"Songs of The Stonewall" ©
Motown / Stonewall Legends:
Diana Ross & The Supremes ("DRS")
Songs of The Stonewall | Stonewall Various Artists | Diana Ross & The Supremes
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas | The Marvelettes of Motown | Post-Stonewall Songs | Diana Ross
2007
Supreme Diana Ross World Concert Tour: Supreme Songs
Diana Ross launched her "I Love You" concert tour! It started in her home state of Connecticut on the 5th of April and then Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday night April 6th. Diana performs a half-dozen Supremes songs in her popular new concert show. The super Supe songs are as follows: "Where Did Our Love Go" (1964), "Baby Love" (1964), "Stop! In The Name Of Love" (1965), "My World Is Empty Without You" (1966), "Reflections" (1967) and "Love Child" (1968). Yes, the full songs are performed. They are not performed chronologically nor all as a segment. The last two songs are performed in different parts of the highly-acclaimed show. Interestingly, the first one Diana sings is the only one that was not nationally number one: "My World Is Empty". That song has always been a personal favorite of Miss Ross. The current concert's songlist, opening with "I'm Coming Out" and ending with "I Love You", varies from 20 to 22 great and full songs from the Diana Ross -- and The Supremes -- songbook.
The Original Dreamgirls: The Super Supremes
"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing": Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
DRS Quiz: Did The Supremes ever record "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"? See answer below!
=Background: Supremes & Dreams=
A Supremes welcome, especially to those who have seen the original Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" (1981) or the revival play "Dreamgirls" (2001) -- and/or the new movie "Dreamgirls" (2006/2007)!!! Originally, there was to be a Broadway musical and/or a motion picture to be composed about The Supremes namely Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, the latter replaced by Cindy Birdsong in mid-1967. Unquestionably, both a play and a movie about Diana Ross & The Supremes (DRS) will happen in the future. It will likely be a similiar style (actual story and real music) to the current #1 hit "Jersey Boys" musical for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Regarding "Dreamgirls" the film, the various producers and writers could not get the required legal approval for any sort of a DRS semi-biography from Motown Records Corporation. Moreover, they were rightly advised by Motown founder and president Berry Gordy, Jr., that they would be sued big time for any violation including strong similarities of characters. The writers decided to loosely "base" the story on The Supremes as an African-American Motown girl singing group trio breaking into the entertainment industry, their meteoric rise to fame and some earthly problems along the way. Diana Ross & The Supremes as the most successful female singing group in the history of the World -- then, now or ever -- are the inspiration not the biography of "Dreamgirls". There are, of course, many similarities! (See the Supremes & Dreamgirls similarities comparison below.) There are also many differences. (See the next paragraph.) Nonetheless, "Dreamgirls" movie writer-director Bill Condon has publicly made it clear that "Dreamgirls then and now is a tribute to greatly successful Diana Ross as a deserving icon and a real pioneer in the entertainment industry". For an exemplary accomplishment, who was the first black female singing group to appear on the premier showcase Ed Sullivan Show? The Supremes!
=Supremes Lead Singer and Differences from Dreamgirls=
With the front-page publicity and huge popularity of the award-winning movie "Dreamgirls", there is a tremendous re-interest in and re-emergence of Diana Ross & The Supremes. One of the key differences between the real Supremes versus the fictional Dreams is the fact that there was never any "Effie" type character in The Supremes. In contrast, Florence Ballard was not a hefty, pushy, overweight, big-mouthed girl like "Effie". Look at the pictures herein for proof positive. Nor was Flo romantically or otherwise involved with the Motown record company boss! Moreover, Florence was never the 'lead' singer of The Supremes. The very first single record by The Supremes, "I Want A Guy", has Diana as the lead. Diana Ross is the lead singer on all -- approximately 40 -- single-released records by The Supremes throughout the entire 1960s except for the one noted. Florence only sang the lead on one side of one single, The Supes' second release, "Buttered Popcorn". It was so un-Motown (in any form), kinda goofy sounding, sung brashly and with rough lyrics ("He likes it greasy. And sticky. And gooey. And salty."). The song was regarded as so 'bad' that Berry Gordy officially withdrew the record! In many book excerpts and interviews since 1961, Berry stated his regret for releasing the Flo-led "Popcorn". Ironically, the flipside of that record was much preferred and is a Motown classic to this day: "Who's Loving You", writtten and produced by Smokey Robinson and lead sung by Diana. As recently as February 5th, 2007, on "Showbiz Tonight", a 'peeved' Smokey stated that living in the same housing development, he knew Diana Ross since she was eleven years young. A few years later it was Diana who called him endlessly pleading with him to get a singing audition for their girl group The Primettes with Motown's head Mr. Gordy. Legendary Smokey strongly emphasized the facts: "I brought The Supremes to Motown! Diana Ross was always the lead singer. Florence was never the lead of The Supremes. I know. I was there and involved from the beginning". Smokey added that the Gordy-ish movie character played by Jamie Foxx is not like the Berry that he knows well for a near half century!
