Diana Ross would have been BIGGER minus The Supremes, she was the Logical Follow Up Solo Star to Mary Wells, keep in Mind My World is Empty without you was recorded WITHOUT Flo or Cindy, Someday We'll be Together & Love Child had NO Supremes on Background whatsoever
There were enough "Psuedo Supremes" used to Prove the Point Over & Over again, The background vocals were ALWAYS secondary to the Music & Unique character of Diana's Leads
@TheReturnOfBigBear Agreed that Diana's voice was definitely unique and had universal crossover appeal however, it was Flo, Mary and Diana as a group that led to her breakout success. Gordy used The Supremes for a platform for Diana as a solo star. I dont think Diana would have been as nearly as sucessful without them.
ALL THREE of them sound wonderful & ALL THREE OF THEM were excellent singers and NEITHER of them would be where they were/are without EACH OTHER. And was it not FLORENCE who actually started the group? They all played a significant part, so the need to downplay ANY member of the group, especially 40+ freakin' years later is just ridiculous and tired out.
I wish there were film clips of those Motown groups singing acapella at the Motown studios. Why? Because, remember that so many of those youngsters got their start singing in the church. Maybe not in the choir, but a strong informal training nontheless. And that was when most black churches were not using instrumentation, other than perhaps a piano or organ.
[Oh, I wish I could see a clip of Sam Cook with the Soul Stirrers.]
How was this recording produced? Are these vocal tracks from master tapes, and therefore leaving out the instrumental tracks? I don't know how Motown was recording their material in those days. There are a couple of other 'acapella' tunes from the Temptations, but you can faintly hear the instrumental track(s) that have been muted. Just curious about this. Not a complaint. In fact, I really find it interesting to hear these voices acapella.
This is from the Singing Store's Motown Karaoke series. 12 discs full of Motowns top songs, most with stereo backing tracks, and seperate leand and or background vocals. You gotta hear little Michael Jackson singing his heart out with no musical accompaniment.
Continuing..... The Andantes were very, very good at what they did, but what they did was to sweeten and fill out the sound while keeping the lead firmly in focus. It's a different balance, not interplay like this (or Baby Love or Where did our love go).
I am totally loving these these acapella versions. They also hilight just how important the backing vocals were on those earlier recordings. The early Supremes hits were obvious group numbers that just weren't the same without the back up parts. I actually like a lot of the back up on this better than the lead, those deep hey hey heys just make this record.
After Flo's departure they're basically solo Ross recordings with studio back up.
@cmptrwiz Actually, Reflections was NOT Florence & Mary..although the credits may say so. My friends, fellow supremes listeners & I have always speculated that ineither Mary or Florence sang on Reflections. I put this off until I listened to the Reflections backing track and heard a THREE PART HARMONY!
I WAS LIKE OMG! I KNEW IT WAS THE ANDANTES!!!
MOTOWN WAS VERY SNEAKY!!
I think that Flo and Mary recorded the song but their vocals may have been taken off before release.
@SinclairisCool From what I've been told (AND AFTER MUCH RESEARCH) It was Mary and .....er....ANOTHER VOCALIST. Flo recorded a version but it is not her SOPRANIC voice on Reflections. But...I've just decided to leave the matter alone...the truth will eventually come out. (I'VE ALSO PISSED OFF SEVERAL FANS ON HERE WITH ALL MY TALK OF MARY AND FLO NOT BEING ON CERTAIN CLASSICS. LOL. SOME PEOPLE CAN'T EXCEPT THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE!)
@SinclairisCool Yes. You're not the only one. You hear the soprano on this song SANNNGING this backing vocal. It does NOT sound anything like the one ringing out those notes on "Reflections". (The vocal on Reflections sounds like Cindy. I think it may be her. It doesn't really sound like the Soprano on Love Child or any other Andantes vocalist.) hmm... What do you think?
@stawberry19919 - sadly, by the time "Reflections" came out the vocals were being mixed so far back it's hard to tell who's who. Not to fellow Motown artists would pop up on each other's songs, and the ubiquitous Andantes were constantly there filling things in so many Motown recordings. Listen closely to "Forever Came Today"- it KINDA sounds like Flo's on there (she swore she was, but it's been suggested the background was erased and re-recorded)...but that is definitely NOT Mary.
These girls were true singers. The comparison between Flo and Diana is so overdone! Flo def has a more dynamic voice but Diana had the uniqueness that to this day will never be duplicated and that's what gave them the most number one hits out of any female group in history. And Mary had a nice voice as well listen to "After All", I loved her verse the best in that particular song.
