Originally Posted by
jim aka jtigre99
Motown deciding on Everybody as the second single is understandable. It actually is similar in content and sound to Diana's Reach Out and Touch. Everybody could have used some finesse and tweaking before it was released, so you can tell it was a rush release. I liked Right On very much and loved The Loving Country and wished that had been a single but now with different ears, I can see it was an excellent album track but not a good single choice.
Plus Everybody and Reach did about the same with a #21 and #20 charting. Those numbers are similar to the chart action of many DRATS releases like Forever at #28, Some Things #30, Composer #27 and No Matter #31.
I wonder who was choosing singles as New Ways needed a second single after Stoned Love but got none even with some possibilities of Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music or Time To Break Down. Same with the High Energy with IGLMHDTW not being followed up with either High Energy or You're What's Missing. Why did Motown not follow up Stoned Love, the biggest hit or IGLMHDTW, a good comeback?
Also, I have wondered why they chose Touch as a follow up to Nathan Jones and the members here feel that was a nail in the Supremes' coffin because in 1971 it only went to #71. Diana also had an up & down chart action and I wonder why they chose Sleepin' in 1974 or Sorry Doesn't Always Make it Right in 1975. Sleepin' was similar to Touch as a departure in sound and it only made it to #70, similar numbers to Touch. Sorry didn't even make it to the top 100 Bilboard Pop chart or R&B chart.
I just wonder with all of the misfires for singles, who was picking the singles? Plus, why do we seem to focus more on the chart action of the 70's Supremes and and sound departures yet nothing is mentioned on some similar things for Diana? It seems someone at Motown didn't have their pulse on what to release for two acts that helped Motown become what it was.
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