I love the Supremes' version of this Joni Mitchell masterpiece for her incomparable 1971 album "Blue." Just became familiar with the group's cover this year and wish I'd known about it my whole life. Jean Terrell sings the lead vocal awesomely, and the backup parts by Lynda Laurence and Mary Wilson are beautiful too.
Wonderful photo montage. Thanks so much for the post, MOTOWNJIM37.
As anyone can see, visually this group had it all over Diana Ross and the Supremes in the choreography and action department, simply because the act was fashioned around three stars not a star and two backgrounds singers somewhere in the shadows with their microphones turned down. Something Billboard and Variety commended repeatedly in their reviews. Diana Ross and the Supremes were indeed a fabulous act visually but also highly restricted as to what they were permitted to do. Not so here.
@Drillin4Oil I agree! I still bought their records after the aforementioned women were in the group, but Jean, Mary, and Cindy were IT! With Jeans departure, for me, that's when the Supremes really died.
and to further add confusion to the mix....(blackberries)Sherlie,Clydie,Venetta,(Blossoms)Darlene,Fanita and Jean (the other one) were the backup choir on this. wow 3 groups of fabliss proportions....who knew?
AND, sadly, this 1600 seat intimate theatre was also torn down......Tina Turner was one of the last performers there, right after PRIVATE DANCER hit it big, and the HOT, WILD audience could have torn the place down themselves!
FYI, this footage is from MILL RUN THEATRE, Niles, Illinois. I should know...I took the (soundless---film cameras w/sound and film were quite expensive) movies back then----and every time THE GIRLS appeared in Chicago area. Yes, the majority of the song was LADDER. It was difficult to film there because it was "in the round" and the stage rotated.
Tony Turner writer of ALL THAT GLITTERS MY LIFE WITH THE SUPREMES says this is at THE WESTBURY MUSIC FAIR - on Long Island New York - it is a showroom in the round -
The live Vegas footage must have been some sort of convention ..as who would take photographs while the artist was performing ? And the flashbulbs are popping left and right !
This is really cool. I like this song, I have never heard the studiio version before. I know I am going to take a LOT of heat for this, but I do NOT like Jean's voice at all. There is something squeaky, or nasally about it.
I think the same thing. Jean's voice DID have a funny sound to it. I think they mixed it too high in the studio process. She sounded better when singing in a lower key, like on the "Right On" and "New Ways..." albums.
i wonder if Uni-Motown has a decent amount of video footage of the 70s Supremes to put together a DVD of their performances..they did it for the miracles, tempts and the diana ross supremes..jus wonderin...
man the lighting and the highlights are phenominal, this is my thansgiving. thanks more please someone will win an oscar for documentary if they put all these undiscovered videos together
I think they are perfroming the 'old hits medley' Its the same as the one they did on the live in japan album. The moves look the same. It does look like the Frontier in vegas too.
The song "All I Want", is from the Jimmy Webb album and that menas it's Lynda and not Cindy in '72. That's the album that really didn't go anywhere commercially, but that is Miss Laurence.
Jim.....it's really a beautiful clip. More than "Up the Ladder...", I think it's the medley of "Up the Ladder..." and "Everybody's Got the Right to Love", the one done on the Andy Williams Show. The "Up the Ladder..." choreography is clear...then they slow down a bit and do the same choreography as on the Andy Wms Show. I have a copy of that clip on my page
wish i would have seen them live but i was kinda young then but im a big fan now.that s why i was hoping the RTL tour would have happened.would have been nice to see them
I have never seen live footage of the "Jean" Supremes like this before, they look fabulous and seem so happy and together. Shame on you Motown for letting this group drift away.
Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this. And especially Miss Cindy . . . the gals look like they are having the best time!!! And those costumes were just dazzling in person. Thanks much. Mason (Paul)
YEAH! Oh THANK you for the clip! How I miss this grouping. Amazing. They all look as though they are having such fun. I remember them too from Central Park Tony. I see the choreography for "Stop" and "Up The". Wonder where this was. No matter. GIVE US MORE!
Still not sure of the event and when it was. As to what the Ladies are singing? could be 'Up the ladder' 'Supremes medley' or 'Everybody's got the right to love someone.' keep 'em coming. MJ.
Part of the choreogarphy looks like Up The Ladder To the Roof, yet I am not certain.. What else do you haev stashed away in old steamer trunsk in your attic?
Yes they are singing up the ladder...i think it a cut video of the Supremes singing their Medley of hits. If you noticed they also singing Stop in the Name of Love...(the tape is cut) then they are singing something else (tape is cut again) and then up the ladder.
Well, they're in the round. It reminds me of Valley Forge Music Fair (now defunct)--but I only remember Jean-Mary-Lynda being there w/ the Tempts. Can't figure out what they're singing.
