Originally Posted by
sup_fan
I have to say, between the two voices, I prefer Gladys'. I just find her tone and style so appealing. there's just a touch of raspy-ness that makes it stand out. She comes across as your "wide older sister" telling you how things are. Whereas Mary Wells came across more like a young woman in her 20s. And Diana came across as a woman you're age [[at least until DRATS changed things).
I do enjoy Wanda on a lot of songs but find her falsetto a bit too harsh and shrill. But she could "purr" almost like Eartha Kitt.
Your point about group identity is very accurate. In watching period videos of all sorts of groups and singers, most of them fail to really come across as fresh and vital. they're still, young, immature, lack of showmanship, etc. Probably the Sups were like this too, to some degree when they started. But each of the 3 sups really had an entertainer's mindset and presence - whether natural or coached by Motown. MR&TV and the Marvelettes really seemed to just be more anonymous, like many of the other groups around
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