NEW YORK — The Supremes, Motown Records artists, have made it five in a row. Billboard’s Hot 100 chart this week reveals their “Back In My Arms Again” is perched in the No. 1 position — their fifth consecutive big hit.
They landed in the top position last year with “Where Did Our Love Go” August 8 and stayed there two weeks.
“Baby Love” reached the top October 31 for a four week spell. “Come See About Me” actually hit the top twice — December 19 and again January 16 after riding the No. 2 spot for three weeks. “Stop In The Name Of Love” spent two weeks in the No. 1 position beginning March 20. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; June 12, 1965)
50 YEARS AGO: A look back when the Supremes first graced the cover of Ebony, June, 1965.
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65* The Supremes *WEEK OF 6/6 – 6/12/65
ELEVEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Back In My Arms Again” by The Supremes peaked No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 week of June 6 through June 12, 1965. (source: Billboard).
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65* Supremes *WEEKS OF 3/21 – 4/3/1965
TWELVE WEEKS on the singles chart, “Stop! In The Name Of Love” by the Supremes peaked No. 01 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100, weeks of March 21, 1965 through April 3, 1965. (source: Billboard).
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65* The Supremes *WEEK OF JANUARY 10-16, 1965
FOURTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Come See About Me,” by the Supremes peaked No. 1 (twice; one week — separate dates — separate years) on the Billboard Hot 100, week of December 19-26, 1964 and week of January 10-16, 1965. (source: Billboard).
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.
R&B MAKING DENT IN HOT 100 OUTLETS, INCLUDING KHJ LOS ANGELES, WKNR DETROIT, WMCA NEW YORK
NEW YORK — If anything dramatizes the vast popularity of R&B music today, it’s the increasing use of R&B records for programming by the nation’s Hot 100 format stations. The estimates of R&B play on pop rock ‘n’ roll stations range anywhere from between 10-15 percent in Denver to “close to 50 per cent” in Miami.
WSGN, in Birmingham, has a playlist featuring 30-40 per cent R&B oriented records,, said music director Dave Roddy. Dutch Holland, music director of WFUN in Miami, who considers the Supremes as R&B artists, says WFUN’s programming is close to 50 per cent R&B oriented records because “these records seems to be what’s happening at this time.” The Miami market has two R&B stations that influence the popularity of these records.
TEN SOUL HITS comprised the WKNR playlist for August 1, 1966. “You Can’t Hurry Love,” Supremes, debuted at #27. (Click on image for larger view)
WKNR in Detroit has six or seven records on its top 31 playlist that are R&B in nature, said deejay Scott Regen. This was considered a fairly representative week’s playlist. However, WKNR and most Hot 100 stations across the nation consider such artists as the Supremes as pop artists; they’re no longer strictly R&B artists, they say because their sales are mostly in the pop field. So stations such as KHJ in Los Angeles, the No. 1 Hot 100 format station there, may be playing more R&B oriented records than the 15 per cent now estimated. Program director Ron Jacobs said he felt that the popularity of R&B music is growing.
KIMN in Denver is playing 10-15 per cent in R&B oriented records and program director Ted Adkins said this represents an unusual display of the popularity of the music as only about 5 per cent of the population in Denver is Negro. Even some of the monster hits in the R&B field in previous years never got off the ground in Denver, he said. But this year thus far, in 1966, has seen more R&B oriented records happening in Denver than ever before.
WMCA, New York, had a playlist last week on which about 20 per cent of the tunes were R&B oriented.END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)
R&B soul great Otis Reddingperforming live on stage in L.A. at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in 1966.Motown Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” single from 1966.
IT’S STANDING ROOM ONLY AND EXCITEMENT FOR SUPREMES IN LAS VEGAS DATE
LAS VEGAS — Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, known professionally as the Supremes, and the story of Motown Records, have played to SRO since their opening June 29 at the Hotel Flamingo and there’s no letup of reservations in sight.
Florence, Mary, and Diana at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, July 13, 1967. The engagement will be Florence Ballard’s last ever as a Supreme.
The trio, in their second Las Vegas appearance, is a delight to hear and see. Their gowns and stage wardrobe airs excitement as their choreography and dance arrangements fall in sync as they performed here live on stage.
Included in their 55 minutes of songs and breezy conversations, are such show-stoppers as “Put On A Happy Face,” “Queen Of The House,” “More,” “Yesterday,” “Lady Is A Tramp,” “The Happening,” and sang a medley of their Motown recordings to the rousing delight of the audience’s applause and cheers.
Their rousing closing, “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Knows You,” brings a standing ovation. Gil Askey conducts the Russ Black Orchestra featuring the Supremes, regulars, Bob Cousar, drums; Jimmy Garret, bass; and Napoleon Allen, guitar.
The Supremes, originally exclusively deemed as favorites of the teen set, have upgraded the caliber and format of their stage presentation here, and are now enjoying the full success as adult nightclub favorites.
Their bouncy, fast-paced show is one of the best performances here. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; July 15, 1967)
A MCRFB Note: Sadly, unbeknownst to Florence Ballard at the time, the Las Vegas engagement in July, 1967, was to be Miss Ballard’s last appearance on stage and as a member of the Supremes.
Rumors later persisted Berry Gordy wanted Florence removed from the trio and Diana Ross more than likely had known Florence was going to be replaced sometime soon — as the Las Vegas story later would unfold — by Gordy’s own hand.
As the on-going rift between Berry Gordy and Florence continued in the spring of 1967, it was also learned Diana had personally recruited Cindy, as a possible replacement, and for no other reason than in preparation for the coming void, with Gordy’s blessings.
Months before Florence was removed, and unknown to her, Berry had Cindy Birdsong, obviously a no last-minute understudy, in training, watching the Supremes for weeks on weeks earlier months before. Birdsong was there during the entire Las Vegas engagement as well, although she did not fully know for what reason Berry had placed her in that position at the time, Cindy later would say.
On July 20, 1967, the marquee at the Flamingo had been changed from “The Supremes” to “Diana Ross and The Supremes” by Berry Gordy’s insistence.But that wasn’t all he had done. One night Florence was on stage next to Diana and Mary. The next night Cindy Birdsong stood in her place. For good. Diana Ross was now “solo” officially and center-stage.
Nine-years later, destitute in career, financially bankrupt and on welfare assistance, Florence Ballard died on February 22, 1976. She was 33. [J.F.]
Source — see also: Where Did Our Love Go? The Rise And Fall Of The Motown Sound. By Nelson George. Published by St Martin’s Press; New York, 1985.
*Page 163, second paragraph; Where Did Our Love Go?
Florence Ballard. (Click on image for larger view).
NEW YORK — Florence Ballard of the Supremes has withdrawn from the group for reasons of ill health, according to a spokesman for Tamla-Motown, the group’s recording company.
Cindy Birdsong, of Patti and the Bluebells fame, has been selected to replace Miss Ballard. This is reportedly a permanent arrangement, but Miss Birdsong has not been signed as yet. Miss Ballard, according to the spokeman, is currently hospitalized for reasons not specified at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
No further word has been given as to the nature of her stay nor how long she will remain in the hospital. Motown officials declined to divulge of any further arrangements, or of any settlement, it made with Miss Ballard regarding her withdrawal from the Supremes. END.
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 12, 1967).
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1965
NEW YORK — The Supremes, Motown Records artists, have made it five in a row. Billboard’s Hot 100 chart this week reveals their “Back In My Arms Again” is perched in the No. 1 position — their fifth consecutive big hit.