I love the Supremes' version of this Joni Mitchell masterpiece for her incomparable 1971 album "Blue." Just became familiar with the group's cover this year and wish I'd known about it my whole life. Jean Terrell sings the lead vocal awesomely, and the backup parts by Lynda Laurence and Mary Wilson are beautiful too.
Wonderful photo montage. Thanks so much for the post, MOTOWNJIM37.
mrberryv 5 months ago
@mrberryv oops, i meant "FROM her incomparable..."
mrberryv 5 months ago
UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF
etrax2000 7 months ago
As anyone can see, visually this group had it all over Diana Ross and the Supremes in the choreography and action department, simply because the act was fashioned around three stars not a star and two backgrounds singers somewhere in the shadows with their microphones turned down. Something Billboard and Variety commended repeatedly in their reviews. Diana Ross and the Supremes were indeed a fabulous act visually but also highly restricted as to what they were permitted to do. Not so here.
waynebrasler 11 months ago
@waynebrasler I agree! They were finally a group! I was so glad to see Diana vacate the premisses. I got so tired of her "hogging" the spotlight.
proverbs1824 3 weeks ago
"Stoned Love" was racing up the charts and to my amazement and deep disappointment they did not include it in the show. I'm told at some performances
they did do it but I found the omission just one more piece of Motown mystery.
waynebrasler 11 months ago
With all due respect to Lynda, Scherrie and Susaye, this is really the final incarnation of Supremes for me.
Drillin4Oil 1 year ago 2
@Drillin4Oil I agree! I still bought their records after the aforementioned women were in the group, but Jean, Mary, and Cindy were IT! With Jeans departure, for me, that's when the Supremes really died.
proverbs1824 3 weeks ago
and to further add confusion to the mix....(blackberries)Sherlie,Clydie,Venetta,(Blossoms)Darlene,Fanita and Jean (the other one) were the backup choir on this. wow 3 groups of fabliss proportions....who knew?
bobcolllinstaco 1 year ago
Jean gave the Supremes a second reincarnation that no other singer could have done.
chrissen1 1 year ago 2
@chrissen1 I agree with you totally! Outside the original Supremes, Jean, Mary, and Cindy were the best!
proverbs1824 3 weeks ago
Whoever said that the Supremes were lazy after Diana left lied.
DetroitLives313 1 year ago 3
ANNNND, if memory serves, I'm quite certain RAY CHARLES was the opening act for THE SUPREMES, and guess who was one of his Raylettes at the time?
YEP, future SUPER SUPREME, Miss SUSAYE GREEN! who knew?????
klbuys 1 year ago
AND, sadly, this 1600 seat intimate theatre was also torn down......Tina Turner was one of the last performers there, right after PRIVATE DANCER hit it big, and the HOT, WILD audience could have torn the place down themselves!
klbuys 1 year ago
FYI, this footage is from MILL RUN THEATRE, Niles, Illinois. I should know...I took the (soundless---film cameras w/sound and film were quite expensive) movies back then----and every time THE GIRLS appeared in Chicago area. Yes, the majority of the song was LADDER. It was difficult to film there because it was "in the round" and the stage rotated.
Ken Lasky
klbuys 1 year ago
Wow! At last we finally get to find out the event. Thank you. M.J.
MOTOWNJIM37 1 year ago 2
Tony Turner writer of ALL THAT GLITTERS MY LIFE WITH THE SUPREMES says this is at THE WESTBURY MUSIC FAIR - on Long Island New York - it is a showroom in the round -
ramona2400 1 year ago
@ramona2400 I worked right down the street from Westbury Music Fair and would catch Mary everytime she played there.
DetroitLives313 1 year ago
Thanks for posting. What great footage. I recently saw Mary in concert and she is still wonderful.
keepitfreshncool 1 year ago
The live Vegas footage must have been some sort of convention ..as who would take photographs while the artist was performing ? And the flashbulbs are popping left and right !
etrax2000 2 years ago
what ever song there singing it looks like its mary's lead
MotownMaster 2 years ago
This is really cool. I like this song, I have never heard the studiio version before. I know I am going to take a LOT of heat for this, but I do NOT like Jean's voice at all. There is something squeaky, or nasally about it.
tummielvr 2 years ago
tummielvr,
I think the same thing. Jean's voice DID have a funny sound to it. I think they mixed it too high in the studio process. She sounded better when singing in a lower key, like on the "Right On" and "New Ways..." albums.
christiandior1947 2 years ago
i wonder if Uni-Motown has a decent amount of video footage of the 70s Supremes to put together a DVD of their performances..they did it for the miracles, tempts and the diana ross supremes..jus wonderin...
nealadams70 2 years ago
WOW! What a rare treat. Thanks MOTOWNJIM.
samtrak1204 2 years ago
Wow! Looks like they had really a hot stage show in the 70s!