[Forthcoming foto: The Supremes in blue sequinced gowns]
=Girl Groups and Name Expansions=
There are also "Dreamgirls" similarities to another 1960s Motown girl group, Martha & The Vandellas (MRV)! They preceded The Supremes in hit songs. MRV were the overall second-most successful girl group. Motown head and astute businessman Berry Gordy also added the full name of the lead singer to their group name. Thus, in mid-1967, it became Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. As a matter of fact, this was done at the exact time as the change to Diana Ross & The Supremes -- yet without any brouhaha! (See the MRV link above.) It was not unusual to add the lead singer -- so long as there was only one -- name as it added more prominence and increased financial value to any group. Significantly, Berry simultaneously expanded the group name of The Miracles. In mid-1967, he added lead singer Smokey's name upfront. Thus, it was revised to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (SRM). The public and the critics did not say "boo"! After all, Smokey is a male! Some noted that Smokey deserved the distinction. Oh, he did and Diana didn't? She was/is much bigger than him. By the way, with three lead singers -- David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams -- an expanded group name could not be done with The Temptations. Nonetheless, that did not stop main lead singer David from demanding it! Guess what? Ultimately, after that heated name battle, David soon went solo! But some folks only like to talk, squawk and conspiracialize when it involves "the girls"!? Gladys Knight & The Pips (GKP), with a Motown girl group sound, was no problem as they had the lead singer's name announced from their beginning. Besides, GKP were gender mixed with a majority of three males and only one girl Gladys. Even Phil Spector finally expanded his chief girl group's name to Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes. Oh, and across the musical spectrum on the "pop" side, The Four Seasons' name was expanded with worldwide, warm, welcoming arms without any whispers whatsoever in mid-1967 to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Back to the girl groups with the lead singer's name out front: Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles, Rosie & The Originals, Cissy Houston & The Sweet Inspirations, Reparata & The Delrons, Kathy Young & The Innocents, Barbara & The Uniques, Ruby & The Romantics, Allyson & The Allysonians, Patty & The Emblems, Bonnie & The Treasures, Katrina & The Waves, Candy & The Kisses, Martha & The Muffins, Honey & The Bees, et al. Do you know any others? Please send the lead singer name out front girl group names to the S.V.A. via e-mail. (See address below in this section.)
=Accolades: Supremes & Dreamgirls=
Back to an original acclaim point, dreamgirlish groups The Supremes and The Vandellas have been inducted, respectively in 1988 and 1995, into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although many started before them, Diana Ross & The Supremes were the first girl group to be inducted! The Shirelles were the third girl group inductee (1996). Next up into the R&R H-of-F should be other outstanding girl groups namely The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes and The Marvelettes. The Broadway "Dreamgirls" had several nominations and won Tony awards including for Best Musical in 1982 and Jennifer Holiday as Best Supporting Actress. No doubt, these movie "Dreamgirls" will also get "inducted" -- in the form of many nominations and awards. They were nodded for five Golden Globe awards including Best Actress for Beyonce Knowles as lead singer "Deena Jones". On January 14th, 2007, "Dreamgirls" won three of the GG noms including Best Movie Musical, Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Hudson and Best Supporting Actor Eddie Murphy. For the Screen Actors Guild ("SAG") awards on January 28th, "Dreamgirls" won the same two supporting roles but not for Best Cast Ensemble. The film "Dreamgirls" as a nominee (technically the movie's ensemble) was introduced as having been "...inspired by a legendary and successful American girl group". We wonder whoever are they talking about? "DG" has received eight -- the most in 2007 -- Oscar nominations. Look on Sunday, February 25th, for the popular "Dreamgirls" to win several Academy Awards!
