CLASSIC

The story on how this became a hit and how it turned the Supremes into overnight superstars - after five years of struggle - has to be one of the most fascinating stories in pop and soul history.

First off, when the song was composed by Holland-Dozier-Holland, they all wanted to give it to the Marvelettes. I think Mary Wells was about to leave the label so I don't know if she was originally given it (rumor was the money used from "My Guy" boosted this record).

But anyway, they had written the song in the key for Gladys Horton, who had a deep contralto vocal. When the Marvelettes heard it, they gave the writers/producers side eyes and said "no we're not doing this" and walked off. They also tried to give it to Martha and the Vandellas, who, like the Marvelettes, gave them side eyes, turned it down and I'm guessing Martha gave them some lip like "how dare you present me this song? Do I look like a beggar to you?!"

So they knew they were stuck with one final group, a group that prior to this recording, had only one major hit in their catalog ("When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes") and minor charted success ("Let Me Go the Right Way", "Run Run Run"). Like the other girl groups, the Supremes gave the producers side-eyes with the song because they wanted something as strong as "Please Mr. Postman" or "Heat Wave".

UNLIKE the other groups, however, the Supremes didn't really have much say in the matter and they figured "oh fuck let's get this shit over with, we got a show to do in a few hours." Originally, I believe it was Lamont Dozier, wanted Mary to sing lead over the song but the Holland brothers quickly let him know the Supremes now had Diana as the "official lead singer" (prior to 1962, all three Supremes had lead vocal parts) so they had to record with Diana singing the lead. When Diana tried singing the song in her usual high soprano (which was real nasal then), the producers said "no sing lower, the key was low." Diana apparently decided to make the vocal as low and "dry" as possible. A weird thing happened, the "dry" vocal gave Diana a new vocal dimension and when it was over, she huffed, "so is this what you guys wanted?" They all were like "YES THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED! THIS IS THE BOMB!" Diana chuckled lol

The other girls (Mary & Florence) had parts to sing but hated singing the parts so to their benefit the producers just told them to sing "baby baby where did our love go, ooh" which they also weren't okay with but they agreed to get the song over with. Once they were done, they mixed the parts together. Once the Supremes heard the playback, Diana said "I'm getting Berry!" She then rushed to Berry's office and basically DRAGGED him in to hear it and asked Berry what he thought. After hearing it, Berry said, "yeah sounds like a top tenner, fellas" with a smile and Diana smiled back at the guys then say "see ya, girls let's go."

When "Where Did Our Love Go" was eventually released in June 1964, the Supremes were billed as "The Others" opening for Brenda Holloway, then riding high on the hit "Every Little Bit Hurts" on Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars. Within weeks, however, their name was included in the bill and with each performance, the cheers got louder for them. The Supremes didn't understand why all of a sudden people were now cheering for them. Then they got the news in August that "Where Did Our Love Go" had become their first number-one hit on the Hot 100. Of course the girls went off. Then better news: Berry told them, "tonight when you come home to Detroit, I'm not sending you on the bus, you're going on the plane!"

Just like that, the Supremes were now hit makers and the Marvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas were left with eggs on their faces, the Marvelettes even more as they struggled with several singles prior to "Don't Mess with Bill".

Of course this was the Supremes' first of twelve number-one hits.

I don't know a lot about girl groups so I need to ask: did anyone else's voice compare to Diana's? Her singing is just ...I don't have the words. Just plain iconic really.

breese said:

I don't know a lot about girl groups so I need to ask: did anyone else's voice compare to Diana's? Her singing is just ...I don't have the words. Just plain iconic really.

Nope. She definitely was different from your Patti LaBelles, Martha Reeves and Ronnie Spectors for sure.

I prefer Diana with the Supremes music....... her solo career minus a few hits is rather lackluster and just lame. I feel bad for Florence because she could sing Diana into a coma and had more personality in her toe but fate is fate. The saddest thing is Mary, she NEVER realized that she was nothing more than a back up singer.