The Supremes - "Nathan Jones" (1971) HQ - Stereo (Remastered)

"Nathan Jones" is a hit single recorded by The Supremes, released in spring 1971 (see 1971 in music) on the Motown label. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Leonard Caston and Kathy Wakefield, "Nathan Jones" was one of eight Top 40 hits the Supremes recorded after its original frontwoman, Diana Ross, left the act for a solo career.

The song centers around a woman's longing for her former lover, a man named Nathan Jones, who left her nearly a year ago "to ease [his] mind." Suffering through the long separation ("Winter's past, spring, and fall") without any contact or communication between herself and Jones, the narrator is no longer in love with Jones, remarking that "Nathan Jones/you've been gone too long".

"Nathan Jones" is an unusual entry among the Supremes' singles repertoire for several reasons, the least of which is the fact that all three members of the group (Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong) sing the song's lead vocal in unison. Clydie King was asked to sing along with the group to give the song a more fuller vocal sound. While working on the song, producer Frank Wilson had in mind a rock music style of phrasing for the song, resulting in the unison vocals. In addition, Wilson had his engineer, Cal Harris, use what can (now) be considered classic studio sensibilities to take the Funk Brothers' backing tracks for "Nathan Jones" and give them a phase shifting sound at various points during the song. This was accomplished by either using a second recorder (as the Beatles would have done) or (less likely) an outboard processor such as the blue faced MXR flanger.

Released as a single on April 15, 1971 with "Happy is a Bumpy Road" as the B-side, "Nathan Jones" peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, number-eight on the Billboard R&B chart, and number-five on the UK Singles Chart. "Nathan Jones" was the most successful single released from the Supremes' fourteenth regular studio album.

Nathan Jones"
Single by The Supremes
from the album Touch
B-side "Happy (is a Bumpy Road)"
Released April 15, 1971
Format 7" single
Recorded Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A): December 17, 1970
Genre R&B, pop rock, Northern soul
Length 3:04
Label Motown
M 1182
Writer(s) Leonard Caston
Kathy Wakefield
Producer Frank Wilson
The Supremes singles chronology
"River Deep - Mountain High" (with Four Tops)
(1971) "Nathan Jones"
(1971) "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart" (with Four Tops)
(1971)

Category:

Music

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• Supremes
• Nathan Jones
• 1971
• R&B
• Motown
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[TWTR4EVER]

@TheBacmaster No, thank you for your great effort!

In the song "Touch" both Mary Wilson & Jean Terrell share leads!

Also worth looking at from the album "New Ways But Love Stays" their version of Paul Simon "Bridge Over Trouble Waters" and John Lennon & Paul McCartney "Come Together" this album was also produced by master Frank Wilson who also cowrote and produced that album top ten hit "Stoned Love"

Frank Wilson is also credited for the album "Touch" & "Nathan Jones."

[TWTR4EVER]

@TWTR4EVER Correction, TheBacmaster does specified that Nathan Jones was the highest charting single from that particular album ( Touch) but the second single also titled "Touch" is one of the most beautiful ballads from its time, worth checking out!

[Footsniffer51]

Most young kids think that the television series "China Beach's" theme song is the best ever. Well it is because it's the Supremes' "Reflections" but this is the first time they've heard it. Reflections and Nathan Jones are two of the Supremes' best songs.

[snowdonranger1]

This has to be the best suprems song ever

[Membersonlyableto]

This is fantastic, can't stop playing it.

[HasBeenHometownDJ]

@TheMUZIKLOVAH

Hi,

I happen to like this song too. I thought the use of the spiriling "lift-off" effect was great. I learned that this effect is called "phasing" or "flanging" and is produced by playing two copies of the same song simultaneously. One copy of the song will be very slightly slower than the other, producing the swirling sound. A recording engineer told me this. For a better but lengthy explanation, look for this technique on Wikipedia.

[dormantone]

@rousse61 Hey, I was MUCH older ... I was 25!!! Real old fart here!!!

[TheMUZIKLOVAH]

. . I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT GIVES IT THAT SOUND EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING " SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE LIFTING OFF OR SOMETHING ? . . LOL . . I'M YOUNG BUT A BIG FAN OF THE SUPREMES . . THIS IS ON OF MY FAVORITES . . ALSO THE SECOND VERSE . . @ 1:10 - 1:32 AND @. . 1:37 - 1:45 . .THE OFFISH BEAT ARE THOSE HAND CLAPS . . ? . . I WAS BORN IN 1980 BUT I LOVE THEM LIKE I WAS OF THIS ERA . .

[danielexr]

a bit confused harmon structure, i can't understand it

[soulsupremeful]

Great choon :D

[Sal1675]

seriously a great track - stands the test of time -Blaxploitation at its best

[rousse61]

I remember when this came out in 1971, I was in fourth grade...old lady here..