Mary, Scherrie & Susaye

Last updated

Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
Supremesmss.jpg
Studio album by
The Supremes
ReleasedOctober 1, 1976
Recorded1976
Studio
Genre Soul, disco
Label Motown
Producer Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr.
The Supremes chronology
High Energy
(1976)		Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
(1976)		 Diana Ross & the Supremes: 20 Golden Greats
(1977)
Singles from Mary, Scherrie & Susaye
  1. "You're My Driving Wheel"
    Released: September 30, 1976
  2. "Let Yourself Go"
    Released: January 25, 1977
  3. "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
    Released: March 1977

Mary, Scherrie & Susaye is the twenty-ninth and final studio album by The Supremes, released in 1976 on the Motown label. It featured the final line-up for the Supremes, composed of original Supreme Mary Wilson and latter-day members Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene. All three Supremes take leads on the album. The album was a mixture of disco dance tracks (Hi-NRG) and R&B ballads. Payne and Greene mostly took over the dance tracks while Wilson performed the ballads. The album was released in October 1976, nine months before the trio disbanded. This was the second reunion album between The Supremes and Brian Holland, produced on behalf of Holland-Dozier-Holland Productions.

Contents

The entire album was released for the first time on CD on May 17, 2011 on the three-disc set Let Yourself Go: The '70s Albums, Vol 2 – 1974–1977: The Final Sessions .

After making a noteworthy comeback with their previous lp, High Energy, one would have expected that this continued collaboration would have also put the trio back into the mainstream, where they had been absent from for years. Several events prevented this. First, there was turmoil amongst the three ladies over lead vocals on this new set. Second, and more important, the group's manager, also Mary Wilson's husband, had taken over control of their futures with no show business experience whatsoever. This resulted in missed opportunities and hard feelings of preferred treatment. Third, the group was turning audiences away with their slick disco set and attire, quickly performing the group's many hit records in rushed, ear-piercing medleys while concentrating on full versions of other material. Always a draw in Las Vegas, their last appearance at Caesar's Palace was cut short by audience members leaving during their show and savage critic reviews. As a final degradation, the group was jeered offstage at a packed Madison Square Garden when attempting to do this same type of show. All of these elements combined to convince Motown to basically pull the plug on the deteriorated trio. Months later in London they took their final bows.

Singles

Three singles were released from the album, although the final single was only released in the UK. While none of the singles were Top 40 chart hits on the respective national charts, "You're My Driving Wheel" and "Let Yourself Go" became top five singles on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Cashbox (Favorable) [2]
Disco Delivery(Favorable) [3]
DiscoMusic.com(Favorable) [4]
Record World (Favorable) [5] [6]

In a contemporary review, Cashbox published: [2]

'Even with personnel changes, The Supremes, remarkably, have managed to maintain their unique sound. This new album was produced by Brian Holland, and he shares a songwriting credit on every tune. “You’re My Driving Wheel” is a dynamite cut that’s just right for al! AM outlets (pop and R&B alike). With such stellar sessionmen as James Gadson and Ben Benay, the record can’t help but be immediately included in The Supremes history of heavy-selling. Ballads are not neglected: “We Should Be Closer Together” will be a top request. Some good disco, too.'

In separate, contemporary reviews, Record World published:

'The combination of Holland-Dozier-Holland and the Supremes has been one that's worked miracles over the years and although Dozier is no longer actively involved, the energy level is just as high as ever. "You're My Driving Wheel," "Let Yourself Go" and "We Should Be Closer Together" are supreme. [5]

'RECOMMENDED ALBUMS: "Mary, Scherrie & Susaye," the new Supremes album (Motown), is terrific, one of the best albums to come out by this ever-changing group since Diana Ross' departure from their ranks. Strongest dance cuts: "Love I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good" (5:51), which is quite speedy, "I Don't Want to Be Tied Down" (4:42), "Let Yourself Go" (4:29), and, of course, "You're My Driving Wheel," already recommended here as a single but a minute longer on the album. Left field, but a possibility because of its great production: "Come Into My Life" (6:14). Production credit goes to Brian Holland, who certainly knows how to take the group to the peak of their talents.' [6]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "You're My Driving Wheel" (Edward Holland, Jr., Brian Holland, Floyd Stafford, Reginald Brown) – 4:20
  2. "Sweet Dream Machine" (Harold Beatty, Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr.) – 5:22
  3. "Let Yourself Go" (Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr., Harold Beatty) – 4:29
  4. "Come Into My Life" (Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr., Richard Davis) – 6:14 (lead singer: Susaye Greene)

Side two

  1. "We Should Be Closer Together" (Janie Bradford, Freddie Gorman, Barbara Gaines, Brian Holland) – 4:59 (lead singer: Mary Wilson)
  2. "I Don't Want to Be Tied Down" (Brian Holland, Richard Davis, Edward Holland, Jr.) – 4:42
  3. "You Are the Heart of Me" (Michael Lovesmith, Edward Holland, Jr.) – 4:12 (lead singer: Mary Wilson)
  4. "Love I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good" (Brian Holland, Richard Davis, Reginald Brown, Floyd Stafford) – 5:51

Personnel

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Lowe, John. Mary, Scherrie & Susaye at Allmusic
  2. 1 2 "ALBUM REVIEWS: MARY, SCHERRIE & SUSAYE — The Supremes - Motown M6-873S1 — Producer: Brian Holland — List: 6.98" (PDF). Cashbox . November 13, 1976. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The First Delivery: The Supremes - Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976, Motown)". Disco Delivery. January 10, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Supremes-Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (LP)-Vinyl Records-Cover Art-Disco..." discomusic.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Album Picks" (PDF). Record World . November 13, 1976. p. 65. Retrieved January 5, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  6. 1 2 "Disco File" (PDF). Record World . November 13, 1976. p. 80. Retrieved January 5, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  7. ↑ "TOP 75 R&B ALBUMS" (PDF). Cashbox . December 11, 1976. p. 37. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ "151-200 ALBUM CHART: Week of December 25, 1976" (PDF). Record World . worldradiohistory.com. December 25, 1976. p. 40. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Billboard DISCO YEAR END 1976". Billboard . December 25, 1976. p. 42. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  10. ↑ "The Essential Disco Albums of 1976" (PDF). Record World . worldradiohistory.com. December 25, 1976. p. 169. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ "1976 Pop Singles Awards" (PDF). Record World . worldradiohistory.com. December 25, 1976. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Record World 1976 Year End R&B Singles Awards" (PDF). Record World . worldradiohistory.com. December 25, 1976. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.