The Supremes - Meet The Supremes (1962/2015) [HDtracks]

The romantic and sentimental "Your Heart Belongs to Me," written by Smokey Robinson, should have been the Supremes' first hit. It's every bit as charming as his chartbusters for Mary Wells. Diana Ross' sweet tender lead, assisted by Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard's warm harmonies, could melt icebergs. Ross' vocals on "Who's Lovin' You" are intense and bluesy; Wilson leads the soulful "Baby Don't Go"; and Ballard leads the raucous "Buttered Popcorn," a tune more suited for the Contours. "I Want a Guy," their first recording, had been done by the Marvelettes the backing voices are buried, and Ross' voice sounds whiny and high-pitched. This song, along with the '50s-sounding "He's Seventeen," are the only bummers. Ballard shines again on "Let Me Go the Right Way," delivering a tough vocal on top of Ross and Wilson's enthusiastic vocals. "Time Changes Things," written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Janie Bradford, was a forerunner to later efforts by Holland-Dozier-Holland. Blues lovers will relish the torching "Play a Sad Song." "Never Again" is straight '50s doo wop; if you didn't know, you would think it was the Chantels.