The Supremes will always be the ultimate girl group but I don't like the way they became Diana Ross and the Supremes, that must have been so humiliating for the other members and so unnecessary.
Certainly the Supremes were the undisputed queens of the '60s girl groups, lasting well past the point when most of the others had faded away circa 1967. It sort of fit a pattern that they were rebranded as "Diana Ross & the Supremes" as in so many groups a leader, usually the lead singer, was picked to be the focus, so that on radio, if not on the records themselves, the Rolling Stones were introduced as "Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones," even on songs like "Happy", on which Keith Richards sang lead and Mick may not have taken part in the recording at all. In the case of the Supremes, it was just a short hop from putting the focus on Ross to her becoming a solo star and the trio going defunct. Of the new breed of girl groups that began emerging in the early '80s and tended to be categorized as post-punk/new wave/alternative, the Bangles and Luscious Jackson were my favorites. Hole were 3/4 a girl group and whatever one thinks of Courtney Love, Live Through This is one of the best albums of the '90s, IMO.
My personal favorites are the Pleasure Seekers (the band Suzi Quatro formed with her sisters before she went solo) and their modern heirs-apparent, the Donnas.
I know that I'm elitist enough to make a distinction between a group of people who just sing and a group of people who play instruments and sing. I would much rather support/promote the music of the Runaways, Go-Gos, Vixen, Donnas, heck, even the Bangles over the Supremes, Spice Girls, Pussycat Dolls, et al. But, Dagnabbit, TLC brings it.
The Prowler (so confused and dealing with issues).
Big fan of the Go-Go's; saw them three times (the first time in a small club in Indianapolis before they hit it big). Also liked the Bangles and Bananarama. Ah, the 80's...
The Supremes will always be the ultimate girl group but I don't like the way they became Diana Ross and the Supremes, that must have been so humiliating for the other members and so unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteCertainly the Supremes were the undisputed queens of the '60s girl groups, lasting well past the point when most of the others had faded away circa 1967. It sort of fit a pattern that they were rebranded as "Diana Ross & the Supremes" as in so many groups a leader, usually the lead singer, was picked to be the focus, so that on radio, if not on the records themselves, the Rolling Stones were introduced as "Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones," even on songs like "Happy", on which Keith Richards sang lead and Mick may not have taken part in the recording at all. In the case of the Supremes, it was just a short hop from putting the focus on Ross to her becoming a solo star and the trio going defunct.
ReplyDeleteOf the new breed of girl groups that began emerging in the early '80s and tended to be categorized as post-punk/new wave/alternative, the Bangles and Luscious Jackson were my favorites. Hole were 3/4 a girl group and whatever one thinks of Courtney Love, Live Through This is one of the best albums of the '90s, IMO.
My personal favorites are the Pleasure Seekers (the band Suzi Quatro formed with her sisters before she went solo) and their modern heirs-apparent, the Donnas.
ReplyDeleteThe Runaways. That's more my style. Musically speaking.
ReplyDeleteDavid in Wisconsin
My favorite is Fanny.
ReplyDeleteScott Lovrine
Hey, Scott --
ReplyDeleteWelcome! First-time commenter I believe? If I'm right, don't be a stranger!
Doug
I like the Donnas too; they have a real Ramones vibe. How about the Shangri-Las?
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm elitist enough to make a distinction between a group of people who just sing and a group of people who play instruments and sing. I would much rather support/promote the music of the Runaways, Go-Gos, Vixen, Donnas, heck, even the Bangles over the Supremes, Spice Girls, Pussycat Dolls, et al. But, Dagnabbit, TLC brings it.
ReplyDeleteThe Prowler (so confused and dealing with issues).
Big fan of the Go-Go's; saw them three times (the first time in a small club in Indianapolis before they hit it big). Also liked the Bangles and Bananarama. Ah, the 80's...
ReplyDelete