Originally Posted by
bradsupremes
Biting off more than he could chew? He had written, produced, and arranged entire albums for several artists before this - The 5th Dimension's The Magic Garden, Richard Harris' A Tramp Shining and The Yard Went On Forever, and Thelma Houston's Sunshower - all of which were critically acclaimed. And this doesn't include his own albums. Hell, A Tramp Shining was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1969. How many Motown produced albums got that honor up to that time? The answer is none.
Someone earlier had mentioned that it didn't sound like a Supremes album, but a Jimmy Webb one. True, but isn't that the whole point? Webb as a songwriter, producer, and arranger had a very distinct style and approach to his work. Any album he would produce for an artist is going to sound like it was crafted by him. That's why they wanted him. Would people rather prefer he attempt an HDH or Al Green knockoff?
I fully agree that this album is a major disappointment and it doesn't fit their sound. It's the worst album of their career, but I cannot understand why so many on here are quick to blame Webb for being in over his head or didn't have the track record to warrant it. The man is a highly influential and gifted songwriter/producer/arranger with several Grammys, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, given the highest honor with the Johnny Mercer Award in 2003 and then was chairman following Hal David. A songwriter who is hit or miss doesn't get those kind of honors.
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