The Supremes Album: «Dream Girls»

- Customers rating: (1.0 of 5)
- Title:Dream Girls
- Release date:2006-06-13
- Type:Audio CD
- Label:American Legends
- UPC:723721224059
- 1 Baby Loveimg 2:38
- 2 Come See About Meimg 2:42
- 3 Stop! In The Name Of Loveimg 2:38
- 4 Back In My Arms Againimg 2:53
- 5 I Hear A Symphonyimg 2:45
- 6 You Can't Hurry Loveimg 2:56
- 7You Keep Me Hanging On
- 8 Love Is Here And Now You're Goneimg 2:46
- 9 Where Did Our Love Goimg 2:36
- 10 The Happeningimg 2:54
There should be a no-star option! This CD is a bait-and-switch if ever there was one. To begin with, the voices of the grouping of Supremes pictured on the front (Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong) are nowhere on this CD. The actual singers on this abortion are in reality the FLOs (Former Ladies of the Supremes) -- replacement Supremes who came on board under Mary Wilson's aegis long after the original group had split up. These songs were re-recorded years later (without Mary) and feature Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence and, probably, Sundray Tucker (Lynda's sister, who never sang with The Supremes at all). This group still tours, falsely using The Supremes' name almost everywhere but in the U.S. where they are barred from using it, with Freddi Poole (who was never a Supreme either) having replaced Sundray Tucker. This is just a shameless attempt to capitalize on the upcoming release of the "Dreamgirls" movie. Do not buy this CD unless you just want to hear lame renditions of the real Supremes' hit songs.
The cover shows Mary Wilson, Jean Terrell & Cindy Birdsong, the Supremes lineup from 1970 until 1972. The track listing are song titles from Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, & Florence, the lineup from 1961 until 1967. The recordings include none of the above named (except for Jean Terrell). The vocalists are Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence, Jean Terrell, and probably Sundray Tucker & Freddie Poole. The last were never Supremes under contract with Motown. Nevertheless, these latter day ex- & pseudo Supremes are capable vocalists, though it's not so evident here. There is no defending this set - the recordings themselves are substandard. There are better karaoke tracks available. The whole ethics revolving around the FLOs will be a source of constant debate among Supremes fans, probably until the end of time. But objectively speaking, this is substandard and an insult to a legacy that has taken enough abuse as it is.
As stated by other reviewers, this one gets one star because zero is not an option. Shame on everyone involved in this farce.
No further comment is needed than what is stated on the title line.

