Monday, August 22, 2005

The 1st of 5 in a row...

The Supremes were on tour with Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" when they got the news on this day in 1964. It was the day they were all alone at the top of the charts with "Where Did Our Love Go"...

Motown's first supergroup would soon discover that there were more chart toppers to come, 4 more consecutive number ones: "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", "Stop ! In The Name Of Love" and "Back In My Arms Again". All written and produced by the legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Before they were through, the Supremes would score with 33 Top 40 hits, 23 Top 10's and 12 Number Ones...

Lamont Dozier summed up The Supremes success with this quote: "The Supremes came together because everybody had the right elements, the right seasonings and the right flavors to make it happen."

More August 22 Memories...

1956) Elvis Presley begins work on his first movie, "The Reno Brothers" which is re-titled, "Love Me Tender"...

1964) Martha & The Vandellas release "Dancing In The Streets"...

1964) The #1 selling LP on this date ? Not The Beatles, Four Seasons or Motown. "The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles" was selling 25,000 copies a day...

1964) The Supremes top the charts for the first time (feature story)...

1965) Giant pitcher Juan Marichal hits Dodger catcher John Roseboro in the head with a bat during an on-field fight...

1966) Cynthia Lennon sues John for divorce...

1969) The Beatles film a short for "The Long And Winding Road"...

1970) MCA Records signs Elton John...

1973) Henry Kissinger is named Secretary of State...

1984) The last VW Rabbit rolls off the assembly line...

1989) Black Panther Huey P. Newton is shot fatally...

1989) Nolan Ryan becomes the first major league pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters...

1998) In the midst of pursuing Roger Maris's home run record, Mark McGwire admits using an unauthorized substance. McGwire will wind up with 70 home runs...

Happy Birthday to...

1920) Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury...

1934) Retired general Norman Schwarzkopf...

1939) Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski...

1940) Valerie Harper...

1945) Steve ("60 Minutes") Kroft...

1945) Ron (Archie's lead singer) Dante...

1947) Cindy ("Laverne and Shirley") Williams...

1963) Tori Amos...

Commentary...

The Supremes weren't the first "girl" group but they set the standard for all female groups to follow. Not only could they sing, they were pretty, fashionable and most of all had great stage presence. They always looked and sounded great and would quickly become one of the best live acts in show business...

Credit Berry Gordy, Jr. for signing Motown's first superact, as well as Holland-Dozier-Holland for their superior writing and producing skills. That legendary team wrote and produced almost all of the group's early hits, including their 5 consecutive chart toppers in 1964-65...

The history of Motown was forged by such great acts as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Temptations, Martha and The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells and on and on. None were bigger than The Supremes...