‘COPA Proving Ground for Detroit’s Own Supremes
NEW YORK — Any doubts that the Supremes will be around a long time as a top adult act were erased at the Copacabana Thursday night (July 29) as the three Detroit girls put on a performance the likes of which the famed bistro has
seldom experienced.
The Motown beat was polished, refined and arranged to a fare-thee-well, particularly in “Come See About Me,” the group’s first chart topper.
But more important, Diana, the lead singer, emerged as a solo talent to be reckoned with, and the group’s treatment of pop material like “Queen Of The House” demonstrated that the girls have a sharp comic sense and a repertorial range worthy of a veteran group.
Opening number was a sprightly “From This Moment On,” followed by a song more generally associated with the group – “Baby Love.” Another of the Supremes’ stand-bys – “Stop in the Name of Love” – was delivered in typical Motown style.
“The Girl From Ipanema” was delivered in a cool, subdued style and provided a suitable change of pace after the two beat numbers. “Make Someone Happy” was the showcase for Diana’s solo talent. Her distinctive phrasing and amazing vocal range stamps her as one of the best in the business.
The girls can handle the old music hall song-and-dance bit. On “Rock-a-bye Your Rock-a-bye Baby” they came equipped with straw hats and canes and performed in typical vaudeville style.
A bit of nostalgia was introduced with selections from their “We Remember Sam Cooke” album (pre-selected audio tracks tagged to the image below), delivered with taste and class.
Closing was “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You,” with Diana delivering the lyric, Mary and Florence cutting in with appropriate asides.
The program wound up with a standing ovation.
While the Supremes will probably keep their teen-age following for some time, there appears little question that the act will last a lot longer as staple adult fare, not too dependent on the chart position of their latest single.
They have all the equipment, poise, polish and a comic sense – and that equipment was working flawlessly Thursday night. END
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Credit source information (as published): Billboard, August 7, 1965
