Diana Ross & The Supremes - "I'll Set You Free" [Love Child: 1968]
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Here is one of the last songs from the "Love Child" album by Diana Ross & The Supremes. This is one of my favourites off of the album, as Mary and Cindy really do an amazing job on the backing and the song is really nice. It was also produced by Mr Berry Gordy himself!
Vocals: The Supremes
Lead: Diana Ross
Backing: Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong
Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Writer(s): Gwen Fuqua, B. Gordy, Ivy Jo Hunter, Renee Tener
Producer(s): Berry Gordy, Jr.
"Love Child" is a 1968 album recorded by Diana Ross & The Supremes for the Motown label. The LP was the group's first studio LP (excepting covers and tribute albums) not to include any songs written or produced by any member of the Holland-Dozier-Holland production team, who had previously overseen most of the Supremes' releases.
The album was also the first regular studio album by the group to not feature vocals from Florence Ballard (who was fired in the summer of 1967).
Album Chart History:
U.S. Billboard 200: #14
U.S. Billboard R&B Albums Chart: #3
UK Albums Chart: #8
Professional Album Reviews:
Allmusic.com | 4/5 stars
Never appreciated how good this track was until hearing it here for the first time in a long time. As has been said, Mary and Cindy sound great .
Absolutelly mesmerizing!!!! The vocals are TRULY SUPREME!!! WONDERFULLY ARRANGED THEM VOICES!!!! Diana shines as usual, but you can REALLY HEAR Mary "cooking in the background" and Cindy's sweet high harmony is icing in this DELICIOUS slice of musical cake!!!!❤❤❤
The harmonies and timing are just astounding. Truly supreme. What an era.
Just cant get enough of this track, how did I miss it when I first bought the album? BRILLIANT
I feel that same way , when I heard this I was like omg what was I missing out on
I truly wish this tune was released as a single, or even as a flipside - I defintely would have bought it!!!!!!!!!!!
Great song! I love hearing Mary cut loose a bit in the background -- same reason I love "Bill, When are you Coming Back?" so much. Right at the end of the track, she comes roaring out. That may be my favorite post-Diana recording; I can't imagine why it wasn't a A-side.
Mary Wilsons backgrounds are fabulous
Wow after 50 years never heard this one. I'm in 😲 shock.
What a nice treat! I remember listening to this on my old LP version decades ago. This is one of those hidden gems, and it's more a group endeavor as opposed to just a solo singer with background. No one sings like this nowadays.
@blackguy69 LOL it's fine xD. My favourite part of this song is actually Mary!! Mary was SAAANGING that backging!
should have been released as a single...Diana's lead on this is crazy good....so feline, sexy, cooing, pouting...she's AWESOME!
the first ever album bought for me by my father , aged 8 , love it....and who the hell needs dreamgirls.....wow
@Eddieb715 Exactly! A TRUE fan of The Supremes can easily hear that it's Mary's voice powering loud and clear on the backing so much so that it's almost like a group lead LOL
Compare how glorious Mary Wilson sounds to how weak Diana Ross voice is in the "lead".
@@DetroitLives313 yeah Diana’s voice was pathetic compared to Mary and flos
LOVE this song!!
Mary and Cindy,,,go go gils!!!!
love love love
This should have been another single off of the"Love Child" LP. This is one of the best songs they recorded after Florence left.
For reals!!!!
Lord have mercy. Diana is a dream!!!!!!!!!! Good Lord.
Those gowns are beautiful 😍❤
Lord have mercy. THE SUPREMES are such a dream!!!!!! Good Lord. Now that I think about it, I do believe that Diane was once ONE of THEM!
I always loved this song because it sounded like Diane was backing up Mary and Cindy!
@jazzscherzo I couldn't agree more =D So nice to actually hear Mary and Cindy on a song from the album =) Thanks for commenting.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
Why this tune was never released as a single, I'll never know!!
As many fans know, it was rare that Mary and Cindy were featured on the Supremes' recordings once Cindy came on board being that other background singers (especially the Andantes) were featured on the groups' performances. This; however, is one of those times in which we are hearing Mary and Cindy.
this is a bloddy great song...no matter who sang background. it ws always one of my favourite album tracks. there were a few mixes released at the time..one has an extended fade. the supremes were great becasue they were talented women who loved to sing and becasue the production was always spot on.
