Search - Diana Ross & the Supremes :: Join & Together

A super groups collaboration that works

04/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the late 60s, Motown's idea of getting two of its hottest acts together in the studios was a commercial stroke of genius. It spawned the two albums on this twofer and a taped-for-TV live recording for Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations. Their first studio collaboration - "Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations", which opens this twofer, is by far the better album. It kicks off on a sizzling note with "Try It Baby", a jazzy showbizzy number which somehow captures the magic of the ensemble. Neither group was trying to dominate the other and that's part of the reason for its success. The other familiar Motown covers - "I Second That Emotion" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - aren't too many streets away from the originals but they still sound fresh and viable. Dee Dee Warwick and Madeline Bell had minor hits with "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" but it was a little known song until the Supremes and the Temptations made their smash version. Truly an awesome performance and without doubt the high point of the album. "I'll Try Something New" was another example of how getting Diana & Eddie to trade leads was a winning formula with the public as it gave them a follow-up hit. But for me, their nitty gritty super soulful take of "Funky Broadway" rivals Wilson Pickett's original and is the one cut on the album that really impresses. Elsewhere, the energy level sags and the magic dissipates whenever they're lumbered with karoake singalongs like "A Place In The Sun" or supperclub standards like "This Guy's In Love With You" and "The Impossible Dream". "Sweet Inspiration" is sadly less than inspired, while "Then" isn't better than the Supremes' own version."Together", their second collaboration, is obviously an attempt to repeat a successful formula and here, the formula wears a little thin. There's an indifferent paint-by-numbers feel about the arrangements. Opening with a pair of gritty but so so Marvin Gaye covers, they prove the "don't fix it if it ain't broke" adage. Not that they do bad jobs of them, only pointless ones. "The Weight" has Diana singing too high and sounding shrill. The other covers - "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", "Uptight" and "Sing A Simple Song" - are fine but unexceptional. The one bum track that should not have made the cut is the embarrassing "My Guy, My Girl", a dreadful medley of two Motown classics. Thankfully, the album picks up once past the three-quarter mark. Mary Wilson's solo spot on "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a winner, showing the difference her smoky sultry tones makes to the sound of the Supremes. But Motown has left the best for the last. "Why Must We Fall In Love", the closing number, is easily the best cut and the one track on "Together" that really works, recalling the verve of the two groups' earlier collaboration. Fans of the Supremes and the Temptations have the UK branch of Motown to thank for making this twofer available. Though hardly classics, they recall the groups at their prime and are charming and nostalgic to listen to. Essential for fans."

