Showing posts with label Supremes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Supremes. Show all posts

Monday, March 29, 2021

"Darlin'" by Yipes!

Yipes! was a rock band from Wisconsin that managed to score a single entry on the chart in 1980, their rendition of "Darlin'," originally done by The Beach Boys. The Yipes! took their cover version, which is simply outstanding, to #68.

On the same album ("A Bit Irrational"), the Yipes! also did a cover version of "Come See About Me," made famous earlier by The Supremes. In 1981, their label dropped the band but they returned in 2018 with a new (third) record called "Yipes!!!" (you see what they did there?)


Wednesday, September 30, 2020

"Take Me For A Little While" by Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge was a psychedelic jam band largely known as a one-hit wonder thanks to their version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On," which peaked at #6 in 1968. The year before, it stalled at #67.

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" has gotten a lot of chart mileage. Originally taken to the top spot by The Supremes in 1966, the song also cracked the Top 100 when covered by Wilson Pickett in 1969 and Jackie DeShannon in 1970 (as a medley). But it would be Kim Wilde who delivered it back to #1 in 1987.

Some members of Vanilla Fudge were also in the backing bands of artists like Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. The only other Top 40 entry the band scored was "Take Me For A Little While," which underperformed at #38 in 1968. The band's final chart appearance would come the next year when "Shotgun" reached #68.


Tuesday, May 26, 2020

"There's A Ghost In My House" by R. Dean Taylor

R. Dean Taylor is a Canadian singer and songwriter known as a one-hit wonder in the US thanks to "Indiana Wants Me," a tune that reached #5 in 1970. He managed a handful of additional chart appearances in the US, but nothing else that cracked the Top 40. 

While not racking up many of his own hits, he was a force behind some classics from other groups, including "Love Child" by The Supremes and "All I Need" by The Temptations.

"There's a Ghost In My House" did well in the UK, but did not chart in the US for some reason.


Wednesday, May 6, 2020

"Everything Is Good About You" by The Supremes

Led by the charismatic vocals of Diana Ross until she left in 1969 to pursue a successful solo career, The Supremes were one of the hottest groups of the 60s. They scored an unbelievable twelve #1 hits in that decade and plenty more that landed in the Top 40. Their biggest include "Baby Love" (#1 for 4 weeks), "Love Child" (#1 for 2 weeks), and "Come See About Me" (#1 for 2 weeks).

An astonishing four of their #1 hits are in the Grammy Hall of Fame: "Where Did Our Love Go," "Stop! In The Name Of Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," and "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Their track record earned them a #5 ranking as the most successful artist of the 60s, and #26 of all-time.

With the departure of Ross, replaced by Jean Terrell, the group also had a departure of #1 hits. But they still scored big with songs like "Up The Ladder To The Roof" (#10), "Stoned Love" (#7), and "Floy Joy" (#16). In 1976, The Supremes saw their last chart appearance when "You're My Driving Wheel" stalled at #85.

"Everything Is Good About You" takes us back to their hey day in 1966, when they were cranking out so many great tunes that there wasn't enough room on the chart for them all. 


Friday, September 20, 2019

"Fool For Your Love" by Diana Ross

Diana Ross led the The Supremes to become one of the biggest musical acts of the 60s. Upon going solo, she became the 13th most successful artist of the 70s (and 41st of all-time). She's been able to retool and adapt to the ever-changing music scene, effortlessly floating between pop, dance, soul, ballads, and disco. 

Ross has scored 6 #1 hits as a solo artist, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Touch Me In The Morning," "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)," "Love Hangover," "Upside Down," and "Endless Love," a duet with Lionel Richie that stayed on top for nine weeks in 1981.

By 1986, her remarkable run on the charts spanning three decades came to an end with "Chain Reaction." This song, written and performed with the Bee Gees, was released as two different versions. The original in 1985 went to #95 and the 1986 version went to #66. The song is very catchy, and I'm amazed it didn't do better.

If you play "Fool For Your Love," most people won't guess that it is by Diana Ross. As a hard rock anthem, this song really stands out from the rest of her catalogue. It features Bruce Kulick on guitar, whose previous work was with KISS and W.A.S.P. The song comes from her 1982 record, "Silk Electric," which is better known for its lead-off track, "Muscles," written by Michael Jackson (it went to #10). Ross teamed up with Jackson and the Bee Gees again on "Eaten Alive," a track that stalled at #77 in 1985 despite all its superstar power.