@stevie68a
It is definitely Mary & Cindy, you can clearly hear them.
I agree with you assessment of her work ethic and accomplishments. She worked incredibly hard and I'm sure it didn't all come easy for her. My issue with her revolves her egomaniacal ways, her ruthlessness, and her desire to have it all for herself. One can not talk about Diane and all her admirable qualities without also considering her character flaws.
I always felt this song predated the youthful sound The Jackson 5 trademarked the following year with "I Want You Back" especially with the buzzing guitar.
I love this song Motown rock
@jekentmeniet1991 Yes it is based on The Supremes - in particular original member Florence Ballard who was fired in 1967. The character Effie is based on Flo - though Flo never had an intimate/sexual relationship with Berry and therefore never bore his child. Flo, though she did put on some weight, was more curvacious than overweight and never reached Effie's size. Though Flo started to make a comeback in 1975 (after sinking into poverty) she died unexpectedly in 1976
I love their fashion and voices truly iconic I wonder if the dresses that went missing were ever located?.
So cool, great video! Love that song now as much as I did back in 68!
@heartandsoul22 Yes, it seems Flo had passed down her confidence to Mary LOL. Thanks for commenting.
Have a happy new year.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
I LIKE IT---SWEET. NICE MOTOWN SOUND TRACK GETS ME GOING!
This saves my soul! This is a very beautiful, I would love to hear the instrumental :)
Nice song. I can hear Mary very prominently in the background.
Very cool vocals, and gee, what an era and what swell gals! Love them! Thanks for posting! Happy New Year!
Good singing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love this , ive listened to it 50 times tonight , the drummer is god, diana is great tone and those bitches are rite in there, woop woop set me free........
Wonderful. Thanks for doing this video.
Beautiful. I wonder who could do a remake of this song today? Hmmmm...
This almost became a single! They went instead with the newly-recorded "I'm Livin' In Shame." The whole "Love Child" album was fabulous and a quick attempt at doing something about the singing-birdies-from-"Snow-White" backgrounds on the "Reflections" album. But before the "Love Child" album there was to have been a "Some Things You Never Get Used To" album, which include a few tracks that ended up on the "Love Child" album (they weren't the same album with different titles."
It's Supremes backed by the Adantes. Mary's backing vocals sticks out on this cut!!!!!
I really don't know what to say! I guess all I CAN say is that you are a ROSS fan and I am a fan of the legendary SUPREMES! I came in at the beginning and you came in during Diane's solo years. We are bound to have different perspectives! Speaking for myself, I am so blessed to have experienced the multi-media musical phenomenon (so much more than the mere recordings of the 1960's) while THE SUPREMES ruled one of the greatest eras in musical history!
love it
theres alot of praise i could give to mary , but ..at the end of the day....diana was bound for the greater, its just shit ..i know..but she served us well..love diana..xx
Yeah but Mary has done her thing, motivating, inspiring those of us that wish to hear her vocal prowess. A beautiful and kind Lady!
@christheone8773 And they recorded three different versions. It ALMOST became a single. It really could have replaced "The Composer" ( actually LIKE "No Matter What Sign You Are").
@shmuli9 Yes, people definitely loved the tune, as evident when The Supremes were booked on Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars tour (which they didn't even get billing when the tour started) - but as the tour progressed, they noticed the applause from the audiences was getting wilder and louder with each city they visited, and by the time the tour was over, they had the Number One song in the country at the end of August, 1964-
@br942 =D they sure do. Thanks for commenting.
@shmuli9 Oh, don't get me wrong, I think it's a great song as well, I was only quoting what Mary Wilson thought about the tune - just like she was HIGHLY critical of their first number one hit, "Where Did Our Love Go" - she stated that, to her ears, it sounded like a teenybopper song, with childish, repetitive lyrics, a limited melody and no drive, and she couldn't imagine anyone liking it - I am guessing that she's speaking these words because she was not chosen to sing the lead on the tune-
@redwalls76 Thank you for commenting and yes I could definately post that - it's easily one of my favourites from the album (The Andantes really compliment Diana on that).
