On June 29, in anticipation of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Motown — a.k.a. Hitsville U.S.A. — and inspired by the album's own recent 51st anniversary, Motown/UMe is releasing a 51-track, 2-CD Expanded Edition of The Supremes' tenth studio effort, the chart-topping The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland.
The collection magnifies the scope of a seminal album that made history, including 27 tracks that are heard here for the first time via a number of updated mixes and alternate versions, as well as electrifying live performances captured at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City in May 1967, the last recorded performance of the original trio: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard.
The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland, originally released in January 1967, further cemented the group's chart prowess and vocal harmonizing skills. Inspired by the production team who along with the group had come to define the "Motown Sound" – producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozierand lyricist Edward Holland Jr. – spawned a pair of universally loved No. 1 singles, the forever-pleading "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and the heartbreakingly dramatic "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone." The LP also went to No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Albums Chart, their fourth album to do so up to that point, while peaking at no. 6 Pop.
Formed in Detroit as The Primettes in 1959, The Supremes were Motown's most successful act of the 1960s, scoring 12 No. 1 singles. They also continue to reign as America's most successful vocal group to date. Their influence not only carries on in contemporary R&B, soul and pop, they also helped pave the way for mainstream success by African-American artists across all genres.