It also has been discovered by Universal Music that Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong are on actually more recording with Diana Ross as a group and previously suggested in Mary's book. They are on more album cuts. People have gone overboard and overstating the Andantes actual involvement in the Supremes recordings after 1967. Also, Merry Clayton is singing with the Waters Sisters in the background on Someday We'll Be Together. Thanks
Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard sound glorious here and Diana Ross handles the lyrics by HDH very well! This is one of my favorite Supremes record and probably the most popular by the original group.
@jerm14 are you serious? you are aware this is NOT the Andantes on backgrounds, right? There's a simple two-part harmony here. Some other Supremes recordings have been disputed but this one never was. Listen closely, there's just two people there. And the voices are VERY clearly Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson.
All I want to say is, thank you strawberry for all these, great great stuff. I would love to here any of todays (stars) try this lol, not friggin likely...
Spectacular lead vocal by Diana Ross; crisp, clear & sensual, as usual. Good BGs, too, though, I prefer, at least, a 3-part harmony BG for Diana Ross, as provided by The Andantes.
people can say what they want about flo. when she was in group 10 no. 1s. five in 1964-1965 alone. when she left in 67 they could only reel in 2 between 67-69. she was the voice.
What I love about this is that it shows how incredible the group was. Yes, Flo dominates the BG but Mary's rich alto is the ideal contrast to it. Diana's lead is amazing: she plays PERFECTLY off the track while conveying the exact amount of hurt, hope and sexiness to create the overall mood of the record. Superb!
Gotta say outside of diana sounding so good Mary and Flo are doing the background and sounding fantastic. That's why I say when the three of them put their voices together the Supremes were MAGIC.
Never Ever will music be like this... This music is what made you forget about all the crazy stuff happinin' in the world.... Wish I could turn the hand of time...man
A more accurate description is the problem with music of today is that it's all synthetic. If someone is off key, ok they'll fix that, don't have a saxaphone, ok the keyboard synthezier will sub for that. The synth sound got old quickly, but the industry hung onto it cause it's very inexpensive. Best example of this synth sound is Sheena Easton's hit -Machinery or Human League's music
Yeah Oprah calls out all the bad people....Berry sold Motown for 300 Million - I think the artists and those who toured should at least have healthcare, if not some money...I mean after 25 million what else do u need?
This sounds great..i love it...Flo and Mary make the Supremes the Supremes.And Flo..well what can i say that hasnt been said about her....shes Supreme..Thanks for posting this.
Everytime these HITS come blaring across the airwaves royalties should be going to Florence's estate...It's sooooo sad how she got swindled...SOOOOOOOOO SAD!!!
Flo was not swindled. Flo hired Berry Gordy's chauffeur to be her manager and they hired a shyster lawyer who sold away Flo's rights for immediate gain which he was getting a percentage of and eventually took most of. Motown warned Flo this was a bad deal but she didn't listen. It IS sad, but the deal she got is the deal she sought. STOOOOPID of her to sign away all of her royalties considering Greatest Hits was currently in the top 10 for its 5th straight month, she was surrounded by nitwits.
That's FLO Singing!!! ehm...excuse me...That's Flo....SAAAANNNNNGIIIINNNN'!!!! For all of you haters! LOL! Ehm...that means you Oceanbound!! LMAO! J/K!
Diana Ross would have been BIGGER minus The Supremes, she was the Logical Follow Up Solo Star to Mary Wells, keep in Mind My World is Empty without you was recorded WITHOUT Flo or Cindy, Someday We'll be Together & Love Child had NO Supremes on Background whatsoever
TheReturnOfBigBear 1 week ago
Super hot!! Remix time forreal..Thanx again
2cee1021 2 weeks ago
Instead of Mowtown it should have been called Royalty Records becaused it created so many kings and queens.
