High Energy (album)

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High Energy
High Energy cover
Studio album by The Supremes
Released April 1, 1976
Recorded 1975-1976
Genre Soul/disco
Length 26:10
Label Motown
M 863S1
Producer Brian Holland
Edward Holland, Jr.
Professional reviews
The Supremes chronology
The Supremes
(1975)		 High Energy
(1976)		 Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
(1977)

High Energy is a 1976 album by The Supremes released on the Motown label. The first album since 1968's Reflections to include four Supremes members, it also is notable for featuring the last Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 pop hit for the group, "I'm Gonna Let My Heart do the Walking".

Contents

[edit] Overview

The penultimate studio album released by the group, The Supremes began recording High Energy in December 1975, when its lineup consisted of Scherrie Payne, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong. Birdsong left the group in February 1976, and her replacement, Susaye Greene, was overdubbed on 2 tracks, including "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking". Greene also assumed lead vocal duties on the title track.

Lead vocals on the other tracks were split between original group member Mary Wilson and Scherrie Payne. Wilson takes the lead on the album's ballads "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You", "Till the Boat Sails Away", and "I Don't Want to Lose You". Wilson and Payne split the lead vocal duties on "You're What's Missing in My Life", opening up the dance numbers "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking", "You Keep Me Moving On" and "Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)" for Payne. "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" was the album's sole single release. In the United States, the single reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the final Top 40 single release for The Supremes.

Alternate mixes of "High Energy" and of "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" appeared on the Supremes' The 70s Anthology compilation. "Room At The Top" was also recorded during the sessions, but Eddie Holland felt that the song didn't fit with the feel of the remainder of the album. This track also surfaced on The 70s Anthology. Demo tracks of "High Energy", "You Keep Me Moving On" and "Till The Boat Sails Away" featuring Cindy Birdsong on lead vocals exist, and could be released one day.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Side one

  1. "High Energy" - 5:25
  2. "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" - 3:33
  3. "Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)" - 3:04
  4. "You Keep Me Moving On" - 3:35

[edit] Side two

  1. "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" - 4:59
  2. "Till The Boat Sails Away"/"I Don't Want To Lose You" - 8:03
  3. "You're What's Missing in My Life" 3:56

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Singles history

  • "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" b/w "Early Morning Love" (b-side taken from The Supremes) (Motown 1407, March 16, 1976)

[edit] Chart history

Name Chart (1976) Peak
position
High Energy U.S. Pop Albums Chart 42
High Energy U.S. R&B Albums Chart 24
"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" U.S. Billboard Pop Singles 40
"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" U.S. Billboard R&B Singles 25
"High Energy" U.S. Billboard Disco/Dance Singles 1