Released: May 1972
This isn’t the best Supremes album, but it’s my favorite. God bless Smokey Robinson for showing up and producing this.
The album has a distinctly retro vibe that isn’t antiquated. It’s very much, “How would the 1965 Supremes sound in 1972?” They sound fucking great, that’s how. Smokey wrote a few originals while also importing some classics from the 60s for this LP. They’re all at least really good.
The album opens with “Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love” which was first recorded by Kim Weston in 1966 but never released by Motown until decades later in a Weston anthology. This song rocks. It’s fun and lives up to its title. Released as the third and final single from the album, I am pissed it only reached #22 R&B and #59 pop.
The big hit was “Floy Joy”. Utilizing the “baby baby” stomping beat of classics like “Baby Love” and “Stop! In The Name of Love”, Robinson tweaked things by having Mary Wilson and Jean Terrell share lead vocals. I think it works magnificently. They have very different voices that play off well together. Wilson sultry/husky, Terrell evocative/perky.
Also the bass kicks ass on this song throughout the whole album. Praise James Jamerson. Actually let’s pause for a moment and appreciate just how good a job Robinson did on ensuring the spotlight was simultaneously on the vocalists and the band. Frank Wilson did some good production for the Supremes over the previous three albums. Sometimes however he did go overboard with studio tricks that overshadowed the vocals and actual instruments.
Smokey kept it simple, but brilliant.
Back to “Floy Joy,” the song reached #5 R&B and #16 pop in the US. It’d be their final top 10 R&B hit and final top 20 pop hit. In the UK it reached #9 continuing their hot streak over there.
“A Heart Like Mine” is an old song by the Miracles and this cover fucking blows the original away. Mary Wilson is the perfect lead here since the song is slow like molasses, but her low voice guides it where it needs to go.
Terrell meanwhile deftly manipulates “Over and Over”.
And “Precious Little Things”… man what a delightful song. Even has a spritely clavinet.
SONG SCORES
Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love: 8/10
Floy Joy: 8/10
A Heart Like Mine: 7/10
Over and Over: 8/10
Precious Little Things: 8.5/10
The second side opens with a fantastic instrumental. I know the Supremes technically sing on it, but “Now the Bitter, Now the Sweet” is a whole vibe. The guitar, the bass, and the vocals basically work together to create an atmosphere of… I don’t know what exactly, but I like it. Also three Supremes take turns singing on this… alone and together. Congrats Cindy Birdsong, you get the spotlight for once.
“Automatically Sunshine”, another single, is some classic cutesy Robinson lyrics slapped over his version of funky hippie-ness. It was a modest hit in America (#21 R&B, #37 pop), but another big seller in the UK (#10).
“The Wisdom Of Time” is just… man… why is this album so good? And Cindy Birdsong gets a co-lead vocal with Terrell? Congrats again Cindy.
On the album closer, Robinson finally indulged a little fuzz guitar. A little not a lot like Frank Wilson. “Oh Be My Love” is another cover of an old Miracles song and again blows the original away. It’s peppy, it’s funky, it’s soulful, it’s the shit. Just like this album.
SONG SCORES
Now the Bitter, Now the Sweet: 9/10
Automatically Sunshine: 8/10
The Wisdom Of Time: 8/10
Oh Be My Love: 8.5/10
ALBUM GRADE: A-
Recommended for all lovers of pop, soul, and funk music of any forms. It’s one of them albums that just does the job. No new ground is broken, no new trends are set. It just clocks in at 30 minutes, does the job, and goes home. And you’ll be thankful for probably every moment.
And the best part is, this album is woefully underplayed and underappreciated, so all the songs will be completely new to most of you. Which means it’ll def be new to your friends. You can be all cool and shit being like, “Hey, I know this awesome Supremes album from 1972 that nobody listens to anymore. Wanna check it out?”
Hell yeah, they’ll say.
HELL YEAH