@Individuell83 Thanks =D one of my first with this new program I'm using =)
This album replaced another scheduled release, "Some Things You Never Get Used To," and it's the result of everyone at Motown feeling the backgrounds on the "Reflections" were too sugary and sweet and high-pitched. So the sound was changed radically to more gritty urban background vocals and I thought it represented a tremendous improvement. You've got to hand it to Motown--it never just went through the motions or took the easy way.
@StevesWifeCharlo Happy new year to you too! Thanks for commenting.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
@hunkhk Thanks soo much =D I hope to post the acapella (which I filtered myself) and the instrumental =)
Have a happy new year.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
I love Diana's voice....her tone and how layered sexy, petulant, dramatic, all at once
yeah...she IS the queen of drama...sleazy, greedy, cheatin', lyin', homewrecker that she is...
@@maryruggiero2884 Somebody jealous....small people with small minds present small facts and big lies
@@mic6434 LMAO!! ok...then, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me. how's that? LOLOL!! you sound like a little girl!! jealous?? LOL!!! grow up!! how old are you, 9? seriously...
@@maryruggiero2884 Oh I hurt your feelings...I'm sorry....you're obviously an imbecile...
@shmuli9 Mary Wilson had stated in her first book, "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme", that "The Composer" and "No Matter What Sign You Are" were two of the worst tunes ever released under the Supremes' name, so she didn't feel too bad about not singing on those - "No Matter What Sign You Are" was written by Berry Gordy, in response to the zodiac/horoscope craze at the time, and also in response to the the Fifth Dimension tune, "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" -
Yes, the group has slipped into history (just like The Beatles and Elvis Presley); however, they have their rightful place in history! Berry, Smokey, and Diane as the only 3 Motown insiders are the spokesmen for Motown's history and they want it centered around themselves. Diane's career went into "oblivion" 25 years ago. She is an Oldies performer and Supremes Tribute Artist..Just because the trio broke up, why should their legacy and legend be passed on to HER?
@chrissen1 Yes that is very apparent on albums like "Let the Sunshine In" which contain almost no vocals whatsoever from either Mary or Cindy :S
@MajorMovieStar I don't know. The style of music is really quite different to R&B today but Destiny's Child can sing anything, so group wise, I would say them - if only they would do one more album together =D. Lol. Thanks for commenting =)
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
@suedemiddleton Thanks =)
Have a happy new year.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong sound way better than the Andantes, I'm sorry.
@carolinaguy321 great song. it was always one of my favourites from that album.
As far as who had the superior voice, here it is: none of them did. Florence had a big booming voice, but at the end of the day, it was not all that special. Yes, she could hit and hold a note, but her actual voice was quite ordinary. None of the solo efforts of hers that I have heard have stood out. Her voice, in actuality, was kind of boring, and she really did not have all that much of a range. Also at high levels, her voice could be quite shrill and piercing. That's where Mary comes in, her soft smoky alto had no range either, but the two of them complimented each other beautifully. Florence gave Mary's voice power, while Mary gave Florence's voice a certain depth that it lacked on it's own. The perfect vocal yin and yang. Many incorrectly think that the powerful backing parts on, say, You Keep Me Hangin On are Florence and Florence alone. It is not, it is Florence and Mary, make no mistake. It is the both of them. This video also shows that Mary and Cindy had the same kind of technique, although Cindy's voice was much higher, and less powerful. When mixed and arranged right, Mary and Cindy could be quite powerful, as is proven in this song.
Bg Gb I get so tired of people comparing Miss Ross voice and Flo's voice ! don't you ?
Bg Gb Your analysis of the ladies' voices is pretty much spot-on, but you really can't compare them, because they are all so different. Diana was made the lead singer because her voice had a commercial quality that the other ladies lacked. Other 60s girl groups tried to duplicate The Supremes sound, but it simply couldn't be done because of the uniqueness of Diana's voice. This would be the case decades later with T-Boz and TLC. The group dynamics weren't exactly the same, but T-Boz was made the lead singer because of the uniqueness of her voice, not because of any great singing talent, which she definitely did not possess.
