As I said last night, I will be playing Motown tunes for the rest of February … only four days, including today. Trying to choose from among the hundreds of great Motown tunes tonight, this one actually made my feet start tapping and had me singing along, so … while it may not be Nathan Jones … this is one of my favourites from The Supremes!
Several nights ago I was planning a Supreme’s song, but got side-tracked, and now I cannot remember which one it was that I was planning for that night. So, after a quick overview of some of their best songs, I settled tonight on this one, Where Did Our Love Go.
Written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, this one was the first single by the Supremes to go to the number-one position in the U.S. in 1964. It was also the first of five Supremes songs in a row to reach number one (the others being “Baby Love”, “Come See About Me”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and “Back in My Arms Again”).
According to Lamont Dozier …
“I originally cut this track with the Marvelettes in mind. In fact, I cut it in Gladys Horton’s key, the lead singer, which was much lower than Diana Ross’. At that time, at Motown, the policy was that the songwriters had to pay for the tracks we cut if it didn’t get recorded by one of their artists. It never entered my mind that the Marvelettes wouldn’t like the song. I had the chorus and went to the office to talk with Gladys and played it for her. She said, ‘Oh, honey, we don’t do stuff like that. And it’s the worst thing I ever heard.’ She was adamant about it. I was shocked.
I knew I was in deep trouble if I didn’t hurry and get someone to do the song because I wasn’t about to pay for the track. I went through the Motown artist roster and went all the way to the bottom of the list and there were the Supremes, better known in those days as the ‘no hit Supremes.’ I told them it was tailor made for them, knowing that they had nothing going on at the time and needed a song. Much to my surprise, they said no. Gladys (Horton of the Marvelettes) told them I was looking for someone to record it. I wasn’t giving up. Brian (Holland), Eddie (Holland) and I finally persuaded them to do it, convincing them that it was their saving grace and they couldn’t refuse it. We had already had Top 40 hits with Martha & the Vandellas but they hadn’t had recordings of any significance yet.
They were so annoyed that they agreed to do it that, in the studio, they had a really bad attitude. Diana (Ross) said it was in the wrong key, that it was too low. (Of course it was – I wrote it in Gladys’ key.) Since the track was already cut, she had to sing it in that key and she’d never sung that low before. It turned out that her bad attitude and the low key were exactly what the song needed! I’d worked out intricate background vocals but the girls refused to learn them. Finally I said, ‘Just sing ‘Baby, baby, baby’.’ It worked to their advantage and worked perfectly.
They didn’t necessarily agree. Diana and I were throwing obscenities back and forth and she went running to Berry (Gordy, Jr.) and told him I said something off-color about him. He came down to the studio to see what was wrong and while he was there, he asked to hear the song. He thought it was really good, but said that he didn’t know if it was a hit, but that he thought it would be Top 10.
The song was released and flew up the charts to #1. From then on, one hit followed another. It was the first of 13 consecutive #1s we did on the Supremes. The next time the Hollands and I saw the girls was at the airport. They were getting off a plane with their Yorkshire terriers, in mink stoles. We started laughing. It was so funny to see them turn into stars overnight.”
Where Did Our Love Go
The Supremes
Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me and it hurts so bad
You came into my heart (baby, baby) so tenderly
With a burning love (baby, baby)
That stings like a bee (baby, baby)
Now that I surrender (baby, baby) so helplessly
You now want to leave (baby, baby)
Ooh, you wanna leave me (baby, baby)
Ooh (baby, baby)
Baby, baby, where did our love go?
Ooh, don’t you want me?
Don’t you want me no more (baby, baby)?
Ooh, baby
Baby, baby, where did our love go?
And all your promises of a love forevermore!
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me, and it hurts so bad
Before you won my heart (baby, baby)
You were a perfect guy
But now that you got me
You wanna leave me behind (baby, baby)
Ooh, baby
Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself (baby, baby)
Ooh baby, baby, baby
Songwriters: Edward Jr. Holland / Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland
Where Did Our Love Go lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Love it!
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I’m so glad! Now let’s get up and dance!
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😀
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YES ❤
More Supremes, anytime, anywhere.
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Yet another song I memorized as I sang along with Diana Ross in the dark, for the month or so that I had a record-player.
But I never really liked the songs she sang, because they always made me cry with sad tears.
Except for
“Do You Know (where you’re going to)”
-that song actually made me feel as if there was some sort of hope, when I sang it.
