at every show.

[Spreadinglove21]

What was BG’s fascination with The Lady Is A Tramp?? I absolutely love the Supremes’ performances of it, but why not promote a new single or ANYTHING else from their repertoire. I was surprised Lady was performed on two separate Hollywood Palace appearances as well. Diana was still performing Lady on the Tonight Show in 1977. I don’t get it…

I suspect the main purpose of performing songs like Lady is A Tramp was to promote the nightclub/live act. Motown was making money from that as well.

[BayouMotownMan]

Amazing how they would repeat the same songs. I know for their November 1969 appearance they did "The Lady Is A Tramp/Let's Get Away From It All" again.

Do you remember what they wore on that March 1969 appearance?

I remember it being just street clothes. If memory serves me when they did the Carson show the night King was murdered, they did Somewhere in the black tassled gowns from the Sullivan show [[Forever Came Today).

I don't remember them being on Carson in November 69. Other than the medley what else did they perform?

BTW, are you the Brad Scarton that is on Facebook?

[sup_fan]

What was BG’s fascination with The Lady Is A Tramp?? I absolutely love the Supremes’ performances of it, but why not promote a new single or ANYTHING else from their repertoire. I was surprised Lady was performed on two separate Hollywood Palace appearances as well. Diana was still performing Lady on the Tonight Show in 1977. I don’t get it…

back in the 60s, the idea was to continue to promote Diana [[and by association the girls) as a major entertainer along the likes of Sinatra, Sammy, Dean, Dinah, etc. Grey haired older ladies and men from the midwest would make trips out to Vegas or NYC for their "big vacations" and they appreciated this type of music. plus the big nightclub scene was still huge. gigs like the Astoria Hotel, the Deauville in Miami, the Fairmont in san Fran, the Grove, Vegas, Tahoe, etc were all super high-paying contracts. and acts could live a long time once they hit that tier of the entertainment world. the pop music scene is fickle - one min you're in, the next you're out. but even without massive high numbers, a high quality cabaret act could continue to earn.

as for in the 70s with Evening With DR and the Carson show, i think it was a couple of reasons. 1) it's an MOR song that everyone knows and the older generation enjoys. Diana was still targeting those audiences with her shows and tv appearances. 2) this is a theory from the DR Project website and i think it's quite realistic. Lady isn't a wildly challenging song. it's a show stopper and Diana had long-since perfected it. it's an easy way to get a great number into the act early as a "warm up" number. helps get Diana's voice ready for the intense work to come and gets the audience up and excited. On Carson Diana was going to sing The Boss live and her adlibs and high notes were a real push for her and so why not get things rolling?

[reese]

as for in the 70s with Evening With DR and the Carson show, i think it was a couple of reasons. 1) it's an MOR song that everyone knows and the older generation enjoys. Diana was still targeting those audiences with her shows and tv appearances. 2) this is a theory from the DR Project website and i think it's quite realistic. Lady isn't a wildly challenging song. it's a show stopper and Diana had long-since perfected it. it's an easy way to get a great number into the act early as a "warm up" number. helps get Diana's voice ready for the intense work to come and gets the audience up and excited. On Carson Diana was going to sing The Boss live and her adlibs and high notes were a real push for her and so why not get things rolling?

For her March 1977 Tonight Show appearance, Diana only sang TRAMP. She was there to promote her upcoming tv special. It might have been nice if she had sang something else but her most recent single was from the previous August. TRAMP was on her recent live album so that might be why she performed it, even though it wasn't in her upcoming special.

When she hosted the Tonight Show in 1979, Diana's first number was the Cole Porter standard RIDIN' HIGH, followed by THE BOSS and later, REACH OUT AND TOUCH. RIDIN' HIGH was an interesting choice as I don't believe it was in her act at the time. At least it wasn't when I saw her that April but one never knows for sure.

[sup_fan]

For her March 1977 Tonight Show appearance, Diana only sang TRAMP. She was there to promote her upcoming tv special. It might have been nice if she had sang something else but her most recent single was from the previous August. TRAMP was on her recent live album so that might be why she performed it, even though it wasn't in her upcoming special.

When she hosted the Tonight Show in 1979, Diana's first number was the Cole Porter standard RIDIN' HIGH, followed by THE BOSS and later, REACH OUT AND TOUCH. RIDIN' HIGH was an interesting choice as I don't believe it was in her act at the time. At least it wasn't when I saw her that April but one never knows for sure.

oh that's right! i thought it was Tramp again