‘The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland’ gets expanded

Motown is celebrating 50 plus years of The Supremes with the 2 CD expanded release of The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland on June 15th via Motown/UMe. The release is in anticipation of Motown’s 60th anniversary and the album’s 51st. A whopping 52 tracks magnify the scope of a seminal album that made history, including 28 tracks that are heard here for the first time via a number of updated mixes and alternate versions, as well as a score of electrifying live performances captured at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City in May 1967, the last recorded performance of the original trio: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard.

The album, originally released in January 1967, further cemented the group’s chart prowess and vocal harmonizing skills. The original album, inspired by the production team who along with the group had come to define the “Motown Sound” – producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier and lyricist Edward Holland Jr. – spawned a pair of universally loved No. 1 singles, the forever-pleading “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and the heartbreakingly dramatic “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone.” The LP also went to No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Albums Chart, their fourth album to do so up to that point, while peaking at No. 6 Pop.

Formed in Detroit as The Primettes in 1959, The Supremes were Motown’s most successful act of the 1960s, scoring 12 No. 1 singles. They also continue to reign as America’s most successful vocal group to date. Their influence not only carries on in contemporary R&B, soul and pop, they also helped pave the way for mainstream success by African-American artists across all genres.

The expanded The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland includes the original album in both its original mono and stereo mixes – with the mono album on CD for the first time – plus several rare and new mixes created exclusively for this expanded edition, including alternate versions and alternate mixes of the hits; the original film version of the No. 1 hit “The Happening,” which was re-cut for the single version; a version of “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” with a vocal previously available only on a Japanese release; a once-in-a-lifetime “duet” version of “You’re Gone (But Always In My Heart),” that includes lead vocals by Diana Ross and Gladys Knight; and a Motown mashup of the H-D-H classics “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Where Did Our Love Go.” Rounding out this collection is a rare recording from the Copacabana in New York, in May 1967, one of the last performances of the group with Florence Ballard. This spirited show is a masterful blend of Supremes hits and show tunes, the epitome of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s vision for his Detroit-based company. And included in the package is a 32-page booklet with rare and never-before-seen photos plus an interview with Lamont Dozier. Also included is a bonus 24-page booklet that recreates The Supremes’ 1967 souvenir tour booklet.

Fifty-plus years on, The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland receives a well-deserved remastered expansion, produced by the team responsible for previous expanded editions, Andrew Skurow and George Solomon, and remastered by Universal Music’s Kevin Reeves. These collections continue to keep us hangin’ on to the most intuitive and most indelible blend of perfect harmonizing and majestic songwriting of the very best artists and creative teams Motown had to offer.

2 CD

[one_half]CD 1:

  1. You Keep Me Hangin’ On [Mono]
  2. You’re Gone (But Always In My Heart) [Mono]
  3. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone [Mono]
  4. Mother You, Smother You [Mono]
  5. I Guess I’ll Always Love You [Mono]
  6. I’ll Turn To Stone [Mono]
  7. It’s The Same Old Song [Mono]
  8. Going Down For The Third Time [Mono]
  9. Love Is In Our Hearts [Mono]
  10. Remove This Doubt [Mono]
  11. There’s No Stopping Us Now [Mono]
  12. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave) [Mono]
  13. You Keep Me Hangin’ On [Stereo]
  14. You’re Gone (But Always In My Heart) [Stereo]
  15. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone [Stereo]
  16. Mother You, Smother You [Stereo]
  17. I Guess I’ll Always Love You [Stereo]
  18. I’ll Turn To Stone [Stereo]
  19. It’s The Same Old Song [Stereo]
  20. Going Down For The Third Time [Stereo]
  21. Love Is In Our Hearts [Stereo]
  22. Remove This Doubt [Stereo]
  23. There’s No Stopping Us Now [Stereo]
  24. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave) [Stereo]
  25. The Happening (Extended Hit Mix) [Bonus Track]
  26. All I Know About You (Extended Mix) [Bonus Track]
  27. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone (Version 3) [Bonus Track]
  28. We Couldn’t Get Along Without You (Extended Mix) [Bonus Track]
  29. You Keep Me Hangin’ On (Extended “Cool” Alternate) [Bonus Track][/one_half]

[one_half_last]CD 2:

  1. You Can’t Hurry Love (Extended Alternate)
  2. The Happening (Film Version)
  3. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone (Version 1)
  4. You’re Gone (But Always In My Heart) (Gladys Knight and The Pips Duet Mix)
  5. I Guess I’ll Always Love You (Extended Mix)
  6. Going Down For The Third Time (Extended Mix)
  7. Remove This Doubt (Extended Mix)
  8. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Where Did Our Love Go (Motown Mashup)
  9. Put On A Happy Face [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  10. Medley: Stop! In The Name Of Love/Come See About Me/My World Is Empty Without You/Baby Love [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  11. My Favorite Things [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  12. You Keep Me Hangin’ On [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  13. The Lady Is A Tramp/Let’s Get Away From It All [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  14. I Hear A Symphony [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  15. From This Moment On [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  16. Queen Of The House [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  17. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  18. Somewhere [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  19. You Can’t Hurry Love [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  20. Medley: Thoroughly Modern Millie/Second Hand Rose/Mame [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  21. Group Introductions [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  22. You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You [Live At The Copa May 1967]
  23. The Happening [Live At The Copa May 1967][/one_half_last]

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com