Whisper You Love Me Boy
Encyclopedia
"Whisper You Love Me Boy" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland and recorded by at least three Motown female acts: early Motown star Mary Wells
, popular Motown singing group The Supremes
and blue-eyed soul
Motown label mate Chris Clark in 1964, 1965 and 1968 respectively.
as the proposed follow-up to Wells' popular "My Guy
", but the singer was embroiled in a controversial lawsuit with Motown arguing for release from the label. Because of her abrupt exit from Motown, her version of the single was shelved for release. The song is featured on Wells' final Motown studio album, Mary Wells Sings My Guy
. A year later, The Supremes recorded it for their popular 1965 album, More Hits by The Supremes
. The song was placed on the b-side of their number-one hit, "Back in My Arms Again
". In 1968, Chris Clark recorded the song on Motown's V.I.P. label but her single failed to chart.
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
, popular Motown singing group The Supremes
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...
and blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
Motown label mate Chris Clark in 1964, 1965 and 1968 respectively.
Song information
The song was first scheduled to be released as a single by Mary WellsMary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
as the proposed follow-up to Wells' popular "My Guy
My Guy
"My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's dedication to the goodness of her man .The single became the biggest hit ever for Wells, Motown's first female star, and reached the...
", but the singer was embroiled in a controversial lawsuit with Motown arguing for release from the label. Because of her abrupt exit from Motown, her version of the single was shelved for release. The song is featured on Wells' final Motown studio album, Mary Wells Sings My Guy
Mary Wells Sings My Guy
Mary Wells Sings My Guy is the fourth studio album and fifth overall album released by Motown vocalist Mary Wells. The album features "her signature hit of the same name" and the proposed singles "Whisper You Love Me Boy" and "He's the One I Love", the latter later re-recorded by Tammi Terrell...
. A year later, The Supremes recorded it for their popular 1965 album, More Hits by The Supremes
More Hits by the Supremes
More Hits by The Supremes is a 1965 studio album by Motown singing group The Supremes. The album, their third regular studio LP, includes two number-one hits: "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Back in My Arms Again", as well as the Top 20 single "Nothing but Heartaches". The album peaked at #6 on...
. The song was placed on the b-side of their number-one hit, "Back in My Arms Again
Back in My Arms Again
"Back in My Arms Again" is a 1965 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Back in My Arms Again" was the fifth number-one song for the group on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the United States from...
". In 1968, Chris Clark recorded the song on Motown's V.I.P. label but her single failed to chart.
Mary Wells version
- Lead vocal by Mary Wells
- Background vocals by The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
The Supremes version
- Lead vocal by Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
- Background vocals by Florence BallardFlorence BallardFlorence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
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... - Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
Chris Clark version
- Lead vocal by Chris Clark
- Background vocals by the Andantes
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers