LP Review: The Supremes; High Energy; and Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
The Supremes finally come to an end
Instead of going one-by-one-by-one over the final three Supremes albums, I’m just gonna review them together.
The Supremes
Released May 1975
After the Supremes’ Jimmy Webb album bombed, the group took three years before releasing another LP. And Jean Terrell was now gone. So Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong were joined by Scherrie Payne who took over as lead singer for this eponymous album.
This album isn’t great (or even particularly good) by any stretch, but it is listenable for the most part. The standout track is “He’s My Man” which topped the newly created disco charts. Given the song’s subject matter, you could understand why disco club culture would sink its teeth into it.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
RECOMMENDED SONGS (only for the soul/disco fan)
He’s My Man: 6/10
It's All Been Said Before: 5.5/10
You Can't Stop a Girl in Love: 5.5/10
Color My World Blue: 5.5/10
HIGH ENERGY
Released: April 1976
This was the last album to feature Cindy Birdsong who left after it was completed, but before it was released. Susaye Green, the final Supreme, joined as her replacement. This album also saw Brian Holland and Eddie Holland (absent Lamont Dozier) come in as main producers for a Supremes album for the first time in almost a decade.
It had mixed results. There are three really good songs, but the rest don’t really do much.
“High Energy” is a graceful number that sounds like an attempt at a Mizell Brothers or Blackbyrds jazz/funk/soul groove. “I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking” is a peppy ditty. It was the Supremes’ final top 40 hit reaching exactly #40. The best song on the album is “You’re What’s Missing in My Life” a lush soul number.
Those genuinely good songs are weighed down by three really lame ballads. Then there’s an average song in “Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)”. Add it together you get an average album.
ALBUM GRADE: C
RECOMMENDED SONGS (definitely for soul and disco fans; perhaps for 70s generalists)
High Energy: 7/10
I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking: 7/10
You're What's Missing in My Life: 7.5/10
Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
Released: October 1976
The Hollands returned to produce the final Supremes album. It’s a dud. There’s nothing offensive here, but only “Let Yourself Go” has any steam. It was the final Supremes single released in the US.
It missed the pop charts entirely, barely registered on the R&B side (#83), but did some work on the disco charts (#5). Again with a title like that, you can tell why. Perfect mindset for a dance floor.
ALBUM GRADE: D
RECOMMENDED SONGS (only for the disco music fan)
Let Yourself Go: 6/10
And with that, the Supremes came to an end in 1977. Pretty good, if often uneven discography for the girl group. Of course when you get 12 #1 pop singles a litany of other hits, you take that deal any day of the week.