Originally Posted by
jobucats
Berry Gordy wanted these groups to reach much more than the typical youth oriented market which other popular acts seemed to cater exclusively back in the day. Get the youth to a concert where they would often be accompanied by their parents, and the groups would not only perform the 'hits' but also songs which the adults can relate to. Word of mouth spreads that the music group is not only 'cool' [[or 'groovy') with the young folk but also very musically relevant and talented in the category of 'standards'.
Thanks to the Supremes' repertoire which included MOR standards, I was exposed to such classics as the "Rodgers and Hart" catalogue, show tunes, and the "Funny Girl" selections. Such exposure broadened my appreciation of all sorts of music. Even today, I'll hear a song like "Where or When" being sung by a contemporary artists and immediately my mind goes back to the first time I heard it by the Supremes in the 60s by the Supremes. I expect the artist will do it with the same phrasing as Diana sang the song, only to realize that each artist has his/own interpretation.
The Supremes and Temptations were pretty much doing pretty well on the sales of their pop oriented albums. Berry, imo, knew what he was doing by throwing just enough of the standards/show tunes to their albums as to broaden their appeal.
I've noticed, in listening to the Supremes' live concerts from the 60s, that they [[arrangers, musicians, singers) tended to treat the performance of the 'hits' as "let's just rush through these and get them over with" while at the same time performing the standards with more care and detail.
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