“Up the Ladder to the Roof” (The Supremes)

Today’s classic song of the day is the Motown classic “Up the Ladder to the Roof” by the Supremes. Released in February of 1970, this track peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #5 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart.

Note that this single is by the Supremes, not by Diana Ross and the Supremes. This was the first Supremes single since Diana Ross left the group—two weeks before the song was recorded. The group’s new lead singer, replacing Ms. Ross, was Jean Terrell, and she acquitted herself quite well, in my opinion. The two other members of the group, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, also got the opportunity to step up a little after being shoved into the background during the later Diana Ross era. I liked the combination.

“Up the Ladder to the Roof” was written by Frank Wilson and Vincent DiMarco and produced by Mr. Wilson. Frank Wilson, along with his partner Norman Whitfield, was responsible for numerous hit records for Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Miracles, and, of course, the Supremes. He left Motown in 1976 to become a born again Christian minister.

Jean Terrell was the sister of former WBA heavyweight boxing champion Ernie Terrell and sang with him in the group Ernie Terrell and the Knockabouts. Motown president Berry Gordy discovered her singing with her brother in a Miami nightclub and decided she’d be the right person to replace Diana Ross, whom he was grooming for a solo career, in the Supremes. Terrell first joined the group onstage on January 14, 1970, at a concert at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.

During Terrell’s period with the Supremes they scored a number of moderate hits, including “Stoned Love,” “Nathan Jones,” and “Floy Joy.” She left the group in 1973 and embarked on a solo career. The Supremes themselves continued until 1977, when they officially disbanded.

And for your viewing pleasure, here’s Jean Terrell and the Supremes performing “Up the Ladder to the Roof” on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 15, 1970. Personally, I think Ms. Terrell was a fine replacement for Diana Ross. What do you think?