Search - Diana Ross, Supremes, Temptations :: Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets

R&B's Two Greatest Supergroups Deliver!

Mary Woodhouse | Saint Paul, MN United States | 05/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With 38 tracks, a generous helping by anyone's standards, this affordable 2-disc is truly complete. In addition to the complete 2 studio albums the Supremes and Temptations recorded together, every Mono single mix is here, as well as alternate mixes and extended fades, PLUS 7 never-before-released songs!!WHAT I LOVED:
1) The compelling Diana Ross performance of "A House Is Not A Home" has been freed from the vaults at last! This track is not a duet, rather it has both The Supremes and Temptations backing her together with a beautiful vocal blend. NOTE: And folks, this truly is "The Supremes", as Cindy Wilson and Mary Birdsong are singing backup here and NOT The Andantes.2) "Why (Must We Fall In Love)" has never sounded better! This version is the same original LP stereo version, without the minor distortion that tainted the original mix. Now it has been cleaned up and is perfect - plus it is 20 seconds longer. This song features a complex and sophisticated chord progression and could have been a major hit. It sounds like a classic here. And to those who don't think Ross can be soulful, listen to this track. Very soulful.3) The "Opening Medley". This one is so cute! It starts with The Tempts talking: "Man, this is a wack party without the girls...wait a minute, here they come! There's the sexy one, the shy one, and the skinny one!" (Or something to that effect.) Then The Tempts and Supes go into a 5-song medley of Supremes hits. It is fun hearing the guys sing the Supremes' hits! This track would have fit in perfectly on the original LP of "Join".4) Lots of rare photos and complete behind-the-scenes liner notes, including input from producer Frank Wilson, put the recording sessions - and top-rated TV specials - the groups did together in historical context.5) For those who miss the original LP covers, they are full-page reproduced inside the booklet!6) Also, hats must go off to mixing engineer Ellen Fitton, who newly mixed several of the tracks herself from the original masters. These songs had never been given a final mix, and rather than try to radically play with the sound and "update" or "remix" it, she kept the songs very loyally to the original Motown sound. Great news for audiophiles and Motown purists!"

"Completely" satisfied

Eso | Oakdale | 04/27/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although digital re-mastering did not improve the sound drastically on this reissue , the liner notes and a few other nuggets make this investment very worth the wile to the completist. The liner notes are interesting and well-done because they are found in the form of quotations from producers, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong and the Temptations, however maybe because of her disaffiliation with Motown, there is very little in the way from Diana Ross. Overall, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" appears to be a different alternate mix with the Temptations speaking in the beginning, but all the so-called alternate mixes are not that different from the originals. "I'm Gonna..." is a curiosity of sorts because one of the Temps does a spoken word intro a la Ross - how interesting that the tables were turned and now one a Temptation does an introduction. The final cut "Not Now,I'll Tell You Later" has historical value as it is just the Supremes singing background on a Temptations number before the Temptations and the Supremes became stars in their own right. The Supremes were waiting around in the studio waiting to record "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" and while waiting were pulled in to do background for The Temptations. Also, although in this country on the Billboard Charts the TCB album hit #1, this one only hit #2. In another interesting liner-note, Frank Wilson reveals that he has access to sales shipments and the studio album outsold the live album.With regard to the bonus cuts - the previously unreleased numbers - "A House is Not A Home" due in large part to Diana Ross' compelling performance which almost seems to be a solo appears to be the best cut. The song, which has been sung by Luther and others, is performed very well and one of the producers was Nickolas Ashford. Nick Ashford's wrenching a strong and full-bodied performance from Ross in 1968 augured well for the excellent solo work Ross would do in '70.The set also boasts a weird medley of "You Can't Hurry Love/"You Keep Me Hangin' On" - a strange trick pairing the two songs together. At one point, early in the song, it appears as if instead of merely functioning as a medley, for a brief time the songs are woven together musically creating the sensation of a new song before it goes full-out into "You Can't Hurry Love". In actuality, according to Deke Richards, "I put together this weird medley that did not make the album. I broke them up and put it into a different medley...I planned to later overdub some guitars to finish it". The song sports new vocals recorded August 27, 1968.Between the two albums which were joined together to create this compilation "Why(Must We Fall In Love)" is one of the strongest - if not the strongest - completely original number written for The Supremes and Temptations and duet. Oddly enough, it was never released in the United States although reaching #31 in England. Unfortunately, there are a couple misses here: "Got to Get You Back into My Life" is awkward due to the arrangement and "Amen" is not a fit for Ross as her soprano is too high for a number The Impressions did before. The inclusion of the two merely average "You Gave Me Strength" and "Walk Away" are not significant additions as well."

Just For Paul Williams

CrucianNYC | Corona-Elmhurst, NY United States | 08/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The CD "Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets" is great! It's a pleasure being able to listen to Paul Williams' voice on many of the songs. I always thought he was a great singer! My only bone to pick with this CD is the title. It clearly states "Duets" yet there are songs with ONLY The Supremes. Why not have some with just the Temptations? Even with that minor flaw, I HIGHLY recommend this CD! I enjoyed "Amen" very much. I hope Motown continues to give us "new" stuff rather than different issues of the same old hits. I would love for Motown to put out a CD with songs of the other girls (Flo, Mary, Cindy) doing leads on songs that may have been released with Diane in the lead. Didn't they experiment in the studio? And yes, like the original releases this one sounds more like Diana Ross and the Temptations instead of the Supremes and Temptations! On some songs one can hardly hear Mary and Cindy. Anyway, go out and get this CD! Folks, also check out The Supremes' "new" never released CD, "There's A Place For Us" at www.hip-oselect.com. That, too, is a good CD! It's limited to only 5000 copies so get it soon!! Peace!"