You Keep Me Hanging On was definitely a spotlight moment for Florence. Mary sang the backgrounds with the Andantes. Florence sang the lead with Diana, but she also had a couple of lines solo in the bridge.
The Supremes, like many vocal groups were greater than the sum of their parts. The most successful line up- Diana Flo and Mary sounded great when harmonizing- unfortunately once the hits came the harmonies were out. I agree, there are no fantastic singers in this line up. Mary has a sexy smokey sound, Flo is a belter and Diana has that shrill piercing tone that is quite unique although at times she can sound a bit like Minnie Mouse on helium. Truth is Diana's unique sound cut through on transistor radios and helped sell thee hits. Flo is nothing special neither is Mary but together they created a chemistry- like so many other groups (Spice Girls)- but once Gordy started messing with it the sound was gone.
Florence and Mary were far better singers than Diane was. Diane had the benefit of heavy duty vocal coaching that no other Motown singer was given. Don't kid yourself for a minute. Ross was a creation and when left to her own devices crashed and burned.
I fully agree and always say that many overrate Flo's singing skills. Frankly, I got her solo album on CD, played it once and it never left the shelve again. I was not impressed at all.
@bellachelito Motown really made sure the group put out a good album after Flo's dismissal to ensure the group's continued success and I must say with this album at least they certainly succeeded =D Thanks for commenting. Have a nice day.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
@FaReaList Well like where all the instruments are panned (like how far to the left or right they are) also the loudness of each one and any reverb/echo there may be and stuff - this applies to the vocals also. Listen to Love Child (from the same album) then listen to this and you will hear what I mean...lol
@FaReaList I agree with all said! Though the mixing isn't perfect, this song definately had more urban appeal than alot of the songs on the Love Child album (which I think is GREAT by the way). Another GREAT song from the album is KEEP YOUR EYE - which Diana coincedently re-recorded for her debut solo album but I think the Love Child original version is the best! =D
@chrissen1 I agree, I am sure that it was hard for Flo intially, because one minuet you are up there on stage performing and the next thing you know, you are replaced just like that by a look-a-like. I mean CB was okay, but she was know Florence Ballard.
You're missing the point again! Why do you always miss the point? The SUPREMES are the standard by which Diane's voice is measured. With FLO, the GROUP sound was MAGICAL! Diane's sound was less magical with Cindy, The Waters Sisters, The Andantes, etc. It wasn't that Flo's voice was so great.....it was the magic made by the combination of Diane, Flo, and Mary! Diane's voice never sounded better! Also the production skills of HDH enhanced the sound as well. They left at the same time as Flo.
@shmuli9 LOL - I remember having that album, which was kind of weird that Elton John would write liner notes like that, because, at the time THAT album was released, the Supremes were Mary, Cindy Birdsong and Jean Terrell--
@br942 Well...it was plonked on the end of the album but yes it is brilliant =D thanks for commenting.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
I think that you are entitled to your say. Also, I am familiar with your perspective........there are many "Ross as a solo act" fans. If people started out as a "Ross as a solo act" fan, they will see it all through a Ross vent. For those of us who watched from the very beginning, we are bound to have a different perspective. Everyone loved the legendary grouping of Flo, Mary, and Diane. Although people take swipes at Diane and Mary separately, EVERYONE seems to love the legendary SUPREMES!
No, not in my dreams.........listen to the recording! In those days, people enjoyed all three of THE SUPREMES and particularly when all three were being featured instead of just ONE (who shall remain nameless!). Anyway, there were recordings where Flo or Mary sang lead and Diane sang backup. Actually, the true magic of Diane's voice can only be heard when she is singing with Mary and Flo. It wasn't the same with The Andantes, Cindy, or as a solo act! Flo and Mary had to be there for the magic!
@MotownConnoisseur30 Yes it definately is! The recording quality and mixing baffles me though as it is not as good as the other songs on the album - a bit like I'm Livin' In Shame was. Do you know why?
Thanks for commenting.
- JLG | JonathanLGardner
@christheone8773 I just realized that I neglected to type "I" like in the below statement. Mary's comment about her thinking it's a bad song notwithstanding, *I* like "No Matter What Sign You Are". It's amusing... Plus, I am sure the Supremes' lip-synched performance of this song on "Ed Sullivan" REALLY influenced ABBA...