To see "Dreamgirls" awards coverage and a photo of the movie soundtrack c/d cover,
visit: www.STONEWALLvets.org/songsofStonewall-9.htm
2005
Diana Ross & The Supremes: GOLD
The Newest Supremez??? More Dreamgirlz??? The Jaxson Girlz!!!
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Supreme =Newz= via the Stonewall Newzletta: There were the Original Supremes -- Diana, Mary and Flo -- in the 1960's; the New Supremes -- Jean, Mary and Cindy -- in the early 1970's; the Newer Supremes -- Scherrie, Mary and Susaye -- in the late 1970's; and now the Newest Supremes a.k.a. The Jaxson Girlz -- lead singer Michaele with sibling sisters Janet and La Toya -- in the New Millennium. Can you feel it? Give us that gloss! Extra! X-tra! These testifying girlz put out their very first hit single record: "Standin' By Their Man"! It's currently released by Couthouse Records. The song is not about any of their boyfriends (oh, no) nor about their manager (uh, uh) but it is actually about one of their many brothers (oh, yeah) -- the "Bad" Boy! Michael Jackson! To quote another sistah, "He's Bad! U know it!" MJJ says so himself: "I'm bad! Your butt is mine. Sha-mon! Who's bad? Dat's rite. I'm bad!" So, everyone say these girlz' names.... say their names: Michaele, Janet and La Toya. They are glamly survivors and, from the front page New York Daily News photo, you can see that they are luscious. You can ass-ume that they are bootylicious, too! As you can see, these singing and dancing glamour girlz love their sunglasses and lip gloss -- and, trust us, their boyz!!! U know it! These girlz are "United" and it feels so good.... Supreme Scoop: The Jaxson Girlz' next Supremish record is a remake of The Supremes' version of Mr. Gay's "Can I Get A Witness", currently available on the "Motown Sings Motown Treasures" compact disc! Consider it done! "Witness" was a three-month, all-entertainment hit! During this public 'trial' period, the Jaxson Girlz released their third number, a remake of the 1960's Supremes' mega hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On (Get Out Of My Life Why Don't You, Boy)". Rumor has it that their next song may be another hair-raising do-over of their super girl group heroines Diana Ross & The Supremes. Michaele is the fab star and reflects the glamorous lead singer Diana Ross, sexy Janet is the sexy Mary Wilson and pretty LaToya is the pretty Cindy Birdsong. =Newz=flash= (13 June 2005, Hollywood) -- Right on, Newest Supremes!!! And, just in time for a happy Gay Pride. Courthouse Records has just released (with a juried sweeping rating of 10) the subdued "I'm Giving You Your Freedom (To Find Somebody New)", a re-do of a Supremes' early "B" side included in their "Where Did Our Love Go" album, as the new and passionate disc from the giddy-up Jaxson Girlz. U go, Girlz!!! |
Diana Ross & The Supremes: Sing Motown
Cleverly (with all four 1960s Supremes) and artistically portrayed: Diana Ross (close-up), Florence Ballard (top left) Cindy Birdsong (lower left) and Mary Wilson (bottom center)
Standing Supreme (l-2-r): Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Flo Ballard
2004-A (as in All the #1s)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Number Ones
Guess the three #1 Supremes shown above!!! Answer way down below.
