Diana Ross & The Supremes – The Essential 3x CD (Spectrum)

The response to the news that Diana Ross was to play Glastonbury 2020 was unequivocal, people of all ages and from all walks of life were unanimous in their delight. That reaction highlighted that whilst she might represent different things to different people, she means much to many. Now well into her 70s it’s a testament to the impact the music she first made at Motown in the 60s with The Supremes and subsequently as a solo artist again with Motown and later RCA and Capitol/EMI. It’s that first period with The Supremes that this release celebrates and its one that made them until the mid-80s, the best-selling girl group in the UK. The crown would pass first to Bananarama who took more than a little inspiration from them and later The Spice Girls, yet 60 years on from their debut single they remain one of the top 10 best-selling girl groups in the world.

Originally called The Primettes, the group had all grown up in the Brewster-Douglas public Housing Projects in Detroit during the 50s. Signing to Motown in 1960 they were often the first choice for the label’s song writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and the pairing would help them secure a staggering 12 US Billboard No.1 singles during the decade. In 1967 with Ms Ross clearly the lead vocalist, Motown’s founder Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & The Supremes and the hits kept coming. Whilst she would leave in 1970 to pursue a solo career the group continued and again so did the hits. In all you’ll find 17 UK top 40 singles here including 10 UK top 10’s together with many more that were R&B and Billboard hits in the US, where they issued many more singles. Add to that key album tracks and you’ve got much more than a best of. Welcome to the world of Diana Ross & The Supremes.