A Dynamic Tour De Force

ianphillips@uk.dreamcast.com | BOLTON, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND | 12/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Diana Ross And The Supremes and The Temptations each began their careers at LuPine Records in 1959 where The Temptations were organally named The Primes and The Supremes were their "sister" group, The Primettes. Of course we all know the different paths they took once they signed to Motown Records in the early sixties but in 1968 the two super groups who were both Motowns hottest selling acts were reunited for a series of spectacular television specials and a host of successful albums. Diana Ross And The Supremes Join The Temptations (1968) was perharps their best studio album together. It marked an electric, truly dynamic combination with each of their diverse harmonies blending fantastically well together. The album opens with the magnificent Try It Baby which contained raw elements of Jazz/Blues and a terrific blend of vocals from both groups involved. Try It Baby was origanally intended to be lifted as a single but was quickly shelved in favour of the superb, cross-Atlantic Top 3 seller, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me which perharps stands as their greatest and most significant recording together where the striking mixture of Eddie Kendricks somewhat sweet falsetto blended beautifuly with the lush harmonies of Diana Ross. Their vibrant, upbeat version of Smokey Robinson And The Miracles, I Second That Emotion, encapsulates a stronger commercial feel than that of the origanal and the track secured them a British Top 20 smash hit. They make a significant cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrells Ain't No Mountain High Enough with Diana Ross' smooth, silky and soulful vocal style combining incredibly well with David Ruffins more forceful delivery marking an interesting transistion in their work together. The frequently covered This Guy Is In Love With You contains magnificent and positivley beautiful performances all round whilst the tempo ups on their sensational version of Funky Broadway which Diana tackles with style and finesse. Another sensational outing was the mid to upbeat sounds of the ballad, I'll Try Something New which bounced into the American Top 50 whilst they do an adequate job of Stevie Wonders golden classic, A Place In The Sun. Their version of Sweet Inspiration doesn't quite have the force of the origanal though is still magical to hear whilst Diana shows off her effortless flair for ballads on the gorgeous, Then, where her vocal delivery is simply breathtakingly beautiful. Most startling of all however is their positivley unique version of The Impossible Dream where both Diana Ross and David Ruffin use their vocal styles to vast effect making the recording a truly spectacular affair. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable album and fans of either of these class groups will be undoubtedly satisfied.Together (1969) takes a side step into a more raw, urban field. The tone is earthy and soulful on this set throughout but if anything showcases both groups undeniable flair for versatility. They do a highly effective job on their cover of the Marvin Gaye classic, Stubborn Kind Of Fellow which is fantastically orchestrated with Diana Ross neatly surfboarding along the complex musical arrangements whilst her performance is more lush on I'll Be Doggone. One of the highlights of this set is their fabulous version of The Weight which became another American Top 50 hit (though deserved much greater recognition) with Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks being the main force on this superb recording whilst their version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrells fine classic, Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing actually surpasses the origanal version. Apart from the hideously out of tune, distortled guirtar riff at the beginning of their version of Stevie Wonders, Uptight (Everythings Alright), the song on the whole is an adequate affair though clearly lacks the spark of the origanal. Livening things up is on their exciting take on Sing A Simple Song which both groups perform well but falling more on the bland side is their odd, disjointed versions of My Guy, My Girl which are gelled together to make a medley but its intentional effect is somewhat lost though Diana Ross in particular puts in an engaging performance on the Mary Wells classic, My Guy. Encapsulating that familiar Motown sound is For Better Or Worse though each groups harmonies sound a little lost amongst the arrangements (but that may have something to do with its transfer onto CD) whilst Mary Wilson takes the spotlight briefly on a bland version of Can't Take My Eyes Off You which sounds a little rushed and uninspired but that is made up for with the truly superb ballad, Why (Must We Fall In Love) which became a U.K Top 40 smas hit in early 1970. Both Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks vocals are at their upmost, fully forced, with the rhythm building to an exalting climax, though sounds a little fuzzy on this CD. Still on the whole, Together is an overly satisfying album that will please both Diana Ross And The Supremes and The Temptations fans.2 Classic albums on 1 CD which are both excellent in their own right featuring some sensational and truly spectacular recordings. Recommended."

United - two supergroups of Motown

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 07/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In Britain, sixties Motown music is revered as much as Elvis and the Beatles, so perhaps it is no surprise that a lot of twofers have been released, featuring several of their acts. This particular collection presents the two original albums in which Diana Ross and the Supremes joined forces with the Temptations.The first of the two is the stronger album, including the transatlantic smash hit I'm gonna make you love me. The remaining tracks include a minor American hit, a minor (different) British hit and several interesting covers, particularly The impossible dream.The second album, while not as strong overall, is also excellent even though there were no British or American hits. It includes a cover of Can't take my eyes off you with Mary Wilson as lead singer, something rare in the sixties. Florence Ballard was the original lead singer, but was replaced in that role by Diana Ross because none of Florence's records yielded a hit. This helps to explain subsequent events regarding Florence, who had already left the group before these albums were recorded.If you enjoy this set so much that you want to collect the series, it will not be a cheap exercise. There are six other Temptations twofers and five other Supremes twofers. There are also twofers for Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, the Four Tops, the Jackson five and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. I don't know if the series is complete - there may even be more to come."