Houdini774 3 weeks ago
There were enough "Psuedo Supremes" used to Prove the Point Over & Over again, The background vocals were ALWAYS secondary to the Music & Unique character of Diana's Leads
TheReturnOfBigBear 1 month ago
@TheReturnOfBigBear Agreed that Diana's voice was definitely unique and had universal crossover appeal however, it was Flo, Mary and Diana as a group that led to her breakout success. Gordy used The Supremes for a platform for Diana as a solo star. I dont think Diana would have been as nearly as sucessful without them.
georgiaboi420 1 week ago in playlist live
ALL THREE of them sound wonderful & ALL THREE OF THEM were excellent singers and NEITHER of them would be where they were/are without EACH OTHER. And was it not FLORENCE who actually started the group? They all played a significant part, so the need to downplay ANY member of the group, especially 40+ freakin' years later is just ridiculous and tired out.
awarren92 2 months ago
Mary + Flo = ZERO without Diana Ross, mizzfoxy9 (aka TWTR4EVER)
TheReturnOfBigBear 4 months ago
Mary and Flo......==Perfection!!!!
mizzfoxy9 4 months ago 3
OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!! :D
OfficialNcFx 6 months ago
I wish there were film clips of those Motown groups singing acapella at the Motown studios. Why? Because, remember that so many of those youngsters got their start singing in the church. Maybe not in the choir, but a strong informal training nontheless. And that was when most black churches were not using instrumentation, other than perhaps a piano or organ.
[Oh, I wish I could see a clip of Sam Cook with the Soul Stirrers.]
melotone 9 months ago
How was this recording produced? Are these vocal tracks from master tapes, and therefore leaving out the instrumental tracks? I don't know how Motown was recording their material in those days. There are a couple of other 'acapella' tunes from the Temptations, but you can faintly hear the instrumental track(s) that have been muted. Just curious about this. Not a complaint. In fact, I really find it interesting to hear these voices acapella.
melotone 9 months ago
@melotone
This is from the Singing Store's Motown Karaoke series. 12 discs full of Motowns top songs, most with stereo backing tracks, and seperate leand and or background vocals. You gotta hear little Michael Jackson singing his heart out with no musical accompaniment.
01chippe 4 months ago
flo is smashin it
americansize0 10 months ago
Another true American "Gem". !
whipcity1096 1 year ago
You have to love it!
ReeseJaquana1 1 year ago
Flawless!
slimsxyblkwoman 1 year ago
Continuing..... The Andantes were very, very good at what they did, but what they did was to sweeten and fill out the sound while keeping the lead firmly in focus. It's a different balance, not interplay like this (or Baby Love or Where did our love go).
mafketays 1 year ago
I am totally loving these these acapella versions. They also hilight just how important the backing vocals were on those earlier recordings. The early Supremes hits were obvious group numbers that just weren't the same without the back up parts. I actually like a lot of the back up on this better than the lead, those deep hey hey heys just make this record.
After Flo's departure they're basically solo Ross recordings with studio back up.
mafketays 1 year ago
i love the supremes. nothing come close...
BlondeRocknRoll 1 year ago
@cmptrwiz Actually, Reflections was NOT Florence & Mary..although the credits may say so. My friends, fellow supremes listeners & I have always speculated that ineither Mary or Florence sang on Reflections. I put this off until I listened to the Reflections backing track and heard a THREE PART HARMONY!
I WAS LIKE OMG! I KNEW IT WAS THE ANDANTES!!!
MOTOWN WAS VERY SNEAKY!!
I think that Flo and Mary recorded the song but their vocals may have been taken off before release.
WHATAYA THINK?
stawberry19919 1 year ago
@stawberry19919 i own both books by mary & see she says that (reflections)was the last song & album flo appeared on
damezydemo 1 year ago
@damezydemo Okay! =D
stawberry19919 1 year ago
@stawberry19919
I think it was: Florence, Mary and a member of The Andantes.
SinclairisCool 1 year ago
@SinclairisCool From what I've been told (AND AFTER MUCH RESEARCH) It was Mary and .....er....ANOTHER VOCALIST. Flo recorded a version but it is not her SOPRANIC voice on Reflections. But...I've just decided to leave the matter alone...the truth will eventually come out. (I'VE ALSO PISSED OFF SEVERAL FANS ON HERE WITH ALL MY TALK OF MARY AND FLO NOT BEING ON CERTAIN CLASSICS. LOL. SOME PEOPLE CAN'T EXCEPT THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE!)
Peace and Love!
stawberry19919 1 year ago
@stawberry19919
I've always had my doubts as to weather it was Florence on Reflections. I always thought it was Cindy Or and Andante.
SinclairisCool 1 year ago
@SinclairisCool Yes. You're not the only one. You hear the soprano on this song SANNNGING this backing vocal. It does NOT sound anything like the one ringing out those notes on "Reflections". (The vocal on Reflections sounds like Cindy. I think it may be her. It doesn't really sound like the Soprano on Love Child or any other Andantes vocalist.) hmm... What do you think?
stawberry19919 1 year ago
@stawberry19919
Well maybe it was Florence, but if you listen to the backing vocal's, there quite deep
(if that makes sense) So it could be that Florence isn't very close to the mic, and Mary had been turned up slightly?
