Cream of the Crop

Cream of the Crop
Studio album by Diana Ross & the Supremes
Released	November 3, 1969
Recorded	1966 (Blowin' in the Wind), 1969 (All other tracks)
Genre	Pop
Length	31:40
Label	Motown MS 694
Producer	Johnny Bristol, Berry Gordy, others
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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 rising 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 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.

Track listing

1. "Someday We'll Be Together" - 3:15
2. "Can't You See It's Me" - 2:33
3. "You Gave Me Love" - 2:40
4. "Hey Jude" - 2:59
5. "The Young Folks" - 3:05
6. "Shadows of Society" - 2:59
7. "Loving You is Better Than Ever" - 2:45
8. "When It's to the Top (Still I Won't Stop Giving You Love)" - 2:56
9. "Till Johnny Comes" - 2:57
10. "Blowin' in the Wind" - 2:57
11. "The Beginning of the End" - 2:33

Personnel

• Diana Ross – Lead vocals
• Mary Wilson – background vocals
• Cindy Birdsong – background vocals
• Florence Ballard – background vocals on "Blowin' In The Wind."
• Syreeta Wright – background vocals on "The Beginning of the End."
• Julia Waters – background vocals on "Someday We'll Be Together."
• Maxine Waters – background vocals on "Someday We'll Be Together."
• The Andantes – background vocals
• The Funk Brothers - instrumentation
• Various Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Sample

References

• Chin, Brian and Nathan, David (2000). "Reflections Of..." The Supremes [CD Box Set]. New York: Motown Record Co./Universal Music.
• Wilson, Mary and Romanowski, Patricia (1986, 1990, 2000). Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme. New York: Cooper Square Publishers. ISBN 0-8154-1000-X.