The History and Popular Music of the ’60s class learned about The Supremes’ breakthrough album, Where Did Our Love Go (1964). Here are their reactions.
Sam Swartley:
Conor McGeady:
Where Did Our Love Go was released in 1964, and quickly became the highest ranking album by an all-female group in America. The album has sold over 3 million copies since its initial release, as well as having six of the 12 tracks reach the billboard hot 100, with hit tracks “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love” and “Come See About Me” all hitting the number one spot on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. This album was extremely important for its time as it bridged the gap between white and Black people at the time, playing a part in decreasing racial discrimination. A lot of white people really liked the Supremes, and in an environment where discrimination was normal, it was crucial that bands like the Supremes brought people together with music.
The album has a very pop-soul feel to it. Almost all of the tracks have an extremely immersive sound due to the formulaic and easy to listen to instrumentation, which makes you feel like you can get up and dance at pretty much any point. The lyrics, dynamics, and musical choices come second in this case, because that’s not really what it’s going for. This is a feel-good dance album through and through, and if you’re going into it expecting deep lyrics or interesting musical choices, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. From a critic’s standpoint, this album could be considered “generic pop music,” because it kind of is, though it’s so much more than that because of its cultural and societal impact it had when it came out. No matter how many things you don’t like about this album, you can’t deny its importance.
Lily Brooks:
I wanted to do a collage because I love making them and I think it shows the corny, lovey aesthetic that the album portrays.
Pritam Khalsa:
One of the reasons I like this album is because the way the Supremes talk about love isn’t that same perfect relationship like how singers depicted love in the 1950s. It is nice to hear about relationships where the guy is not perfect or they live far away. The music also sounds sweet and has good rhythm but is not like that in your face type of pop also from the ’50s. In terms of both the music itself and the lyrics, the songs sound familiar because they follow that same 1950s pattern but they are better because they are more unique.
I tried to write the below as if it was from a magazine or a short newspaper article. I have not read any newspapers from the 1960s so I do not know how exact it is but I thought it would be interesting to try.
Breaking news: Motown Records’ “no-hit Supremes” with three No. 1 singles!
Berry Gordy, and the whole of Detroit-based Motown Records, are thoroughly shocked at the success of the Supremes’ second album, Where Did Our Love Go. Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard are the three young ladies who sing in the Supremes. This girl group’s first album miserably failed, causing everyone to think they were over. These singles have surprised everyone.
The three songs you must listen to are “Come See About Me,” “Baby Love” and of course “Where Did Our Love Go.” These songs are the perfect pop songs for teenagers and young adults. All three of these singles have gotten to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs all center around the idea of love in some form or another. They will most likely not turn your children against you.
Already, thousands of young people love to listen to Diana Ross and the other Supremes. They have watched them perform with Dick Clark on his “American Bandstand Caravan of Stars” and on tour around the country. You can also watch them on the television show “Hullabaloo!” Their whole album is good to dance to or sing along with. Their songs have a soft pop sound with more jazz and soul influences. This differs from traditional girl group pop however it might be the reason for the Supremes large audience. Despite being an African American group, white audiences really like their songs.
This is a must-have album! Both the album and the singles are available for purchase at your local record store.
Alex Skiles:
I counted the frequency of certain words throughout the whole album (71 babies, 71 loves, 20 hearts, 21 kisses, 15 oohs, 5 heartbreaks, etc.) and made this. Font size loosely corresponds to frequency of a word. I then shaped this into the iconic hairstyle of one of the Supremes members.
Gibson McCoy:
The placement of the songs on the album can almost make a love story. The songs explain a girl’s perspective of falling in love and what is going on in her head. I’m not sure that if someone just listens to the album for fun that they might not make the connection of a love story because it is hard to figure out. There is a lot of back and forth and it’s not really intended for a story but sometimes it makes one.
“Where Did Our Love Go” – This song sounds very easy to dance to and also sing which is one of the most important things when trying to sell to a younger audience. This song, in some way, needs to be catchy because it is influencing the rest of the album’s overall feel and of course sales. The rhythm one of those where you want to bob your head. The lyrics are also not complex and are repetitive making it an easy song to get teenagers into.
“Run, Run, Run” – This song is not one of the stronger songs on the album. Yes, the lyrics might be relatable but the overall song is not as catchy as the previous one. Possibly with the addition of more instruments, the song became less easy to dance to and just sing. Just looking at the lyrics is, if I was a teenage girl in the 60’s, I would probably find them relatable with the social standards of women back then. The standards were very directed towards finding a good man that would hold a stable job and provide for you. But there is also this stereotype of finding a good guy who is also rebellious which is what the song is saying.
“Baby Love” – This is one of my favorite songs. The beat of the song and lyrics are simple and catchy, which is what makes the Supremes the Supremes. So far, their songs have many things in common like the theme, instruments and vocals: wanting love and wanting a certain man and will do anything for his attention. “Baby Love” and “Where Did Our Love Go”have a very similar feel with the beat and the positioning of the vocals meaning one main singer and the background vocals.