| "Diana Ross & The Supremes' Number Ones" refers to both the number one songs of The Supremes as a group and those of Diana Ross as a solo singer. Impressively, Motown's marketing and packaging of this DRS hit-packed compact disc of 20 Number One hits is another Supremes dream come true. It surely adds to the convenience and accessibility of the historic songs as is the case with The Stonewall. Secondly, it must be stated that The Supremes had six #1 songs before The Stonewall opened! "The Songs of The Stonewall" (1966 through 1969) included in this DRS all #1 songs compact disc, which we call the "Gold Supremes" referring to the gold #1 songs and the goldized gowns, are plentiful. They include the following #1 songs of Diana Ross & The Supremes that were at The Stonewall Club: "You Can't Hurry Love" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" from 1966; "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone", "The Happening" and "Reflections" from 1967; "Love Child" and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (with The Temptations) from 1968; and "Someday We'll Be Together" from 1969. It is most significant, ironic and welcomed that Motown Records has released this "Gold Supremes" group #1s and Diana Ross solo #1 songs collection at this historic time in 2004 on the 35th anniversary of the 1969 Gay Stonewall Rebellion. Diana Ross & The Supremes were always the #1 favorite overall recording artist at The Stonewall. |
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The Supremes cable-carring in San Francisco, California (l-2-r): Florence Ballard (wearing scarf), Mary Wilson and Diana Ross (sunglasses on head). If you look inside the cable car, the dark man standing and wearing a suit and sunglasses and starring hard at the girls is not the conductor! This is not "Destination Anywhere". This is Frisco! And besides, what conductor wears sunglasses? None! It is Motown Records president Berry Gordy, Jr. He surely was on The Supremes' case and on location -- even on a cable car in Frisco! |
2004-B (as in "B" sides)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The B-Sides
Beautifully pictured (l-2-r): Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard
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"The 'B' Sides of Diana Ross & The Supremes" -- the flipside songs -- were so popular and memorable at The Stonewall and hundreds of other Gay clubs and bars, particularly throughout America and the United Kingdom, that these wonderful songs had a following of their own, which happily exists to this very day. At last our dreams came true: there is a compact disc (c/d) with virtually every Diana Ross & The Supremes' flipside song from 1963 through 1969 -- a total of 30 are included! By virtue of space, the c/d excludes the five duet flipside songs with The Temptations. What's amazing is that Motown Records in over four decades never bothered (or had the customer-oriented want list) to compile and distribute a record album nor an 8-track tape nor a cassette nor a c/d of all the incredible DRS flipside songs. By the way, Motown still hasn't! This is a privately-produced collection with limited distribution. What a Supreme treat! The popular Diana Ross & The Supremes' fabulous flipside songs -- most written by ace Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland ("H-D-H") -- at The Stonewall Club (1966 - 1969) on this special compact disc include: "Everything's Good About You" (so popular and so danceable that we had our own special line dance for this song), "He's All I Got", "Put Yourself In My Place" (another line dance), "Remove This Doubt" (an untypical DRS, sad, unsure, melodramatic song romanticized for bump 'n' grind), "There's No Stopping Us Now" (another great second-tier Gay anthem), "All I Know About You" (an unusual, surprise campy song), "Going Down For The Third Time" (powerful and very "A" side), "I Guess I'll Always Love You" (Isley Brothers re-do), "Will This Be The Day" (wishful, girlie and pretty), "The Young Folks" (the definitive 1969 Stonewall Rebellion theme song), "He's My Sonny Boy" and many others -- plus the ultimate DRS (pre-Stonewall) flipside song, "Ask Any Girl". |
2004-C (as in Complete duets)
Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations: Joined Together (The Complete Studio Duets)
Pictured (l-2-r) top: Paul Williams, Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams; and (l-2-r) bottom: Diana Ross, Cindy Birdsong and Mary Wilson
"Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations" proved big time that joining any two supergroups together to perform is usually a brilliant and surely a rare idea. Joining the #1 female group in the world -- then and now -- Diana Ross & The Supremes with the #1 rhythm 'n' blues/soul group, The Temptations (worldwide #3 male group, third only to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones) was a brilliant idea. It was an incredible combination, whose music is great, fresh, compelling and timeless. The combo of these two supergroups was particularly ecstatic for the Black, Brown, Beige and Gay communities. Their first album issued on Motown Records in the autumn of 1968 was simply entitled "Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations", generating an immensely loved #1 song, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", and two other duet singles.
Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations' second album in 1969 is named "Together", delivering two more single-release songs. Both of these original studio albums are pictured below. DRS & TT's joint albums and single-release records -- plus the entire concept of these two big, popular groups together -- produced two wonderful, unique and successful hour-long television specials. In late 1968 it was "Takin' Care Of Business" (T.C.B.) and in November of 1969 it was "Get It Together" (G.I.T.). Now, this 'new' release 35 years later in 2004 of both albums plus many bonus tracks of previously unreleased songs, such as "A House Is Not A Home", and alternate versions of several songs is appropriately named a combination of both prior albums: "Joined Together". All five single songs that played in The Stonewall jukebox are, of course, included: "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (#1 song), "I'll Try Something New" (Top 10 song), "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" back/with "Try It Baby" (officially unreleased), "The Weight" (unofficially should not have been released) and "I Second That Emotion" (wisely released widely in Europe by the Tamla/Motown label but in America it was basically only in Mafia-owned Gay bars with jukeboxes)!