There are several differentl mixes of this track.. The MONO(love child) LP version is the best in my opinion
I always suspected that most of the talk of love for Flo and her having the "best voice" had less to do with her or her voice and more to do with hatred of Diana....Mary started this whole ball rolling in the 80's....then Dreamgirls made it worst...people actually believe Effie was really Flo when nothing could be further from the truth....Florence was her own worst enemy and Diana helped her more then Mary who did nothing...financial or otherwise for her except use her as a means of furthering her vendetta against Diana...and all you folk who claim to love Flo so much are doing her a disservice by using her too...she had a big voice etc etc...have y'all listened to her sing? nice but unremarkable unless you need it to be more then it is in order to bash Diana...
Amen!
Both Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard had better voices and sang better than Diana Ross which is why Diana decided to start sleeping with Berry Gordy.
Wow. SO UNKIND. But I do respect your opinion. Blessings always!
@@holdensupreme9436 Wow SO PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE but I do respect your opinion. Blessings always!
Did they really have better voices than Diana Ross? You probably wouldn't even know who Mary Wilson or Florence Ballard were without Diana Ross.
The Supremes hit big long before there was any sleeping with Berry Gordy.
Ultimately, who's the real winner? She's alive and still a wonderful entertainer and super star
Silly "KurtSupreme" Following your "Logic", If Someone gave Miss Mary, Talent she might have been Successful too, Please "Kurt", Grow Up, The Supremes had their Level of Success, due to Diana Ross, HDH, Motown & The Funk Brothers, Anyone could (and did) fill in a few Ooh's & Ahh's
(continued) Yes, Diane's voice WAS unique and it was the central sound of THE SUPREMES.........that's for sure; however, that voice never sounded better than when it was being produced by HDH in combination with Flo and Mary. After Flo and HDH left, it was NEVER the same for THE SUPREMES' SOUND or Diane's sound as a solo act.
@Individuell83 No it still recognised the word with only two spaces -_- Why is no one commenting on this vid? -____-
I don't get the Flo comparison with Aretha either. If someone worked with Flo and gave her the right material, she might have been a successful soloist......we'll never know! With Mary, she was the most beautiful of the 3. Also, that smoky alto acted as a buffer between the two soprano voices of Flo and Diane. While Mary's voice was never my favorite, she was an integral part of the harmony sound of the trio. It's almost as though Mary's talents can only be seen as a member of THE SUPREMES.
@christheone8773 Yeah... Some of Mary's gripes are quite justified, but she seems to have some issues with fairly innocuous issues (ridiculous things like "and Diane had the gall to use a Kleenex only once!"). I met her once. Heh... "Where Did Our Love Go" WAS teenybopperish, she hopefully knows that THAT sound sold, and sells records, because - gasp - people LIKE it.
I know that you really do want to understand me because you feel the passion. As far as Diane's solo career goes, The Supremes were more successful, The Supremes were more popular at the time, and The Supremes were (in plain English) just a better act! Until the history books are written correctly and state that THE SUPREMES were IT and Diane's solo career was an extension of THEIR success, I will NOT SHUT UP!
Mary finally gets 15 seconds of lead lol
If Diane would TRULY bow to the legacy of THE SUPREMES instead of giving them lip service as a stepping stone in HER legacy, I would lighten up on her. She has never done it, she is not doing it now, nor do I ever expect her to do it. She wants it all for herself and I despise her for that!
Why should she..DIANA was and is bad all by herself.
@@cravendubose8179 ..................because THE SUPREMES were the MAIN event, that's why!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@kurtsupreme NOT GOOD ENOUGH, as always DIANA was the main event........
@@cravendubose8179 If you had been born earlier and didn't have Diane stuck up your "nose" (I'm being polite), you would know better.
This is deffo not the finished version. There is no piano and lots of extra verses etc
You did NOT compare other groups to THE SUPREMES...I misread one of your comments. After rereading, I apologize for misquoting you. Continuing, until Diane bows to the legacy of THE SUPREMES, I will not shut up. I have stated that to you before.
