Today’s classic Motown song of the day comes from the label’s most successful act, the Supremes. “You Can’t Hurry Love” was released in July of 1966 and went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for two weeks. It was their seventh #1 hit to that point, with more to come.
“You Can’t Hurry Love” was written and produced by the legendary team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, otherwise known as H-D-H. This combine was responsible for most of the Supremes early hits, as well as hits for the Temptations, the Four Tops, and other Motown artists, until they left the label over a contract dispute with founder and well-known cheapskate Berry Gordy in 1967. That was Gordy’s loss.
An important part of the Motown sound is the instrumental backing supplied by those house musicians known as the Funk Brothers. For “You Can’t Hurry Love,” that included Earl Van Dyke on piano, Robert White on guitar, James Jamerson on bass, Benny Benjamin on drums, and the ubiquitous Jack Ashford on tambourine. Their beat is infectious.
If you aren’t aware, the Supremes, originally known as the Primettes, were Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and lead singer Diana Ross. They were pals with Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, then of a group called the Primes (hence the girls’ feminized group name), later to become the Temptations. Smokey Robinson, a neighbor of the girls, got them an audition with and signed to Motown records in 1961, on the condition that they change their name, which they did. A few fruitless years followed until their first big hit, “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes,” an H-D-H production, hit #23 in late 1963. After that, it was one #1 hit after another.
The Supremes weren’t just Motown’s most successful act, they were one of the most successful acts of the entire decade. (The Beatles took the top position, no surprise.) I’d say the Supremes’ hits were too numerous to list, but I’m up to the challenge. So here’s a list of just those songs that hit the Billboard top twenty:
- “Where Did Our Love Go?” (#1, 1964)
- “Baby Love” (#1, 1964)
- “Come See About Me” (#1, 1964)
- “Stop! In the Name of Love” (#1, 1965)
- “Back in My Arms Again” (#1, 1965)
- “Nothing But Heartaches” (#11, 1965)
- “I Hear a Symphony” (#1, 1965)
- “My World is Empty Without You” (#5, 1965)
- “Love is Like an Itching in My Heart” (#9, 1966)
- “You Can’t Hurry Love” (#1, 1966)
- “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (#1, 1966)
- “Love is Here and Now You’re Gone” (#1, 1967)
- “The Happening” (#1, 1967)
- “Reflections” (#2, 1967)
- “In and Out of Love” (#9, 1967)
- “Love Child” (#1, 1968)
- “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (with the Temptations) (#2, 1968)
- “I’m Livin’ in Shame” (#10, 1969)
- “Someday We’ll Be Together” (#1, 1969)
- “Up the Ladder to the Roof” (#10, 1970)
- “Stoned Love” (#7, 1970)
- “River Deep, Mountain High” (with the Four Tops) (#14, 1970)
- “Nathan Jones” (#16, 1971)
- “Floy Joy” (#16, 1971)
That’s a dozen #1 hits, if you’re counting, a remarkable achievement.
Recognizing Diana Ross’ singular star power, Berry Gordy changed the group’s name from the Supremes to Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ms. Ross left the group in 1970 for a solo career and the group returned to their original name with new lead singer Jean Terrell. “Someday We’ll Be Together” was their last single as Diana Ross and the Supremes, even though none of the other Supremes appeared on the track. Berry Gordy originally intended it as Ross’ first solo single, but decided to release it under the group’s name, instead; “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” became her first official solo hit.
I could write a whole book about Diana Ross and the Supremes, but what’s the point—others already have. Let’s just rejoice in all their hits, including “You Can’t Hurry Love,” which is a true Motown classic. Let’s wrap it up with a live performance by Diana, Flo, and Mary on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 25, 1966. It doesn’t get much better than this.
