Bad Weather
Encyclopedia
"Bad Weather" is a song recorded and released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes
in 1973. It was composed and produced by Stevie Wonder
The song was then-lead singer Jean Terrell
's last charted single as a member of the Supremes and the second and last time brief group member Lynda Laurence
was featured on a Supremes single.
and Mary Wilson
had splintered because of Birdsong's pregnancy. When recording for the group's 1972 album, Floy Joy
wrapped up, Birdsong left on maternity leave and was temporarily replaced by former Wonderlove background singer, Lynda Laurence. Although it was the popular Birdsong featured on every track, the pretty Laurence was featured on the cover of the album. This lineup of the group set on recording The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
, but that album sold poorly because Motown refused to promote it. (An unattractive album cover that did not feature a single Supreme probably didn't help sales either.) Undaunted, Laurence counted on her former mentor Stevie Wonder
to help the group find a new sound. Wonder composed and produced the single "Bad Weather" under a funk
ier sound that the group had not been accustomed to.
. But the buzz wore down as Motown refused to promote it and, according to Mary Wilson years later, it wasn't a favorite of Terrell's or Laurence's, although she loved it. The song charted on the Billboard charts peaking at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100
and number 74 on the R&B singles chart
. The song only peaked at the Top 40 of the UK singles chart
at number 37. Shortly after this single was released, Terrell and Laurence left the Supremes. Cindy Birdsong returned from her maternity leave, and Mary Wilson hired Scherrie Payne
as the new co-lead singer. The next Supremes project would take two more years to come out. In 1975, the group scored a huge disco single with "He's My Man" with Wilson and Payne on lead.
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
in 1973. It was composed and produced by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
The song was then-lead singer Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
's last charted single as a member of the Supremes and the second and last time brief group member Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove, and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes...
was featured on a Supremes single.
Recording
By 1973, the Supremes' recording career was starting to decline mainly because of inferior material and limited support and promotion from Motown. At that point, the lineup of Jean Terrell, Cindy BirdsongCindy Birdsong
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Birdsong , better known by her stage name, Cindy Birdsong, is an American singer, most famous for singing with the legendary soul groups Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and The Supremes.-Early life:...
and Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson (singer)
Mary Wilson is an American singer, formerlymember of the Motown female singing group The Supremes during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure...
had splintered because of Birdsong's pregnancy. When recording for the group's 1972 album, Floy Joy
Floy Joy
Floy Joy is a 1972 album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy" and the U.S...
wrapped up, Birdsong left on maternity leave and was temporarily replaced by former Wonderlove background singer, Lynda Laurence. Although it was the popular Birdsong featured on every track, the pretty Laurence was featured on the cover of the album. This lineup of the group set on recording The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb is a 1972 album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. The album was the only Supremes LP produced by a non-Motown producer, successful songwriter and producer Jimmy Webb, and was the last album to feature early-1970s Supremes lead singer...
, but that album sold poorly because Motown refused to promote it. (An unattractive album cover that did not feature a single Supreme probably didn't help sales either.) Undaunted, Laurence counted on her former mentor Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
to help the group find a new sound. Wonder composed and produced the single "Bad Weather" under a funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
ier sound that the group had not been accustomed to.
Reception
When the song was first issued to radio in the summer of 1973, the song caught some initial positive buzz mainly from the Supremes' R&B fan base. The group performed it to a receptive audience on Soul TrainSoul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
. But the buzz wore down as Motown refused to promote it and, according to Mary Wilson years later, it wasn't a favorite of Terrell's or Laurence's, although she loved it. The song charted on the Billboard charts peaking at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number 74 on the R&B singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
. The song only peaked at the Top 40 of the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 37. Shortly after this single was released, Terrell and Laurence left the Supremes. Cindy Birdsong returned from her maternity leave, and Mary Wilson hired Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
as the new co-lead singer. The next Supremes project would take two more years to come out. In 1975, the group scored a huge disco single with "He's My Man" with Wilson and Payne on lead.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Jean TerrellJean TerrellJean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
- Background vocals by Jean Terrell and Mary WilsonMary Wilson (singer)Mary Wilson is an American singer, formerlymember of the Motown female singing group The Supremes during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure...
and Lynda LaurenceLynda LaurenceLynda Laurence is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove, and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes...
(also ad-lib solo on outro) - Produced, written and arranged by Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...