Like You, I bought Florence Ballards C.D., It was fine, Nothing Special or Distinctive about her voice, her sound would have NEVER took "The Supremes" to the Heights they reached, Not to mention, she didn't have the Work Ethic, Discipline, Mental Stability or Drive to go the distance, But her version of Silent Night is EXCEPTIONAL.
LOLOLOL!!! you're so kidding, right??
@@maryruggiero2884 He's not kidding he's telling the truth
You can't compare the SUPREMES to OTHER GROUPS.......ONLY The Beatles! Those two groups were in a category all their own..........that's what YOU don't get! As for the voice, without HDH productions and Flo holding her up, Diane's voice has never sounded the same! Backed by Cindy, The Andantes, The Waters Sisters, and all the rest, Diane has never sounded the same. With different producers and different songs, she has sounded better on some songs; but, NEVER as good!
@christheone8773 On one of their later albums "Touch") Elton John writes the liner notes, and says something ridiculous like "I bought their first record, Where Did Our Love Go,which wasn't a hit". It WASN'T their first record either in North America or in the UK, and it was #1 here and #3 in the UK (and top 10 in a good deal of Northern Europe and Australia).
@jazzscherzo shes awesome
Not the Supremes on backing vocals...The Andantes.
Without out a doubt that is Mary and Cindy in the background.No question there.
@carolinaguy321 cindy was great...my faourite, apart from diana.
How does anyone know for sure that this is Mary & Cindy? Could've been the
Andantes.....
No, Flo had a strong, beautiful voice. She did not receive the mentoring or material that was written for Diane. I'm not saying that Flo would have turned into a "Diana" Ross because Diane had other natural qualities (charisma, stage presence, unique voice, strong fashion sense, etc.); however, Flo was never given the chance to develop and perfect her voice. As for Mary, Diane has stated that Mary had the best ability to harmonize than anyone else she had worked with. TOGETHER, they were IT!!!
I like this song, but it sounds like an almost finished demo. The beginning is odd, and the song structure seems like it needs to be finalized. Also, Diana's lead vocal sounds iffy at parts.
Diana's vocals sound iffy on so many tracks- many just were not suited to her voice/range and Mary or Flo should've been given those leads. Many tracks were ruined by Diana struggling to hit notes and that Minnie Mouse on helium imppression is painful to listen to at times- yet I still love the Supremes and Diana!
I'm afraid you don't 'feel' how Diana felt the lyrics when she sang this song. To me she, on the contrary, sounds very strong here.
@@knockshinnoch1950 There you go drinking that haterade again....even if all you say true she is still regarded of one of the greatest singer/performers of all time...so I guess that makes your claims bullcrap
Tes7000 you trying to do way to much....
You sound like a nice person. I'm not going to change your mind and vice versa. We have a different frame of reference. I don't know what more to say.You MISSED The Supremes (they were SO much more than their recordings!) I don't care for Diane as a solo act. I don't like how she rose to power within the group and I can not stand her egomaniacal ways. You act like I am the only one who has issues with her. She has been one of the most beloved and DESPISED people in the business for many years!
Nobody care what you like or don't like, but you must know it was all DIANA...
@@cravendubose8179 The same could be said of you. I just know that it was proven once and FOREVER that DIANE was not "ALL" in The Supremes in 2000 when the "Return To Love Tour" was cancelled. Once and for ALL, it proved that the legacy of THE SUPREMES is bigger than the sum of its parts ...........of which Diane was merely ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Diane tried to go out as THE SUPREMES without Mary and Cindy...........you saw what happened, and Diane deserved all the worldwide humiliation and embarrassment that she suffered at that time. As I recall,, didn't she lose her mind, had to be hospitalized for substance abuse, and didn't she go to jail for DUI's? You seem to have a short memory!!!
@@kurtsupreme DIANA, DIANA, DIANA...FOREVER DIANA...
@@cravendubose8179 Saying it and repeating it..............doesn't make it so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Individuell83 I didn't say you were dumb, you clearly have some level of intelligence - or maybe you don't because you didn't realise Sentry would recognise "F U CK" -_- the program is not stupid either...