SinclairisCool 1 year ago
@stawberry19919 - sadly, by the time "Reflections" came out the vocals were being mixed so far back it's hard to tell who's who. Not to fellow Motown artists would pop up on each other's songs, and the ubiquitous Andantes were constantly there filling things in so many Motown recordings. Listen closely to "Forever Came Today"- it KINDA sounds like Flo's on there (she swore she was, but it's been suggested the background was erased and re-recorded)...but that is definitely NOT Mary.
mnmcv1 6 months ago
These girls were true singers. The comparison between Flo and Diana is so overdone! Flo def has a more dynamic voice but Diana had the uniqueness that to this day will never be duplicated and that's what gave them the most number one hits out of any female group in history. And Mary had a nice voice as well listen to "After All", I loved her verse the best in that particular song.
fulleffect29 1 year ago 14
@fulleffect29 Yes! I love Mary's vocal on "Come and Get These Memories". When she sings "SINCE YOU'RE GONE OUT OF MY LIFE!!!!" I get goosebumps! =P
And her lead on YOU ARE THE HEART OF ME is breathtaking! =D
stawberry19919 1 year ago 3
oh such a wonderful version..lovely.
ABITTERSWEETGIRL 1 year ago
It also has been discovered by Universal Music that Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong are on actually more recording with Diana Ross as a group and previously suggested in Mary's book. They are on more album cuts. People have gone overboard and overstating the Andantes actual involvement in the Supremes recordings after 1967. Also, Merry Clayton is singing with the Waters Sisters in the background on Someday We'll Be Together. Thanks
DetroitLives313 1 year ago
Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard sound glorious here and Diana Ross handles the lyrics by HDH very well! This is one of my favorite Supremes record and probably the most popular by the original group.
DetroitLives313 1 year ago
You can't fool me. The andantes sang all these
parts- even the ones attributed to Diana. Everyone
knows the andantes sang all of the Supremes songs.
jerm14 2 years ago
@jerm14
Erm.. not until 1967 at least. jeez.
SinclairisCool 1 year ago
@jerm14 are you serious? you are aware this is NOT the Andantes on backgrounds, right? There's a simple two-part harmony here. Some other Supremes recordings have been disputed but this one never was. Listen closely, there's just two people there. And the voices are VERY clearly Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson.
mnmcv1 6 months ago
Thanks for posting that--it's great! You can really hear the harmony in the background.
Branner 2 years ago
Those Hey Hey Hey's knock me out!
LetTheRainCome 2 years ago 3
Mary is the low voice(alto) and Flo is the high voice(soprano)
djamaal86 2 years ago
I thought I'd share that I went to Detroit this last week. I made a point to pay my respects to Flo and left red roses on her grave.
I must have just stayed there for some time just visiting and got pics.
I've wanted to go see her grave for so long.
Just wanted to share!
I also went to motown while I was there and saw some very wonderful things!
svgbaritone 2 years ago 4
@svgbaritone ...Thats really cool. Nice trip to take
44joints 1 year ago
All I want to say is, thank you strawberry for all these, great great stuff. I would love to here any of todays (stars) try this lol, not friggin likely...
susanmw1 2 years ago
All three are "killing it", lol
timmy841212 2 years ago
What is grifiti talking about that is Florence carrying the background. fool
batterzupdc 2 years ago
stawberry19919 what do you mean by "Flo is killing it"
TheCoolSinclair 2 years ago
Spectacular lead vocal by Diana Ross; crisp, clear & sensual, as usual. Good BGs, too, though, I prefer, at least, a 3-part harmony BG for Diana Ross, as provided by The Andantes.
TheReturnOfStephan1 2 years ago
Flo? no....that's Mary that killin' it. Alot of ppl tihnk that's Flo that had the soulful background vocal...but that was Mary Mary Mary baby.
grifitti 2 years ago
Wow! Sure makes you appreciate what great singing was going on!
keithcop 2 years ago
Great harmony.Flo got burned by motown
tuzwol 2 years ago 3
She sure did!....and why Mary didnt back her up I don't know!.....
TC6759 2 years ago
one word:
AMAZING.
misskibbs 2 years ago
people can say what they want about flo. when she was in group 10 no. 1s. five in 1964-1965 alone. when she left in 67 they could only reel in 2 between 67-69. she was the voice.
viewer0510 2 years ago 3
Don't forget to watch Florence Ballard's (Unsung) story on June 28th 09.
