Diana Ross, 5th Dimension and song "stealing"

[Boogiedown]

It happened with the Supremes' COME SEE ABOUT ME. At the time, it was an album track that Nella Dodds heard, liked, and recorded her own version of. Scepter released it as a single, prompting Motown to rush-release the Supremes' version, even though BABY LOVE had only been out for a month.

You are rich with information Reese. Imagine releasing a second single four weeks after the prior one . That's unheard of! I wonder if Motown even learned something from the successful results of that, don't waste a single second to get that next single out. Keep the act on the charts continuously when possible, maintain the inertia.

reese:


And according to Florence LaRue of the Fifth Dimension, it is not like Motown was unaware of the Fifth's plans for LOVE HANGOVER. In an interview with Black Stars magazine, Florence said their manager asked Motown if they were going to release Diana's version as a single and they said no. So the Fifth recorded and released theirs.

Well it stands to reason that Florence would put a favorable spin on this since the manager she is referring to, Marc Gordon, was also her husband at the time. I find it believable, probable, that a discussion happened.
Who does Florence mean when she says there was a discussion with Motown? My guess would be the conversation was with Hal Davis the mastermind behind LOVE HANGOVER. After all he and Marc were good friends resulting from their close working relationship in the 60s at Motown.