THE SUPREMES #1
We kick off with some Ohio doo-woppers, formed in 1954.
THE SUPREMES #2
Next, we have a "7" piece vocal harmony group from Massachusetts circa 1955. I say "7" because... and I'm not a Maths teacher, so don't take my word on this... but there are 8 of them in the photo above. Lead singer Ralph Murphy got his Uncle Lee to sing the bass part on the song below... so maybe he's the 8th member.
They called themselves the Supremes because they used to hang out in front of the local Supreme Cleaners.
The Supremes - Could This Be You?
THE SUPREMES #3
Still in 1955, here's some New York Supremes with lead vocals by Ruth McFadden. They're on Old Town Records, hence why the tube of you calls them "The Old Town Supremes".
Make sure you listen to the words of this song.
The Supremes - Darling, Listen to the Words of This Song
THE SUPREMES #4
Starting life as the Skarlettones in 1959, these guys (also from Ohio, though whether they frequented the same dry cleaning shop is open to question) changed their name to The Supremes in 1960 for the track below. Soon after they recruited a female singer, Ruby Nash, and found success as Ruby & The Romantics.
THE SUPREMES #5
There are two reasons it's taken me so long to feature The Supremes on Namesakes.
Firstly, I was torn on whether to only count their post Diana Ross discography as true Supremes records... in which case, they'd still beat all other contenders hands down.
Secondly, how can you compare any other band in the history of music to the Supremes, purveyors of the finest pop ever put to vinyl? The Beatles? You really want to tell me the Beatles were better than the Supremes? The Beach Boys? Maybe if Brian hadn't done so many drugs (or maybe if he'd done more). Abba? The Bee Gees? U2? Maroon 5?
I rest my case.
Originally known as The Primettes when they formed in 1959, they became The Supremes in 1961, and only gave Diana top billing from '67 - 70, after which she left to go solo.
Here they are with Diana...
The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love
And without...
The Supremes - Automatically Sunshine
Unquestionably SUPREME.
THE SUPREMES #6
More vocal harmonies from late 50s New Yoik.
THE SUPREMES #7
Anthony Mitchell began his jazz journey in the 1950s as one of the Teen Kings, playing alongside future jazz giants Lonnie Smith and Grover Washington Jr. In the early 60s, Anthony formed a new band called Little Anthony & The Supremes... but this proved a bad choice on two fronts as both Little Anthony & The Imperials and the band formerly known as The Primettes became much more famous. You can kind of see why he called his next band The Emanons ("No name" backwards), though he eventually settled on Little Anthony & the Modern Detergents, "a reference to the unverified claim that the band 'cleaned up the town'". (More cleaners!)
Anthony is pictured above in his later years, but here are his Supremes in 1958, performing alongside Sun Ra...
The Supremes with Sun Ra & His Rays of Jazz - Everybody Mambo
THE SUPREMES #8
Next, one of those recordings where you wonder how they managed to get them all in the studio. There are some Supremes in here somewhere, but mostly I'm featuring this because of the ridiculous pun-name of the main act...
Murray Cohen & The Cohencidentals with The Supremes & The Biscaynes - Twistin' Boogie
THE SUPREMES #9
1964 surf dude instrumental from Canada, with a Mexican feel. They'll both be getting taxed soon.
THE SUPREMES #10
And some reggae from 1969 featuring Winston Shand, "The Supreme Ruler Of Sound" and his Supremes...
Winston Shand & The Supremes - I Gave You My Love
THE SUPREMES #11
I can't sleep dry
I can't zip me fly
I'm waiting in anticipation
Won't you let me take you out?
There's a piece of you
I don't really like
Its behind your left tit
Just to the right
But the rest of you
It drives me mad
If I could take you out
I would be glad
Or maybe that's taken directly from one of Shakespeare's unpublished manuscripts.
Billy Karloff & The Supremes - Picture Of You
THE SUPREMES #12
Italian disco mix from 1987, by which time the name Supremes should, surely, have been untouchable.
The Supremes - Tribute To Boney M
I'm going to end it there because of triskaidekaphobia, but I did also stumble across Belgium dude mucking about on his Moog in 2023. Bad spelling gets you nowhere.
I can't believe I need to ask this... but which Supreme is your Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner? And which ones need to go back to the cleaners?
"can be no debate as to the supreme Supremes"
ReplyDeleteI might have to disagree with that
Well, of course.
DeleteNonstop, listening here, and up to and including #10 there are no duffers. #1 is particularly splendid. I am a bit scared to choose a favourite track
ReplyDelete