Diana Ross & Supremes - Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969
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Free Music Notes for Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969
Free Music Review: Rare gems from the vaults!
Hit: 4 Stars
It is a double cd set from the Motown/Hiposelect series "Lost and Found" with 47 unreleased tracks from the sixties. Moreover a few short jingles for the Scott Regan show have been added as bonus.
Most of the songs are alternative versions of more or less well known tracks (i.e. Ooowee baby, Back in my arms again, Let the music play or I can't help myself). But there are also a lot of outtakes (for instance Believe in me, Wish I knew und very interesting covers such as Not fade away, MacArthur Park, The look of love, Over the rainbow).
Highlights are "I saw him standing there" (Beatles), "Uptight" (Stevie Wonder)" und "Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones).
With the exception of the Scott Regan promos the sound of the tracks is excellent, because the original master tapes were used.
The only negative aspect is the package, because the digipac and the booklet are obviously made of recycled paper.
To sum it up: A must for Supremes fans!
Free Music Review: NO SATISFACTION...FOR HARDCORE FANS ONLY!
Hit: 3 Stars
It seems like Supremes fans can't get enough of the ladies "unreleased and alternate takes" output. It also seems like that fan base is large enough to guarantee a 2-Disc "rarities" package like "Let The Music Play." So far, so good. Taking into consideration the historical importance of the trio I have to agree that these recordings enjoy a mythical quality that makes them hard to resist.
However, when you listen to most of the tracks included here you will realize why they were never previously released. Of course, there are some interesting cuts in the bunch like the early, early stuff when The Supremes were really a talented "girl group" or those covers of "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Not Fade Away" which shows the rocking side of the ladies. Pure fun! There are also some "alternate mixes" that improve upon the original Supremes releases, namely Sam Cooke's "Cupid" and The Vandellas' "Come And Get These Memories" featuring Mary Wilson. Last but not least there are plenty of tracks to remind you of Diana Ross intuitive genius approach to singing. That lady was special from day one and don't let anybody doubt it!
The collection starts losing steam towards the end of Disc One. Diana does a decent cover of Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" but sounds totally out of place with The Stones' "Satisfaction." Sure it's a curiosity, but it's like a shoe that doesn't fit. The disc ends with a pitiful lackluster take of a great song "Let The Music Play" and when you switch to Disc Two real trouble begins. Diana's rendition of those gospel tunes with a full male/female choir are an abomination that should have never happened. Lord have mercy! And she is plain awful in "Over The Rainbow" a clear indication that Diana should have left Dorothy alone for all times. Another sore moment is a colder than ice "I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You" which Diana brilliantly re-recorded for her "Surrender" solo album. Everything else on Disc Two is throwaway stuff with some unfinished tracks really suffering from the lack of background vocals. Things like "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone" and "The Look of Love" are crying out for some good old Supremes "ooos", "aaas" and harmonies.
Granted, the alternate vocals on hits such as "Love Child", "I'm Living In Shame" and "Someday" are interesting to hear but not enough to save the project. If you are not a hardcore fan but want to listen to a good collection of "rarities" by The Supremes I recommend the excellent "There's A Place" collection full of magical stuff by Diana, Mary and Flo.
Free Music Review: Mostly Different VERSIONS of already released songs.
Hit: 3 Stars
Should the fans get this CD? Yes. Should non-fans get it? Yes. However, keep in mind that most of the songs are different versions of songs already released.
My favorite song? "Not Fade Away". I enjoyed the ending of "Love Child".
The website mentioned new photos. Most are different poses of photos I had already seen.
My biggest gripe? The producers use the term "Alternate Vocal" for some of the songs. Since the Supremes were 3 ladies, alternate vocal to me meant that the lead was being done by someone other than Miss Ross. Not so. The songs still have Miss Ross doing the lead. To me, the correct term for the songs should have been "Alternate Version" or "Alternate Mix", NOT "Alternate Vocal".
Enjoy!
Peace!
Free Music Review: Diana Ross Sometimes With The Supremes
Hit: 3 Stars
The first disc in the set was good. However, the second disc featured Diana singing solo without the Supremes background vocals on half the songs. A real shame since many of them were very good but it was obvious by the musical arrangements that "something was missing". Best track on disc two was Diana & The Supremes version of MacArthur Park. Fantastic. Don't get me wrong; I like Diana. However, when you are buying music packaged as Diana Ross & The Supremes it would be nice to get just that.
Also, three tracks on Disc 2 use the Andantes as background singers rather than Mary & Cindy.
Free Music Review: How many more Supremes songs are there?
Hit: 3 Stars
I think the Supremes were groundbreaking in their day and their music is legandary and unique. However I think now that Motown just wants to make money and cash in on renewed interest with the Dreamgirls movie. This CD set in okay, especially the early stuff, but now Motown is scraping the bottom of the barrel by publishing everything they ever recorded and enough is enough. They have their 50th anniversary coming up and I can't imaging what Motown has planned...