The Supremes Sing Holland, Dozier, Holland

iTunes Review

The Supremes lived up to their name in the late ‘60s, repeatedly topping the pop and R&B charts. The Supremes Sing Holland, Dozier, Holland (1967) ranks among the trio’s standout albums, highlighting the crucial role played by Motown’s top songwriting team in fashioning the group’s sound. The album matches fresh HDH compositions with previously-cut Supremes tracks and tunes first recorded by other Motown artists. The blockbusters here are “You Keep Me Hanging On” and “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone,” illustrative of both the Supremes’ impeccable vocalizing and HDH’s knack for killer hooks. Those exploring deeper will find Diana Ross personalizing such gems as “I’ll Turn To Stone,” “Goin’ Down For The Third Time” and “I Guess I’ll Always Love You” (previously recorded by the Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and the Isley Brothers, respectively). Whether the mood is tender (“Remove This Doubt”) or determined (“There’s No Stopping Us Now”), the trio’s voices entwine around the lyrics with seductive charm. With the exception of “Heat Wave” – a song so identified with Martha Reeves that even Ross can’t claim it for her own – all of these tunes are convincing additions to the Supremes’ hit-studded canon.