Cream of the Crop

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Cream of the Crop
Cream of the Crop cover
Studio album by Diana Ross & the Supremes
Released November 3, 1969
Recorded 1966 - 1969
Genre Soul/Pop
Length 31:40
Label Motown
MS 694
Producer Johnny Bristol, Berry Gordy, others
Professional reviews
Diana Ross & the Supremes chronology
Together
(with The Temptations)
(1969)		 Cream of the Crop
(1969)		 On Broadway
(with The Temptations)
(1969)

Cream of the Crop is a 1969 album recorded by Diana Ross & the Supremes for the Motown label, the final regular Supremes studio album to feature lead singer Diana Ross. The album was released in November 1969, after the release and success of the hit single "Someday We'll Be Together".

"Someday" was originally to have been released as Ross' first solo single (Ross is backed on the recording by session singers Maxine and Julia Waters, not the Supremes). Motown chief Berry Gordy, Jr. appended the Supremes billing to the single so as to create more publicity for Ross' exit from the group. Another selection of note is "The Young Folks" the charting b-side of "No Matter What Sign You Are" from Let the Sunshine In, later covered by The Jackson 5. Cream of the Crop also includes covers of songs by The Beatles ("Hey Jude") and Bob Dylan ("Blowin' in the Wind", also covered by Stevie Wonder). Since another Ross-led Supremes single or album had not been planned, Cream of the Crop was made up mostly of vaulted material.

The album closer, "The Beginning of the End", features Motown artist Syreeta Wright alongside Ross and Supremes members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Wright was Berry Gordy's original choice to replace Ross in the Supremes, because she had a range and tone similar to Ross. However, Gordy and Supremes manager Shelly Berger decided instead to replace Ross with Jean Terrell, after seeing Terrell perform with her brother Ernie as part of their band, Ernie Terrell & the Knockouts.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Someday We'll Be Together"
  2. "Can't You See It's Me"
  3. "You Gave Me Love"
  4. "Hey Jude"
  5. "The Young Folks"
  6. "Shadows of Society"
  7. "Loving You is Better Than Ever"
  8. "When It's to the Top (Still I Won't Stop Giving You Love)"
  9. "Till Johnny Comes"
  10. "Blowin' in the Wind"
  11. "The Beginning of the End"

[edit] Sample

"Someday We'll Be Together"

Released in 1969 as a single from Cream of the Crop
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] References