Where Did Our Love Go
Where Did Our Love Go is the title of the Supremes' first million seller from 1964.
History of origin
Brian Holland, brother Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier - known in the music industry as "HDH" - had only a few successful compositions until 1964. Their first joint composition was Come and Get These Memories for the girls' trio Martha & the Vandellas in February 1963 . The Supremes, also a trio of girls, had already released a total of 7 unsuccessful singles since October 1960 before they took over Shining Through His Eyes from HDH When the Lovelight Starts , which was released on October 31, 1963. After all, the song landed at number 23 on the pop hit parade . HDH then wrote the title Where Did Our Love Go in early 1964 and initially offered it to the Marvelettes , but the group turned it down after the recording.
At the end of March 1964, Eddie Holland approached the Supremes with the request to record Where Did Our Love Go . The so far unsuccessful Supremes (mockingly called "no-hit Supremes" by the record label) could not afford a rejection after 8 failed singles and reluctantly accepted him on April 8, 1964. Lyricist Eddie Holland had to persuade the insecure singers: "Trust us, it will be a hit." He actually wanted to let Mary Wilson sing, but record boss Berry Gordy Jr. chose Diana Ross as the lead singer because she had the more commercial voice. Since the lead vocal was composed for the lead singer of the Marvelettes, it had to be arranged one key higher for Diana Ross . The more complex planned opposing voices harmonies were reduced to "baby-baby". The Supremes are accompanied by the Funk Brothers , whereby the drummer's rimshot technique works almost entirely without the usual drum rolls. Antonio "Tony" Newton acted as bass guitarist, while Andrew "Mike" Terry played the baritone saxophone for the instrumental part. Producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier integrated sound effects, namely a loud stamping of feet (by Mike Valvano) and hand clapping.
Publication and Success
The single Where Did Our Love Go / He Means the World to Me (Motown 1060) came out on June 17, 1964, stayed at first place on the pop hit parade for 2 weeks from August 22, 1964 and for 2 weeks as well first in the rhythm and blues charts. It sold 2.72 million copies and was the first of 13 top hits for the girls' trio. This makes the title one of the successful crossover hits of the time. The childlike, repetitive passages, limited melody and little dynamics were perfect for a successful title of the time. In terms of text and sound, the song was the model for other Supremes hits with a similar pattern and basis of the Motown sound with rimshot technique, supporting bass, call and response chants and a saxophone part in the instrumental part.
Cover versions and awards
Where Did Our Love Go is - like much of the Motown sound - difficult to reproduce. That could be the explanation for the fact that the track has only been covered 29 times. The most successful cover version is the version sung in falsetto by Donnie Elbert , which comes close to the Motown sound. After it was released in October 1971, it reached number 6 on the US rhythm and blues charts. There is also a German version of the Supremes under the title Baby, Baby, wo ist Unser Liebe (B-side of Moonlight and Kisses CBS 1719; 1965), but the record market preferred its original version and listed it on rank after it was released in November 1964 16 of the German hit parade. The German version uses the music and rhythm track of the original, the German text was written by Peter Puma. The original received a BMI award . Other cover versions are among others. a. from the J. Geils Band and Soft Cell .
Individual evidence
- ^ Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits , 1985, p. 155.
- ^ Nelson George, Where Did Our Love Go (1985), 85.
- ^ Mary Wilson, Dreamgirl, 1986, p. 170.
- ^ B-side composed and produced by Norman Whitfield
- ^ Mary Wilson, Dreamgirl, 1986, p. 169.
- ↑ Composed by Fini Busch and Werner Scharfenberger