CarlsBarkley 2 years ago
man the lighting and the highlights are phenominal, this is my thansgiving. thanks more please someone will win an oscar for documentary if they put all these undiscovered videos together
etrax2000 2 years ago
I think they are perfroming the 'old hits medley' Its the same as the one they did on the live in japan album. The moves look the same. It does look like the Frontier in vegas too.
bink104 2 years ago
They (esp Mary) look like they are having a total blast!
Schwartzwolf 2 years ago 6
Miss Wilson & her girls Are WORKING!
Cool.....
motorcitymiguel 2 years ago
The song "All I Want", is from the Jimmy Webb album and that menas it's Lynda and not Cindy in '72. That's the album that really didn't go anywhere commercially, but that is Miss Laurence.
Calvin375 2 years ago
Those of us who saw this trio of Supremes live know how great they were on stage.
Branner 2 years ago
its cindy in the video...lynda singing on the song...i think that the clip is from the frontier hotel
paultinsel 2 years ago
I think that is Cindy, not Lynda!
jmaduroboy 2 years ago
The song is from the Jimmy Webb produced album and is Lynda, Mary, and the Blackberries.
cleoharvey 2 years ago
It sounds very good by Jean Terrell. Thanx for sharing.
TYK1986 2 years ago
when they throw their arms in the air and snap down, that's "Stop! In the Name of Love"
TGTSTS 2 years ago
I think I see a little of the choreography from "Refections" too.
ptownmotowndj 2 years ago
And it truly is Cindy!
ptownmotowndj 2 years ago
They are REALLY BEAUTIFUL...can't stop watching this!!!
ptownmotowndj 2 years ago
Jim.....it's really a beautiful clip. More than "Up the Ladder...", I think it's the medley of "Up the Ladder..." and "Everybody's Got the Right to Love", the one done on the Andy Williams Show. The "Up the Ladder..." choreography is clear...then they slow down a bit and do the same choreography as on the Andy Wms Show. I have a copy of that clip on my page
ptownmotowndj 2 years ago
looks like they are singing UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF. i was born too late
redlabs 2 years ago
wish i would have seen them live but i was kinda young then but im a big fan now.that s why i was hoping the RTL tour would have happened.would have been nice to see them
redlabs 2 years ago
This is absolutely wonderful & unique.
I have never seen live footage of the "Jean" Supremes like this before, they look fabulous and seem so happy and together. Shame on you Motown for letting this group drift away.
br942 2 years ago
Now, THAT was THE 'SUPREMES'!
stage7 2 years ago
Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this. And especially Miss Cindy . . . the gals look like they are having the best time!!! And those costumes were just dazzling in person. Thanks much. Mason (Paul)
paul51 2 years ago
YEAH! Oh THANK you for the clip! How I miss this grouping. Amazing. They all look as though they are having such fun. I remember them too from Central Park Tony. I see the choreography for "Stop" and "Up The". Wonder where this was. No matter. GIVE US MORE!
Los
NYC
singlos1 2 years ago
Still not sure of the event and when it was. As to what the Ladies are singing? could be 'Up the ladder' 'Supremes medley' or 'Everybody's got the right to love someone.' keep 'em coming. MJ.
MOTOWNJIM37 2 years ago
When is this? What were they actually singing? Terrific footage! They looked so together and happy! 70's Supremes rule!
odiousj 2 years ago
This is a great footage. Is there audio to go with it. Where did the las picture come, because I've never seen it before. Great job Jim.
roddhunter 2 years ago
Wow they look Great and the energy on stage looks Great
TonyPofNYC 2 years ago
This is Joni Mitchell's 1971 song 'All I Want'.
delacortexxx 2 years ago
Wow! The focus seemed to be on Mary, and rightfully so. Her movement is nothing but spectacular!!!
padupadup 2 years ago
at one point they were doing stop in the name of love. it also looks like up the ladder,
gemini19662007 2 years ago
Hi Jim....I love the video you posted.....I always heard it was Lynda on the entire album, not Cindy.....I love these gowns.....Mike in Florida...
suprememikeBrazil 2 years ago
Jim what a wonderful gem you have kindly shared!
Part of the choreogarphy looks like Up The Ladder To the Roof, yet I am not certain.. What else do you haev stashed away in old steamer trunsk in your attic?
SupremeSoulUK 2 years ago 2
My pleasure Brian. It sure is great footage. They look like they are having so much fun up there on stage. MJ
MOTOWNJIM37 2 years ago 2
Yes they are singing up the ladder...i think it a cut video of the Supremes singing their Medley of hits. If you noticed they also singing Stop in the Name of Love...(the tape is cut) then they are singing something else (tape is cut again) and then up the ladder.
TonyPofNYC 2 years ago
Well, they're in the round. It reminds me of Valley Forge Music Fair (now defunct)--but I only remember Jean-Mary-Lynda being there w/ the Tempts. Can't figure out what they're singing.
Branner 2 years ago