The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
Encyclopedia
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 (and chiefly written) by a non-Motown producer, successful songwriter and producer Jimmy Webb
, and was the last album to feature early-1970s Supremes lead singer Jean Terrell
. One single was released from the album, a cover of "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" from the musical Pippin
.
, the other being "Supremes Live in Japan". Laurence had replaced Cindy Birdsong
earlier in 1972, and joined original Supreme Mary Wilson
and Jean Terrell
for these sessions just prior to her official inclusion into the group.
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb marked a departure from the Motown Sound of the Supremes had relied upon over the past decade, and moved the group out of its pop/R&B genre and into a rock/pop style masterminded by Jimmy Webb. The result was an album that had a different sound than what both the public and the Supremes themselves were accustomed. On many of the tracks, Webb overdubbed additional background singers in addition to the voices of Mary Wilson and Lynda Laurence. Jean Terrell sings lead on all of the tracks on the LP, except "I Keep It Hid," which features Mary Wilson on lead vocals.
The only United States single from the album, the opening track "I Guess I'll Miss the Man", was not actually part of the Jimmy Webb project. Instead, it was a song from the Motown-financed Broadway
production of Pippin
. Once released, the song, and the album, failed to generate radio play and sales.
except "I Guess I'll Miss the Man", produced by Sherlie Matthews & Deke Richards
.
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...
on the Motown label. The album was the only Supremes LP produced (and chiefly written) by a non-Motown producer, successful songwriter and producer Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
, and was the last album to feature early-1970s Supremes 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:...
. One single was released from the album, a cover of "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" from the musical Pippin
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
.
Album Overview
Besides being Jean Terrell's final Supremes album, The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb was the first of only two Supremes' LP's to include vocals from Supremes member Lynda LaurenceLynda 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...
, the other being "Supremes Live in Japan". Laurence had replaced Cindy Birdsong
Cindy 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:...
earlier in 1972, and joined original Supreme 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...
and 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:...
for these sessions just prior to her official inclusion into the group.
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb marked a departure from the Motown Sound of the Supremes had relied upon over the past decade, and moved the group out of its pop/R&B genre and into a rock/pop style masterminded by Jimmy Webb. The result was an album that had a different sound than what both the public and the Supremes themselves were accustomed. On many of the tracks, Webb overdubbed additional background singers in addition to the voices of Mary Wilson and Lynda Laurence. Jean Terrell sings lead on all of the tracks on the LP, except "I Keep It Hid," which features Mary Wilson on lead vocals.
The only United States single from the album, the opening track "I Guess I'll Miss the Man", was not actually part of the Jimmy Webb project. Instead, it was a song from the Motown-financed Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Pippin
Pippin (musical)
Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto...
. Once released, the song, and the album, failed to generate radio play and sales.
Track listing
All songs produced by Jimmy WebbJimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
except "I Guess I'll Miss the Man", produced by Sherlie Matthews & Deke Richards
Deke Richards
Deke Richards, also known as Dennis Lussier and Deke Lussier, is a songwriter and record producer, one of many white musicians/songwriters who were affiliated with Motown...
.
Side one
- "I Guess I'll Miss The Man" (Stephen SchwartzStephen Schwartz (composer)Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
) - "5:30 Plane" (Jimmy WebbJimmy WebbJimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
) - "Tossin' & Turnin'" (Bobby Lewis, Malou Rene)
- "When Can Brown Begin?" (Webb)
- "Beyond Myself" (Webb)
- "Silent Voices" (Elio Isola)
Side two
- "All I Want" (Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
) - "Once In The Morning" (Webb)
- "I Keep It Hid" (Webb)
- "Paradise" (Harry NilssonHarry NilssonHarry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
) - "Cheap Lovin'" (Webb)
Personnel
- 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:...
- lead vocals and background vocals - 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...
- lead vocals and background vocals - 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...
- background vocals - The BlossomsThe BlossomsThe Blossoms were a backing group from California. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes were for Motown.-Early years:...
additional background vocals - Jimmy WebbJimmy WebbJimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
- producer, arranger, composer, keyboards - Henry Lewry - engineer
- Ray Rich - drums
- Fred TackettFred TackettFred Tackett, an American native of Arkansas, is an accomplished songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known for his longevity as a member of the band Little Feat....
- guitar - Skip Mosher - bass
- Kim Britt - photography
Chart history
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
129 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Albums Chart Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
27 |