Cream of the Crop
Cream of the Crop | ||||
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Studio album by Diana Ross & The Supremes | ||||
Released | November 3, 1969 | |||
Recorded | 1966 ("Blowin' in the Wind") 1968-1969 (all other tracks) | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 31:40 | |||
Label | Motown MS 694 | |||
Producer | Johnny Bristol, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson | |||
Diana Ross & The Supremes chronology | ||||
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cream of the Crop is the eighteenth studio album released by Diana Ross & the Supremes for the Motown label. It was the final regular Supremes studio album to feature lead singer Diana Ross. The album was released in November 1969, after the release and rising success of the hit single "Someday We'll Be Together."
Background
"Someday" was originally to have been released as Ross' first solo single (Ross is backed on the recording by session singers Maxine and Julia Waters, not the Supremes).[citation needed] Motown chief Berry Gordy appended the Supremes billing to the single so as to create more publicity for Ross' exit from the group.[citation needed]
Another selection of note is "The Young Folks", the charting B-side of "No Matter What Sign You Are" from Let the Sunshine In, later covered by The Jackson 5. Cream of the Crop also includes covers of songs by The Beatles ("Hey Jude") and Bob Dylan ("Blowin' in the Wind").
The lead #1 single, "Someday We'll Be Together" proved to be a multi-format smash. The album closer, "The Beginning of the End", features Motown artist Syreeta Wright alongside Ross and Supremes members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Wright was Berry Gordy's original choice to replace Ross in the Supremes because she had a range and tone similar to Ross.[citation needed] However, Gordy and Supremes manager Shelly Berger decided instead to replace Ross with Jean Terrell, after seeing Terrell perform with her brother Ernie as part of their band, Ernie Terrell & the Heavyweights.[citation needed]
Reception
Its modest Billboard album chart ranking at #33[citation needed] was as much a reflection on the company's forthcoming focus on Diana Ross' solo debut as it was on the album's content of "second tier" songwriters. Motown had flooded the market with at least 4 new albums in a twelve-month period. Despite sporting a platinum single, sales for Ross's final Supremes studio album were tepid.
Track listing
Side one
- "Someday We'll Be Together" (Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Jackey Beavers) - 3:15
- "Can't You See It's Me" (Pam Sawyer, Ivy Jo Hunter, Jack Goga) - 2:33
- "You Gave Me Love" (Bristol, Fuqua, Marv Johnson) - 2:40
- "Hey Jude" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 2:59
- "The Young Folks" (Allen Story, George Gordy) - 3:13
- "Shadows of Society" (Goga, Hunter, Walter Fields) - 2:59
Side two
- "Loving You Is Better Than Ever" (Smokey Robinson) - 2:45
- "When It's to the Top (Still I Won't Stop Giving You Love)" (Ronald Weatherspoon, James Dean, William Weatherspoon) - 2:56
- "Till Johnny Comes" (Robinson) - 2:57
- "Blowin' in the Wind" (Bob Dylan) - 2:57
- "The Beginning of the End" (Margaret Johnson) - 2:33
Personnel
- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Mary Wilson & Cindy Birdsong – background vocals
- Florence Ballard – background vocals on "Blowin' In The Wind"
- Syreeta Wright – background vocals on "The Beginning of the End"
- Julia Waters Tillman, Maxine Waters Willard, & Merry Clayton – background vocals on "Someday We'll Be Together"
- Johnny Bristol – co-lead vocals on "Someday We'll Be Together
- The Andantes – background vocals
- The Funk Brothers & various Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6032". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "The Supremes | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "TOP RECORDS OF 1970: SOUL ALBUMS" (PDF). Billboard. December 26, 1970. p. TA-36. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- Chin, Brian and Nathan, David (2000). "Reflections Of..." The Supremes [CD Box Set]. New York: Motown Record Co./Universal Music.
- Wilson, Mary and Romanowski, Patricia (1986, 1990, 2000). Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme. New York: Cooper Square Publishers. ISBN 0-8154-1000-X.
- v
- t
- e
- Florence Ballard
- Cindy Birdsong
- Susaye Greene
- Lynda Laurence
- Barbara Martin
- Betty McGlown
- Scherrie Payne
- Diana Ross
- Jean Terrell
- Mary Wilson
- Meet The Supremes (1962)
- Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
- More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
- I Hear a Symphony (1966)
- The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
- The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
- Reflections (1968)
- Love Child (1968)
- Let the Sunshine In (1969)
- Cream of the Crop (1969)
- Right On (1970)
- New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
- Touch (1971)
- Floy Joy (1972)
- The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
- The Supremes (1975)
- High Energy (1976)
- Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
- Together (1969)
- The Magnificent 7 (1970)
- The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
- Dynamite (1971)
- The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
- Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
- TCB (1968)
- On Broadway (1969)
- Farewell (1970)
- The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
- A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
- The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
- We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
- Merry Christmas (1965)
- The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
- "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
- "I Want a Guy"
- "Buttered Popcorn"
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
- "Let Me Go the Right Way"
- "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
- "A Breathtaking Guy"
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
- "Run, Run, Run"
- "Where Did Our Love Go"
- "Baby Love"
- "Come See About Me"
- "Stop! In the Name of Love"
- "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
- "Nothing but Heartaches"
- "I Hear a Symphony"
- "My World Is Empty Without You"
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
- "You Can't Hurry Love"
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
- "The Happening"
- "Reflections"
- "In and Out of Love"
- "Forever Came Today"
- "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
- "Love Child"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "I'm Livin' in Shame"
- "I'll Try Something New"
- "The Composer"
- "No Matter What Sign You Are"
- "The Weight"
- "I Second That Emotion"
- "Someday We'll Be Together"
- "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
- "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
- "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
- "Stoned Love"
- "River Deep – Mountain High"
- "Nathan Jones"
- "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
- "Touch"
- "Floy Joy"
- "Automatically Sunshine"
- "Without the One You Love"
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
- "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
- "Bad Weather"
- "Tossin' and Turnin'"
- "He's My Man"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
- "Early Morning Love"
- "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
- "High Energy"
- "You're My Driving Wheel"
- "Let Yourself Go"
- "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
- T.A.M.I. Show
- Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
- Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
- Sparkle (1976 film)
- Dreamgirls (musical)
- Dreamgirls (film)
- Sparkle (2012 film)
- Discography
- Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
- Members
- FLOS
- Farewell concert
- Return to Love Tour
Category