Interesting thoughts Jobucats. In an interview conducted with Mary with Harry Weinger [[I think) from 2017 [[again, I think) Mary comments about really just hearing herself on "Where Did Our Love Go" in the background, but confirms that Florence was there. Harry also confirms this. I questioned in another thread if it is possible for the Vault Team to release a mix of "Where" where Flo is more audible. Either Andy or George responded that it couldn't be done for some reason or another that escapes me. I think it was something about Flo and Mary using the same mic? I don't know. I'm probably wrong on that. Just ignore me.
Anyway, to address the point of your post, it's possible that Berry saw Cindy's softer voice as an asset in his continuing plans for DRATS. I think he considered it a plus. I love Flo's voice, both as backing vocalist and lead vocalist, but she did often stand out, which I'm sure Gordy wouldn't have seen as an asset to the new phase where Diana is the absolute focal point. For the record, I don't think any of this had anything to do with Gordy's decision to eventually fire Florence.
Also important to note that toward the end of her time as a Supreme, Flo's voice was going through some changes. Whether it was due to a natural change of voice, which, believe it or not, women also go through, damage from alcohol and cigarettes, overuse of voice, misuse of voice, stress, or a combination of all of those things, one can only speculate. I mention it because on a lot of those R&H cuts, Flo is not the belter we had come to know and love. She fit right in the groove with Mary on those sophisticated tunes, so in actuality, going forward her voice may not have been an issue for a lot of those tunes like the Fats Waller Medley and such that the girls would record or perform so much during the DRATS period.
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