Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless Magic!!, August 29, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Supremes (Audio CD)
I have loved the Supremes for most of my 41 years on Earth. Though they were not the first girl group, the Supremes set the standard for those that followed including many of today's artists such as Destiny's Child, TLC and En Vogue. The music is timeless and this box set convincingly demonstrates how important and sometimes overlooked their influence has been both musically and culturally. All of the hits are here and much more. There are many rarities, including several B-sides on CD for the first time, unreleased live tracks and many remixes. It is so wonderful to hear Diana Ross sing with uninhibited enthusiasm and innocence on "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes", "Baby Love" or on Sam Cooke's "Shake." Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard harmonize beautifully with Diana and show themselves as very capable lead singers on "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "People", respectively. Then there's the triple whammy of "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart", "You Can't Hurry Love" and "You Keep Me Hanging On." Continuing through to "Reflections", the duets with the Temptations (including a remix of TCB-from their 1968 TV special of the same name), "Love Child", "Someday We'll Be Together"... I could go on and on!! The post-Diana period is well represneted on Disc Four. As the replacement for Diana Ross, Jean Terrell brought a more soulful, yet elegant style to the group as evidenced on among others, "Up the Ladder to The Roof", "Stoned Love", and "Bad Weather." Mary had her shining moments in the 1970s as well with "Touch", "Floy Joy" and "You Are The Heart Of Me." Scherrie Payne (sister to Freda "Band of Gold" Payne) and Susaye Green both demonstrate their top notch vocal skills on "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" and "High Energy", respectively. Finally, there is a bonus disc titled "An Evening with the Supremes' that has many unreleased live versions of their biggest hits recorded at various times in the 1960s assembled into a wonderful mini concert. I guess this is as close to a true Supremes reunion as we will ever get. This lavishly packaged set includes a 76-page book with many wonderful photos, track by track notes, a very complete discography and essays including contributions from Berry Gordy. Plus the remastered sound is, with a few exceptions, excellent. All of this adds up to an wondereful documentation of an enduring legacy that still brings endless pleasure and inspiration. This is timeless magic!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The whole Supremes story, September 5, 2000
This review is from: Supremes (Audio CD)
After years of shoddy and non-comprehensive greatest hits packages comes this excellent tribute to one of the greatest girl groups of all time, The Supremes. The 77 tracks featured on this package spans the years 1960 to 1977 including the A and B sides of the first single the group recorded for rival Detroit label Lupine Records. Besides all of the hits that we know and love, we get to hear early tracks that feature Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard singing lead, and alternate versions of classics like "Stop In The Name Of Love" and "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone". Even great album tracks like "Everything That's Good About You"(a previously unreleased mix) and "How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone"(one of James Jamerson's greatest basslines ever on this one!!!)make this set great to listen to. The post Diana Ross years are also well represented here and prove the group made great records after 1970 as well. The limited version of this box I highly recommend for the bonus live disc that contains great live performances. All of the perfomances except for one track, have never been released before. The sound quality is great throughout, and package itself is beautiful. Any big Supremes fan will flip for this. Another first class reissue from the folks at Motown.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forever Came Today, August 30, 2000
This review is from: Supremes (Audio CD)
This is the box set tribute Supremes fans worldwide have waited more than a decade for. Primarily due to internal company politics, The Supremes are the last major Motown artists to have a box set career retrospective. But the wait was definitely worthwhile! "The Supremes" is the ultimate tribute to the ultimate girl group--and to its legion of legendary fans. Everything about this set--from the sumptuous velvet packaging, to the carefully annotated track listing, to the magnificent track selection--reflects The Supremes trademark elegance, glitter and talent. There are enough treats and previously unreleased songs woven among the familiar hits to satisfy even the most die-hard Supremes fan. And, even many of those hits come in new versions--including the demo version of "The Happening," with different lyrics. But, perhaps most significantly, this set pays tribute to The Supremes as a group--and for the first time, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson are accorded their due as significant contributors to The Supremes legacy. Fittingly, Disc 1 ends with the superb 1964 studio version of "People," with Flo singing lead with her soaring soprano. And, the set closes appropriately with Mary Wilson's sensual ballad, "You Are The Heart of Me," from 1976. No one can deny that Mary Wilson was, is and always will be the heart of The Supremes! The accompanying 76-page booklet is chock-full of rare photos, essays focusing on The Supremes place in history, and never-before released details about recording sessions. But, the real treat for fan will be the bonus fifth disc--"An Evening With The Supremes." This is a collection of 12 hits recorded live between 1964 and 1969, cleverly packaged to run like a full, live concert. This is the Return To Love tour that fans yearned for this summer! "The Supremes" is a must-have not only for Supremes fans, but also for anyone truly interested in a concise--and important--chapter in American musical history! Place your order before the limited edition set is gone!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|