I also had a friend who liked to hear mee sing that song, which may have had something to do with it as well, but I always wondered what I was going to hope for, if I could ever dare to hope. I
was twelve years old then, and now, I look “back at all the past” and find that I can dare to hope and to build dreams, which I never had then beyond escape.
As an adult, I can dream to build something that will help others never need to escape,
I hope.
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At 12, I had no idea I could escape. I wasn’t a slave, but dajn sure I was owned.
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😦
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That is why I dream of and argue for a world where every child has a safe place to go (and they only key, by the time the kid can cook an egg, as you will see in this post: https://shiradest.wordpress.com/2020/09/16/adult-goals-bring-back-the-civilian-conservation-corps-to-help-protect-children-and-protect-us-all/
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I sense that you have had a difficult life, my friend, and that makes me sad. But, unlike others, you are using your experiences to make life better for others … you’re a good woman, Shira. Tell me who you would like to hear on a future music post …
Hugs, my friend.
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Thank you, Jill, I appreciate your kind words, and I hope that you are right. We must at least cling to the hope that we can make a difference for others, and leave this world a bit better than we found it.
Hmm, as for music, I’m not sure that most of your followers would find my preferred music to their taste. But how about the song “Simple Gifts,” which everyone should be able to relate to, I hope?
Safe Air Hugs to you, too, Jill,
-S.
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My goal, since I made it into mental adulthood around the age of 40, has been to somehow leave the world just a bit better than it was when I came into it. I don’t know if I’ve achieved that … or even if many manage to achieve it … but if not, it wasn’t for lack of trying, and that’s all any of us can do … try.
That song isn’t ringing any bells, but I will check it out later today! Hugs, my friend.
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You are absolutely right, Jill: all we can do, and all that we are required to do, is to try.
Safe Air Hugs,
-s. Dest.
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And suddenly they were the BIG hit Supremes.Now you mentioned Nathan Jones, I have to listen to that too.
Cwtch
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Heh heh … do you know WHY Nathan Jones got a mention here? There’s a good reason …
Cwtch
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Possibly my favourite Supremes hit?
Cwtch
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Hmmmm …. seems you might have mentioned that the last time I played this song. Why aren’t you asleep? Must I use this 🏏?
Cwtch
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Will it reach this far? Think I’ll get dressed now as there’s no point in going to bed.
Cwtch
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Not sure, but I think so. Okay, then I shall too … you’re right … what’s the point in going to bed at all? I shall shower, dress, and start my day just as you are!
Cwtch
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You haven’t even started your night yet. Try that first.
Cwtch
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Terrific song. I did not know the story behind it. I could just imagine Diana with an attitude.
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Definitely an interesting backstory! Yep, she struck me as very capable of having a ‘tude.
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Another lovely song! Thank you for sharing, Jill! Will play it for our neighbors too. 😉 Michael
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I’m so glad you liked it … I hope the neighbors do too, or you might have the police knocking at your door! 😉
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Lol Here the police station was closed around 2005, and our neighbour is a little bit deaf (poorly). Here they are most time listen to Bavarian Blasmusik, for me the same category like Heavy Metal. Sometime more worst. 😉
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A genuine pop classic! As you know, I wasn’t a big Motown fan but I loved this. It was their first UK hit – got to #3.
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I’m glad you liked it! Yes, I know Motown isn’t your favourite, but I’m happy you at least like some. And … I’ll get some Stones’ music on here before long … promise!
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One of the best of its genre. I’d hate to think you felt bludgeoned into choosing for my tastes, though!
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Nope … no worries. I do consider what some of my friends might or might not like, but when I play a song, it is because I like it. See, I spend 12-14 hours a day buried in political detritus, and the music post is the last thing I do before going to bed sometime around 3:00 – 5:00 a.m., so it’s my way of winding down, of switching off the angst and relaxing. So, while sure, I consider what I think you or David or Keith might enjoy, I play what I play because I like it and it makes me happy.
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And that’s exactly how it should be! I know that some of my blog followers like particular bands but play those songs for myself – their liking them is a bonus.
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Exactly!!!
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Jill, this is a quintessential Supremes song. One of many, I know, but should be on a short list of favorites. Keith
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This is, I think, one of their very best! Glad you liked it!
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Oh I love it!!
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I’m so glad!!!
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