A difficult choice: Diana Ross or Florence Ballard

[KayJayEm54]

I've heard you cannot beat a 12" (anyone care to disagree?????) It is even better than the 10" as you get a far longer vibe but don't go for the stuffed crust as it damages the stylus!!

We are talking pizzas here aren't we???

[Bona boy]

Really, hasn't anyone heard that it isn't the size that matters, it's what you do with it.

[trish]

Originally Posted by Bona boy

I thought it was simply that Berry picked La Ross because he was poking her at the time. :D

That was definitely part of it, but he wanted someone who could cross over to the pop charts. He wanted Diana to be on the same level as Barbra Streisand. Flo's voice was to black. He wanted Flo to go along with the change and not cause trouble. She spoke up for herself, caused tension, started drinking and put on some weight so he got rid of her.

I think maybe had they handled it differently it could have been resolved without Flo having to leave the group.

Diana's oldest daughter is Berry's child.

[eddie]

I don't think the Supremes were produced right. I think they should have changed up lead singers within the song like Kendricks and Ruffin on "You're my everything." They weren't even my favorite female Motown group and I favor their 70's output over their 60's tracks with Miss Ross. Martha and the Vandellas had a more soulful sound.

[trish]

Originally Posted by eddie

I don't think the Supremes were produced right. I think they should have changed up lead singers within the song like Kendricks and Ruffin on "You're my everything." They weren't even my favorite female Motown group and I favor their 70's output over their 60's tracks with Miss Ross. Martha and the Vandellas had a more soulful sound.

You are absolutely right. I never understood why Berry was so adamant about Diana being the only lead. I too thought Martha and the Vandellas had a more soulful sound, but that is the sound Berry did not want the Supremes to have. That IMHO is why Florence was put in the position of singing background.

[markydefad]

Oh puh-leeeze................MISS ROSS had STAR QUALITY!!! SHE WAS COMMERCIAL & GLAMOROUS & SEXY & COOED SWEET 'OOOHS' AND THE PUBLIC ATE IT UP!!!

Mary & Flo were backup singers at best. YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE FACTS!!! How many hit singles did Flo or Mary have on their own??? That would be ZERO-ZIP-ZILCH- NADA -NONE.....

[remicks]

*****




OH MARKY......

FIVE Number Ones in a row right off the bat
12 Number Ones total
Six more TOP 10s
Number Three Recording Act of the entire sixties decade ( behind only Elvis and The Beatles)
All time Most #1 Records behind only (see above)


.......................... don't prove nothin! !!!


*****

[markydefad]

If I understand your point remicks....

I said how many hit singles did Florence Ballard or Mary Wilson have as SOLO RECORDING ARTISTS--NOT AS "Supremes" SINGING "OOOOHS" behind Miss Ross's Lead vocal???

Is That Your Point?

[remicks]

Originally Posted by markydefad

??

Marky you made your point most endearingly clear ....that's what my s were about.


It's my point that wasn't well made it seems, which was to further address the question of Diana or Florence and why it really isn't even questionable .....

Berry Gordy made lots of mistakes ....and some of them even concern The Supremes.... but putting Diana Ross up front wasn't one of them.

If destiny is a true concept .... Diana Ross is evidence of it ......


*****

[deltablues2]

There's no point debating who had or did not have solo hits. Mary & Florence were not promoted the way that Diana was, therefore you cannot compare their potential sales. If Motown had not put Diana outfront because of her looks and commercial voice then we might never have heard of her or any of the Supremes.

If you're only looking for charisma then Diana is your likely winner. But if you're at all concerned about talent then Flo was the superior singer - by far. Hits have little to do with talent.