OK so its not a Motown album as such although it does contain four songs from the Supremes circa 1963 where Florence took lead vocals.

What you do have here is a gem of a CD which showcases the talents of the late founder of the Supremes who was sacked from the line-up during the middle sixties at a time when the trio were enjoying their most successful period at Motown. A solo career ensued and Florence signed to ABC records and the resulting album is what you have here.

If you are hoping for an album full of Supremes uptempo styled material then you are likely to be disappointed as the majority of the songs (five in all) are cover versions of tried and tested standards. In fairness they are good versions of songs like ‘It’s Not Unusual’ ‘Walk On By’ ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Going Out Of My Head’ but to name a few, all of which have been given her individual interpretation as opposed to straight cover versions. Check them out and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Florence’s’ vocal style could not have been further removed from that of Diana Ross but nevertheless the end result is stunning and it remains a mystery as to why it has taken so long for this album to surface in the UK on CD.

One of the highlight on this CD is the superb uptempo 'It Doesn't Matter How I Say It' which is as near to a northern soul as you will find and very much typical of what was being played at Wigan Casino during the seventies.

Another gem has to be the mid-tempo orchestrated track 'You Bring Out The Sweetest In Me' which grows with each play and epitomises all that was great with lates sixties soul and I am sure that Florence would have been proud that such a fuss was being made about her work all these years on.

'Love Ain't Love' is another northern soul dancefloor must-be! and for those who have never heard it should buy this CD on the strength of this track and the more I listen to it I just cannot put my finger on which northern classic it sounds like so I have decided to feature this track in its entirety for your listening pleasure. If you know the song it sounds like please let me know. Click here to listen to this song.

The success that the Supremes had a few years earlier can be heard on the next track 'Forever Faithful' which is right in the HDH bag and again will keep the northern boys and girls happy at dancefloor level. The wonderful thing about the uptempo songs on this CD is that they are not faceless records but carry that special ingredient that makes it stand out head and shoulders above the rest.

I'll leave the rest of this CD for you do discover yourselves, with a promise that once purchased, forever kept. This really IS something very special indeed.

Personal rating 10/10
Released April 2001
Expect to pay around £6.99 in the UK

UK Tracklisting;

Like You Babe/Yesterday/Yours Until Tomorrow/It's Not Unusual/The Impossible Dream/It Doesn't Matter How I Say It/
Stay In Love/Walk On By/Going Out Of My Head/You Bring Out The Sweetness In Me/Everything Wonderful/Love Ain't Love/
Forever Faithful/My Heart/

Supremes songs featuring Florence on lead vocals; Buttered Popcorn/Ain't That Good News/Hey Baby/Heavenly Father/