The Supreme Florence "Flo" Ballard

The Supreme Florence "Flo" Ballard
Studio album by Florence Ballard
Released 2002
Recorded 1962 - 1968
Genre Pop
R&B
Soul
Length 45:79
Label Spectrum Records
Producer Robert Bateman, George Kerr, Marc Gordon, Hal Davis, Berry Gordy
Professional reviews

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Love Ain't Love
Love Ain't Love single cover
Singles from You Don't Have To
  1. "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)"
    Released: 1968
  2. "Love Ain't Love"
    Released: 1968

The Supreme Florence "Flo" Ballard is a 2002 release by Universal Music Group's Spectrum label, compiling the ABC Records solo recordings of Florence Ballard (formerly of The Supremes). The album, originally titled You Don't Have To, was shelved by ABC in 1968. "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It", the first single, is an up-tempo song about no matter how it is said, "I love you" means the same thing. The final 4 songs of the album are songs Florence took the lead on as a Supreme.

Ballard's singles both failed to chart, due to legal agreements between Motown and Ballard when she separated from The Supremes in 1967. Motown stated that Ballard was not allowed to mention that she had been a former member of the Supremes, and as a result her press release stated that "Florence has been a part of an entertainment trio for many years." which hindered her releases from garnering attention from the public. However, in later years MCA Inc. would purchase both the Motown and ABC labels, with the whole music division eventually becoming Universal Music Group (under which Motown continues to operate as Universal Motown).

Although there was only one album by Ballard released, she was supposedly about to sign a contract just before her death. Ballard had also recorded an Aretha Franklin-esque demo around the time of her death, according to Tony Turner in "All That Glittered: My Life With The Supremes". Also, one of her singles, "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It", has been featured on soul CDs. Another unreleased song, "Like You Babe" had a rock sound that could have been a hit single.

Track listing

  1. "Like You Babe" − 2:31
  2. "Yesterday" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) − 2:43
  3. "Yours Until Tomorrow" (Carole King, Gerry Goffin) − 3:19
  4. "It's Not Unusual" (Les Reed, Gordon Mills) − 2:18
  5. "The Impossible Dream" (Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh) − 2:54
  6. "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)" (Drake Hollon) − 2:59
  7. "Stay In Love" − 3:03
  8. "Walk On By" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) − 3:03
  9. "Goin' Out of My Head" (Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein) − 2:52
  10. "You Bring Out The Sweetness In Me" (Gerald Harris) − 2:44
  11. "Everything Wonderful" (Drake Hollon) − 2:22
  12. "Love Ain't Love" (Van McCoy) − 2:37
  13. "Forever Faithful" (Robert Bateman) − 2:52
  14. "My Heart" − 3:04
  15. "Buttered Popcorn"- with The Supremes (Flo on lead) − 2:35
  16. "(Ain't That) Good News" - with The Supremes (Flo on lead) − 2:33
  17. "Hey Baby" (Version 2) - with The Supremes (Flo on lead) − 2:20
  18. "Heavenly Father" - with The Supremes (Flo on lead) − 2:50

Alternate takes

"It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)" - take one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdxmfGJ67w&fmt=18

Singles history