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70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
"…Can't Make It On My Own…"
The full title of this beautifully presented book set is "This Is The Story: The 70's Albums Vol.1, 1970-1973 - The Jean Terrell Years” by THE SUPREMES. It's a limited edition non-numbered edition of 5000 and was issued in December 2006 (released March 2007 in the UK) by Universal's premium label in the States - Hip-O Select (Jean Terrell replaced Diana Ross as the new lead after Ross left for her solo career).
It gives you 5 full albums with previously unreleased material and rare sides across 3 picture-disc CDs each of which is in a card leaf at the back of the set. The 44-page booklet that precedes the discs pictures each LP (front and rear), gives detailed track-by-track information, provides liner notes on each release and has interview contributions from all concerned.
The whole thing is housed in an over-sized hardback silver book sleeve with three die-cut circles at the front to show the three Supremes of the period underneath - Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson and Cindy Songbird. The words "limited edition' are embossed in gold on the back. As you can imagine, the artwork in itself is a thing of beauty and gives the whole project an air of real class. Here are the song details for Hip-O Select B0005938-02 (No Barcode)…
Disc 1 (77:31 minutes):
1. Up The Ladder To The Roof
2. Then We Can Try Again
3. Everybody's Got The Right To Love
4. Wait A Minute Before You Leave Me
5. You Move Me
6. But I Love You More
7. I Got Hurt (Trying To Be The Only Girl In Your Life)
8. Baby Baby
9. Take A Closer Look At Me
10. Then I Met You
11. Bill, When Are You Coming Home
12. The Loving Country
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Right On" released April 1970 in the USA on Motown MS-705 and August 1970 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11157
13. Together, We Can Make Such Sweet Music
14. Stoned Love
15. It's Time To Break Down
16. Bridge Over Troubled Water
17. I Wish You Were Your Mirror
18. Come Together
19. Is There A Place (In His Heart For Me)
20. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
21. Shine On Me
22. Thank Him For Today
Tracks 13 to 22 are the album "New Ways But Love Stays" released October 1970 in the USA on Motown MS-720 and February 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11175
Disc 2 (79:54 minutes):
1. This Is The Story
2. Nathan Jones
3. Here Comes The Sunrise
4. Love It Came To Me This Time
5. Johnny Raven
6. Have I Lost You
7. Time And Love
8. Touch
9. Happy (Is A Bumpy Road)
10. It’s Hard For Me To Say Goodbye
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Touch" released June 1971 in the USA on Motown MS-737 and September 1971 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11189
11. Tears Left Over
12. Eleanor Rigby
13. I Ain’t Got The Love Of The One I Love
14. Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind
15. Take A Look Inside
16. Still Water (Love)
17. Take Your Dreams Back
18. I Don’t Want To Own You (I Just Want To Love You)
19. Chained To Yesterday
20. If I Were Your Woman
21. I Ain’t That Easy To Love
22. And I Thought You Loved Me
23. It’s Too Late
Tracks 11 to 23 are “The Promises Kept Sessions” – they are previously unreleased and were recorded for an LP release in late 1971 that never materialized
24. May His Love Shine Forever (from the Various Artists US album called "Rock Gospel: The Key To The Kingdom", October 1971, Motown M-743L)
Disc 3 (75:45 minutes):
1. Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love
2. Floy Joy
3. A Heart Like Man
4. Over And Over
5. Precious Little Things
6. Now The Bitter, Now The Sweet
7. Automatically Sunshine
8. The Wisdom Of Time
9. Oh Be My Love
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Floy Joy" released May 1972 in the USA on Motown M-751L and October 1972 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11210
10. I Guess I’ll Miss The Man
11. 5:30 Plane
12. Tossin’ And Turnin’
13. When Can Brown Begin
14. Beyond Myself
15. Il Voce De Silenzio (Silent Voices)
16. All I Want
17. Once In The Morning
18. I Keep It Hid
19. Paradise
20. Cheap Lovin’
Tracks 10 to 20 are the album "The Supremes Produced & Arranged By Jimmy Webb" released November 1972 in the USA on Motown M-756L and April 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11222
Tracks 21 and 22 are “Bad Weather” and “Love Train” from the US album "At Their Best" released June 1978 in the USA on Motown 904
ELLEN FITTON digitally remastered all tracks from the original Motown master tapes at Universal Studios in the USA and a typically stunning job has been achieved. Hip-O Select releases are consistently praised for their great sound and this peach does not disappoint.
With 68 songs on offer - the material itself is a mixed bag of the great and the ordinary. In truth, I can remember when Motown collectors tended to poo-poo this period of The Supremes story as weak and half-hearted. But that definitely needs re-assessment on the strength of this set. It's fantastic to hear "Stoned Love" and "Nathan Jones" in top sound quality at last. And the whole Smokey Robinson written/produced album "Floy Joy" can be described as a lost Motown masterpiece ignored by way too many soul fans. Their August 1972 chart hit "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" could easily grace any Northern Soul compilation and take pride of place too.
Then there's the fabulous collaboration album with the "Wichita Lineman" author JIMMY WEBB - lush melodies and strings abound - and again - another forgotten sweetheart that deserves rediscovery. "5:30 Plane" for instance - from that album - is a gorgeous song presented here in truly beautiful sound quality - an undiscovered classic if there ever was one (lyrics above). It will appeal to Bacharach fans, Webb lovers and soul boys alike - a rare achievement to nail all three audiences. The anti-racism tune "When Can Brown Begin" could be cheesy, but it's not - it's beautifully handled.
Deemed not fit for release at the time, the quality of the unreleased "Promises Kept" tracks vary. I don't know whether to consider the funked-up version of "Eleanor Rigby" inspired - or a travesty - probably a bit of both! But that's then followed shortly afterwards by "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" - a superb little number with a genuinely uplifting vibe to it. And the cover of the Four Tops "Still Water (Love)" is lovely too - it's peppered with lovely brass breaks and lush string arrangements and a superbly soulful lead vocal too - just great.
Five star sound and packaging with three-to-four star material. Even at a price - I had to have it. I'm going to be dipping into this set a lot in the future and I would say (if you can find it at a reasonable price) you should too…
