Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 12/01/2006
After
Florence Ballard,
Diana Ross and then
Cindy Birdsong left
the Supremes, the sole original member of the group was
Mary Wilson.
In Japan (1973) features
Ross' replacement
Jean Terrell -- sister of boxer
Ernie Terrell -- alongside
Wilson and the most recent addition
Lynda Laurence, who took over when
Birdsong flew the coop the previous year. The 'new'
Supremes lineup didn't last very long as
Terrell and
Laurence split -- replaced by
Scherrie Payne and the return of
Birdsong several months later. Although unable to unleash the same torrent of hits as the earlier incarnations had done,
the Supremes ably re-create some of the sweetest sounds to have emanated from within the
Motown family. Their stage show remained polished, including not only soul classics, but familiar popular standards as well. While on tour supporting
The Supremes Arranged and Produced by Jimmy Webb (1972), there are no representatives from that platter. The ladies do offer up a
"New Hit Medley" with
"Automatically Sunshine," "Floy Joy," "Nathan Jones" and
"Up the Ladder to the Roof"." Of course there is an oldies congregate linking up
"Reflections," "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love" and
"My World Is Empty Without You," not to mention the opening pairing of
"T.C.B" and
"Stop! In the Name of Love." Other worthwhile inclusions are the
Stevie Wonder penned
"Bad Weather," the light and breezy
"Stoned Love" and
Mary Wilson's intimate and affective interpretation of
"I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" joining a suitably
samba-like
"Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars." In 2004,
Hip-O Select issued
the Supremes In Japan on CD in a limited edition of 5,000 copies. Notably, the disc contains the sole concert recording by this trio.
~Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
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