DEEDUBB1979 2 years ago
They sound good together!
terrancesings 2 years ago
LOL xD
THEJLG 2 years ago
Just Wonderful
tayishere202 2 years ago
What I love about this is that it shows how incredible the group was. Yes, Flo dominates the BG but Mary's rich alto is the ideal contrast to it. Diana's lead is amazing: she plays PERFECTLY off the track while conveying the exact amount of hurt, hope and sexiness to create the overall mood of the record. Superb!
supremester2 2 years ago 2
It sure is;)
tayishere202 2 years ago
Gotta say outside of diana sounding so good Mary and Flo are doing the background and sounding fantastic. That's why I say when the three of them put their voices together the Supremes were MAGIC.
Vincent50 2 years ago 4
My moms group right here.
sivvybee 2 years ago
Mary's alto & Miss Flo's soprano Are Incredible!.......
motorcitymiguel 3 years ago 4
Never Ever will music be like this... This music is what made you forget about all the crazy stuff happinin' in the world.... Wish I could turn the hand of time...man
LOU502EFR 3 years ago 8
A more accurate description is the problem with music of today is that it's all synthetic. If someone is off key, ok they'll fix that, don't have a saxaphone, ok the keyboard synthezier will sub for that. The synth sound got old quickly, but the industry hung onto it cause it's very inexpensive. Best example of this synth sound is Sheena Easton's hit -Machinery or Human League's music
LoveTheSupremes 2 years ago
Mary and Flo are what gave this great record "punch"! LOL! No one could do it like the could.
DetroitD60 3 years ago 6
Right! I just love Florence's soprano and Mary's alto put together.
heartandsoul22 3 years ago 3
wen this sonq is sunq slowlyy... it makes me cry a lil
iiggiie 3 years ago
Damn Flo! Sang it!
bcoombs1988 3 years ago 4
Yeah Oprah calls out all the bad people....Berry sold Motown for 300 Million - I think the artists and those who toured should at least have healthcare, if not some money...I mean after 25 million what else do u need?
TOMLUVSMUSIC 3 years ago
Love it!
heartandsoul22 3 years ago
This sounds great..i love it...Flo and Mary make the Supremes the Supremes.And Flo..well what can i say that hasnt been said about her....shes Supreme..Thanks for posting this.
CLIPPERC 3 years ago 6
I do not know, how the voice of Florence Ballard sounded, BUT this leadvocal is by Diana Ross!
SuperstarX 3 years ago
LMAO! I think that we ALL are very well aware of that!
stawberry19919 3 years ago
some dont know about harmonies,dont sweat it
tuzwol 3 years ago
LOL! Thanx!
stawberry19919 3 years ago
No one said the lead vocal was by Flo, we all know it is Diana.
THEJLG 3 years ago
Everytime these HITS come blaring across the airwaves royalties should be going to Florence's estate...It's sooooo sad how she got swindled...SOOOOOOOOO SAD!!!
rashonts 3 years ago 6
Flo was not swindled. Flo hired Berry Gordy's chauffeur to be her manager and they hired a shyster lawyer who sold away Flo's rights for immediate gain which he was getting a percentage of and eventually took most of. Motown warned Flo this was a bad deal but she didn't listen. It IS sad, but the deal she got is the deal she sought. STOOOOPID of her to sign away all of her royalties considering Greatest Hits was currently in the top 10 for its 5th straight month, she was surrounded by nitwits.
supremester2 2 years ago 4
Flo wasn't very bright. Nice voice, but not too lucid in the head, and she wasn't sophisticated like Mary and certainly Diana
LoveTheSupremes 2 years ago
COME see aobut me COME see about me - this is probably one of my favorite supremes songs thanks for the post 5*
FlorenceSupremes 3 years ago 3
Mary and Flo didn't even need help from the Andantes!!
supremesfan2 3 years ago 12
Mary and Flo were incredible! They really made this song for me. Those were some badddd girls!
DetroitD60 3 years ago 18
Love it! How do u make instrumentals and acapella tracks
Jamesdavideason 3 years ago 3
I don't make them. I just post them.
stawberry19919 3 years ago
That's FLO Singing!!! ehm...excuse me...That's Flo....SAAAANNNNNGIIIINNNN'!!!! For all of you haters! LOL! Ehm...that means you Oceanbound!! LMAO! J/K!
stawberry19919 3 years ago