“When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” – While the rhythm of this song is very upbeat, the actual lyrics seem very uncomfortable or just a very girl group song when you just read them. There is no doubt that this is a good song to dance and cook too but it is very stereotypical in what girl groups of the time sing but still a good song.
“Come See About Me” – The lyric that stands out the most is “I’ve given up my friends for you.” The lyric is just very heartfelt and makes you want to hate the guy that she gave everything for. The song is not only a song about heartbreak. It is also about staying positive and pushing through the times of crying in the bathroom but not in the way you would think. The lyrics are about staying positive until he comes back they are not saying move on they are saying wait for him. I found this really interesting because now in 2020 it is all about being independent but what this song was saying is to wait for the man to come back so you can essentially have the “American Dream.”
“Long Gone Lover” – Probably one of my favorite songs. Just like the other songs on the album, the track is directed towards the youth. Just listening to the song makes me think of staying positive until my husband/boyfriend comes back from the war. After reading the lyrics it is a very simple song with a simple instrumental making it very catchy. This song tells the story of waiting for a lover to come home and being a housewife who needs a man in her life.
“I’m Giving You Your Freedom” – “I’m Giving You Your Freedom” is a breakup song. Personally, the slower song let down the group in a way because they have built their album off of being mostly filled with pop and teeny-bopper oriented. Even though it is not their typical sound, the voices are amazing. Since this is a ballad, there is more room for all their vocals to shine through and not just Diana Ross’ voice.
“A Breathtaking Guy” – The Supremes hit us again with another sad song. It is slower and about finding love and not waiting for your lover to come back. The song’s lyrics are telling the story of a one night stand after getting heartbroken. To the girl, it is something more than a one-night stand, and she is questioning if he is the next one. For me, this is one of my least favorite songs even though there is one part that is repetitive the lyrics are not that catchy. This song is also just a very typical girl group and for me, there is nothing special about this song, there are other songs on the album that are better in my opinion.
“He Means the World to Me” – For me, this song does not add anything special to the album. It just follows the love theme and the love story the songs have created. This song is the ‘crush’ stage of finding a new man, the only being able to think of him and obsessing over him is like having a new crush on someone.
“Standing at the Crossroads of Love” – This song is about is the denial stage of loving someone and really not knowing which path to take. Ross’ voice in this song sounds pinched, it does not seem easy for her to sing because her voice seems to drown out towards the end but still sound beautiful.
“Your Kiss of Fire” – The girl has now accepted and chosen a man now relying on the kiss of fire to feel alive. The song itself is fine, not my favorite. It does not have enough oomph and sounds a little star-struck which is not the type of music that I prefer.
“Ask Any Girl” – This song is different. Complex but it is still poppy. The beginning is different from any other of the tracks on the album with the addition of the violin. The song itself is also very deep, the lyrics talk about the girl’s side of rejection, referring to something that all girls go through when their heart breaks. The Supremes are bringing it to attention to boys and unofficially saying that it hurts to get your heart broken and any girl can relate. Kind of closing the love story off by saying that it is okay to love and lose but also talking to boys about girl’s feelings.
Gosh, I love reading and seeing these reflections on iconic albums during such an influential time in our history! The Supremes encapsulated one side of that Motown sound, a sound so distinct today as it was then. I am hoping for more – some Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder explorations, David Schonfeld?
The sentiments expressed about “Where Did Our Love Go?” are not unlike those sentiments expressed in the first Beatles’ albums. Both The Supremes & The Beatles are very much an expression of “Time & Place.”
The first Beatles’ albums are just as generic as The Supremes…as is the singing, arrangements and orchestration. What truly sets these two groups apart is the singing and purpose: the Supremes were all about love and in all of its manifestations while The Beatles expressed, likewise, but with a more intellectual perspective. In the end, “Where Did Our Love Go?” is a milestone just as The Beatles “Please, Please Me.”
I do agree but the later-released, “The Expanded Edition” really adds nothing to the original core. “Send Me No Flowers” is cute but the rest are either outtakes, filler or needless replications.
The Second Disc is needless as it is incidental and shows some of the repetitions which will follow most of Motown Albums. When the material was strong, well arranged and orchestrated, The Supremes rivaled The Beatles.
Also, “Where Did Our Love Go?” did not sell anywhere near 3,000.000 copies upon its initial release and 89 weeks chart run. The quote of 3,225,000 is the total selling scan ending in 1988. The initial sales were about 1,000,000 copies during its 89 weeks run on Billboard.
I loved the album. I wore this album out. This album and More Hits were 2 of their best. A time long ago when you could understand every word.
I’m surprised that there’s no dialogue over how important Florence and Mary were to the Supremes’ sound. It was their earthiness that took the edge off of Diana’s vocals and grounded them.
Phillip:
What you expounded about Wilson’s and Ballard’s earthiness that took the edge off of Ross’ voice is a revisionary assessment made long after the Supremes disbanded. In 1964, it was Diana’s voice that got everyone’s attention. Mary and Flo came second.