Supremes & Temptations photo (1968) from "Takin' Care of Business"
2004-D (as in Diana "Somewhere")
Diana Ross & The Supremes: There's A Place For Us
Serenely pictured (1965): Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diana Ross
Show-stopping Supremes pictured (l-2-r): Mary, Diana and Florence
2004-E (as in Expanded Edition Supreme)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go (40th Anniversary Deluxe and Expanded Edition)
Supremely pictured (1964): Flo Ballard (top), Mary Wilson (middle) and Diana Ross
Note: Motown uncreatively used the exact same original cover without even a gold embossment stating "deluxe".
To look at the misleading cover, anyone would believe that it is a
single album with only the listed 12 songs;
when actually it is a double album (compact disc) with nearly 50 songs, many never-before-released!}
2003
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Christmas Collection
Santa-up'd with those Christmas Supremes smiles are (l-2-r): Flo, Diana and Mary
Holiday pictured on a sleigh ride (l-2-r): Florence, Diana and Mary
2002
Former Ladies of The Supremes' ("FLOS") 2002 Song:
* "Finally"
2001
Diana Ross & The Supremes: —ANTHOLOGY—
Supremely gowned (l-2-r): Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson
DRS (1969) shown: Diana (profile), Cindy Birdsong and Mary Wilson
2000
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Supremes' Box Set
Sexily posed (1966): Flo Ballard (top), Mary Wilson (left) and Diana Ross
| The Supremes' "Return To Love" concert tour by
Diana Ross & Any Supremes ever as one of the most sought performances in the World is an unequivocal
understatement! This is the first concert with Diana Ross and any
Supremes in exactly 30 years!!! It incredibly took place from
mid-June to early-July of 2000 in the New Millennium. This was a
Supremes and their fans longtime dream come true! "All you gotta
do is dream!" The real "Dreamgirls" are really here!!!
Diana Ross & The Supremes!!! What other tour
did any group ever have where the
artists sang virtually their every single song release
(especially when the number is about 35)? Never! In
fact, the total amount of songs performed -- with several solos
such as Diana's "I Will Survive" -- was nearly 40! On stage, Miss
Ross was joined by Gay soul sensation Luther Vandross to duet on
"The Best Years Of My Life". In Manhattan, New York, the massive,
hugely-promoted, sold-out, media magnet, standing-room only "high
energy" event happened on "a warm summer night", Thursday, July 6,
2000, at Madison Square Garden. In reality, our "Forever Came
Today" came today. Supremely, "Someday They'll Be Together" was today! Because their lawyers, accountants, managers, promoters, handlers, programmers, cosmetologists, hairdressers, dermatologists, manicurists, electrologists, et al. -- probably their doctors, dentists, therapists and plumbers, too -- wanted too many millions of dollars for two of the back-up Supremes, namely Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, those two had to be eliminated. Unfortunately for them and the worldwide DRS fans, Mary and Cindy were counted out. Thus, no billing the concerts as a "reunion". Boo-hoo! Fortunately, two other 100% authentic Supremes (from the 1970s) were counted in: super Scherrie Payne and lovely Lynda Laurence. "Yeaahh!" In reality, this tour brought together the 1960s and the 1970s Supremes, spanning the entire career of The Supremes!! Both Scherrie and Lynda are lead singers in their own right -- and proved it again supremely on this Supremes tour with their great Supreme solos "Stoned Love" and "Up The Ladder To The Roof", respectively. Several Stonewall veterans such as Williamson Henderson, Ray McCaffrey, Terri Van Dyke, Leigh McManus, Dave West and Sonny Owens and their friends such as Liz Abzug and Erica Forman, Princess Jenni July, Squiress Cindy Chan, et al. attended in Supreme style! In fact, several Stonewallers arrived in the classic and perfect year 1969 blue Cadillac convertible -- with the top down! All saw the fabulous sold-out/S.R.O. show at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. After the huge orchestra performed an incredible kick-ass overture of Supremes' songs, Diana, Scherrie and Lynda, in matching, gorgeous, silver mirrored gowns, descended a spiral starecase breaking into their opening song: "Reflections"! The girls then 'owned' the 20,000-plus audience. They appropriately closed with, of course, an extended "Someday We'll Be Together"! |
1999
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Millennium Collection, Vol. 2
Super Supremes shown (1969): Diana (left), Cindy (top right) and Mary (bottom)
Diana Ross & The Supremes: The Millennium Collection, Vol. 1
