(Diana Ross &) The Supremes: Meet The Supremes - 1962

 

In 1962, the “Motown Sound”, as we came to know it, had not been developed, as such. What we had here was a mix of rock n roll ballads and fifties “doo-wop”, with a bit of early Atlantic soul thrown in there. 

This is an interesting bunch of recordings, historically, although anyone looking for the trademark Diana Ross & The Supremes sound will not really get it here. The original album, plus the many extras, feature the original four members, including Barbara Martin. What is clear is that of Martin, Florence Ballard and Cindy Birdsong, Diana Ross was by no means the outstanding singer. All the girls feature taking lead vocal duties in these recordings. You get the original album in both MONO and STEREO. The stereo recordings are very good. More than that, they are truly fantastic. A revelation. I much prefer them, but then I am a confirmed stereo fan. I am listening to Time Changes Things on a pair of Sonos Era 100s and a Sonos Sub Mini and the sound is just - wow!

Highlights of the original album are the afore-mentioned poppy Time Changes Things, the upbeat Latin groove of Let Me Go The Right Way, Your Heart Belongs To Me, Who's Lovin' You, the innocence of He's Seventeen, and the amusing, funky rock 'n' roll of Buttered Popcorn. 

Beware, though, this is not a Motown-sounding album in the well-known sense of the word. It is more a rock 'n' roll-style ballads album. A track like Baby Don't Go is an example of this - fifties-style vocals and lyrics. Slow percussion and a saxophone in the background. Absolutely crystal clear sound in this one though. Check out those cymbals! Never Again is a similar example. It is a rock 'n' roll ballad, as opposed to Motown.  

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