When Diana Ross of the Supremes decided to call it a day at the end of 1969 and pursue a solo career there were many in the industry who predicted that that would be end of the group  - the end of a legend - thankfully, that was not to be. There was of course much music to emanate from the trio during the early to mid seventies which would see a hit making machine using different writers and producers than that of HDH who had been instrumental in their success from 1964-67 when they too departed the Motown corporation for pastures new with their new label and record company Hot Wax/Invictus. The success of Diana Ross as a solo artist is well documented across the globe.

Finding a replacement for Diana would have seemed a daunting task to even the most experienced record company boss but Berry Gordy had total confidence in her replacement one Jean Terrell (sister of boxer Ernie Terrell) who seemed the perfect replacement and one that even Mary Wilson approved of once she had seen had heard her. Mary was confident that the new line up would survive, and how right she turned out to be. Jean Terrell was one stunning lady whose good looks and slinky stage appeal was the perfect addition to Gordy's number one act on the label.

'Up The Ladder To The Roof' was a smash 45 in 1970. Written and produced by none other than the legendary Frank Wilson who together with Johnny bristol had been responsible for some devastating material for other Motown acts three to four years earlier and his talents on this particular mid tempo song were to give Gordy and his girls the start they wanted. Arrangement by the infamous David van Depitte the song made those people who had written off the group sit up and take notice. Like everything at Motown in the previous decade a follow up was close behind and this time 'Everybody's Got The Right To Love' another Frank Wilson produced finger clickin' mid tempo melodic dancer that sounded as if Diana was still fronting the outfit. This new sound for the seventies saw an increase in the use of lush string arrangements which is where David van Depitte came into his own.

Suddenly the Supremes were hot again and were giving Motown hit after hit but it was the superb 'Stoned Love' in October 1970 that the trio are best remembered for from this era. This CD features the unedited orchestral intro only found on the album version whereas an edited version appeared here in the UK. This song was a half throwback to the sixties era and remains a popular dancefloor item thirty three years on and one that I often play still to this day. Whilst on a roll during this period Motown decided on a project where the girls would team up with fellow stablemates the Four Tops to release a cover version of Ike & Tina Turners' 1965 hit 'River Deep Mountain High' and whilst not one of my personal favourites was nevertheless a hit here in the UK.

April 1971 saw the next smash from the girls with the hugely popular 'Nathan Jones' which saw a good chart position here in the UK mainly due to it's unusual fazing effects (similar to those used on the Small Faces' song Itchycoo Park) and its catchy and easy to dance to arrangement making it an ideal track for daytime radio and commercial pop DJ's alike. The 1980's saw this song emerge again in the form of a cover version from Bananarama. Two more duets with the Tops with Shorty Long's 'Function At The Junction' and Steven Stills' 'Love The One Your With' were useful filler material but failed to match the above named songs. An alum entitled 'Touch' contained some attractive material and the title track itself is pure magic!!

A couple more singles emerged during this period in 'Automatically Sunshine' and the hit 'Floy Joy' (another throwback to the sixties) both of which made some indentations on the charts and their version of the David Gates song 'Make It With You' really grows on you after a couple of plays and a previously unreleased cover version of the Clifton Davis song for Gloria Gaynor 'Never Can Say Goodbye' finds some very neat brass arrangement giving extra impetus. Speaking of previously unreleased material you just have to check out track 15 'I'll Let Him Know I Love Him' from 1971 written and produced by Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer - this is pure magic and is featured as a Real Audio clip for your pursual - click here to indulge.

Just when you thought it was safe to turn off the CD player you are treated to a further twenty songs on disc 2 and after a bit of a shaky start the disc showcases some very good material indeed at a time when the term 'disco' was everywhere the Supremes were amongst the best of that era. Whilst a weak version of the O'Jays classic 'Love Train' is not representative of the rest of their repertoire of that era, 'He's My Man' most definitely is. This track from 1975 fitted into the dance groove of the day perfectly with a vocal delivery and arrangement that was perfect. Listening to 'It's All Been Said Before' one is fooled into thinking this is a Johnny Johnson & the Bandwagon single before settling into a great modern dance groove that must surely attract the attention of the northern soul fraternity if not already. 'Where Do I Go From Here' is another fine example of the kind of soul music that the modern soul connoisseur is constantly chasing to add to their ever growing playlists of quality seventies vinyl. If there is one song on this set that will knock you for a six it is the awesome 'I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking' a glorious piece of mid seventies disco soul that beggars belief and will destroy any rival at a hundred yards. Co-written by the legendary Brian & Eddie Holland and produced by Eddie himself - simply brilliant. other songs of note is the frantic 1977 UK single 'Love I Never Knew Could Feel So Good' a fabulous piece of Philly influenced soul (Three Degrees) and the Salsoul flavoured 'Let Yourself Go' both of which are an essential addition to any soul oldies revival night and one that any self respecting punter would thank any DJ for playing.

An excellent piece of Motown's history - make no mistake this is serious stuff and one that you add to your collection as I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed in the least. It is a sad fact that many of us (me included) tended to ignore Motown during this period as we were all still hooked on the sixties sound and it wasn't until decades later that these great sounds made us all realise what we had been missing all these years.

This CD will give you years of listening pleasure so pick up a copy without delay.

Click on the CD sleeve at the top of this page for a complete tracklisting.

Rating 10/10