The name of the Copacabana conjures up many memories: maybe of Lola’s love triangle with Tony and Rico, maybe of Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz trying to get their husbands there in the very first episode of I Love Lucy to air. The famous New York nightspot opened in 1940 on East 60th Street, playing host to the biggest and brightest names in entertainment and becoming synonymous with sophistication and glamour. It made headlines when it ended its “no blacks” policy, playing host to acclaimed gigs by Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. So it was no surprise that when Berry Gordy wished his top girl group, The Supremes, to cross over to a more “mainstream” (read: white) audience, he got Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson booked into The Copacabana. The August 1965 engagement was such a success that it led to stands there by Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. It also yielded the only full live album issued by the classic Supremes trio line-up, and the November release of The Supremes at the Copa scored a respectable No. 11 placement on the Billboard pop chart and fared even better (No. 6) on the R&B survey despite its supper-club repertoire.
Though the original album has briefly appeared on CD before, Hip-o Select is pulling out all the stops for its return to CD, with a 2-disc expanded edition due on May 11 from the label and May 29 at general retail. Disc One of At The Copa: Expanded Edition kicks off with the remastered original 15-track stereo album. The repertoire is eclectic, from Motown hits (“Back in My Arms Again,” “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love”) and showtunes (“Put On a Happy Face” from Bye Bye Birdie, “Make Someone Happy” from Do Re Mi, “Somewhere” from West Side Story) to current hit covers (“The Boy From Ipanema”) and even a medley of songs made famous by past Copa headliner Sam Cooke. However, Supremes aficionados know that this album used lead vocals overdubbed by Diana Ross in the studio. The expanded edition follows the original album with ten previously unreleased original mono reference mixes, with Ross’ original live lead vocals.
But that’s not all. There’s much, much more vault material on Disc Two! Just hit the jump, and you’ll find that information plus a full track listing and order links!
The second disc premieres a full reconstruction of an entire Copa show from the 1965 stand, in a brand-new mix that compiles the best performances from six recorded shows. This composite show, of course, includes Diana Ross’ original live vocals, plus a number of songs not included on the final album. These “cut songs” include the Cole Porter-penned opening number “From This Moment On,” Hitsville classics “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Nothing But Heartaches,” and more standards such as “Tonight/The Way You Look Tonight,” and “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think).”
At the Copa: Expanded Edition is housed in a digipak that contains a booklet featuring the original LP liner notes by Sammy Davis, Jr. and an all-new essay by producer George Solomon, plus previously unseen photographs of The Supremes. Music and passion will still be in fashion when At the Copa arrives from Hip-o Select in May. You’ll find order links both for Hip-o and Amazon just below!
The Supremes, At the Copa: Expanded Edition (Hip-o Select, 2012)
CD 1:
- Opening Introduction
- Put On A Happy Face
- I Am Woman
- Baby Love
- Stop! In The Name Of Love
- Boy From Ipanema
- Make Someone Happy / Time After Time
- Come See About Me
- Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
- Queen Of The House
- Group Introduction
- Somewhere
- Back In My Arms Again
- Sam Cooke Medley*
- You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You
- Put On A Happy Face
- Stop! In The Name Of Love
- The Boy From Ipanema
- Come See About Me
- Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)
- Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
- Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
- Where Did Our Love Go
- Nothing But Heartaches
- Back In My Arms Again
- Sam Cooke Medley
CD 2:
- Opening Introduction
- From This Moment On
- Put On A Happy Face
- Tonight/The Way You Look Tonight
- Baby Love
- Stop! In The Name Of Love
- The Boy From Ipanema
- Where Did Our Love Go
- I Am Woman
- Band Introduction
- Make Someone Happy / Time After Time
- Come See About Me
- Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
- Queen Of The House
- Group Introduction
- Somewhere
- Nothing But Heartaches
- Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)
- Back In My Arms Again
- Sam Cooke Medley*
- You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You
CD 1, Tracks 1-15 from Motown LP S-636, 1965
CD 1, Tracks 16-25 previously unreleased alternate mono mixes
CD 2, Tracks 1-21 previously unreleased complete composite show
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Berry Gordy pushing his major acts into uncomfortable directions like this was one of the least attractive aspects of Motown. Even if the results might be enjoyable
Berry Gordy had a crossover dream. In Diana Ross, he found the woman who could take him there and make that dream a reality. People tend to forget that the Supremes were “custom-built” to entertain well-heeled and cultured white audiences EXCLUSIVELY. Not for them the grimier boards of stages like the Apollo; those were for Motown acts that carried more “soul.” If black kids bought their records as well, that was just gravy. Copa was a coup that payed off HUGE dividends, and was history-making in the process. I couldn’t be more pleased that Harry Weinger & Hip-O are releasing the 60’s catalog in such fine detail.
Do you know how extensive the Supremes reissue project is planned to be? Chronologically they’ve skipped the Liverpool and Country Western LPs (I’m pretty sure – no time to wiki that). I do think they are wonderful, and HIP-O has done a magnifecent job! Cannot wait for BABY IT’S ME!
The Supremes did play the Apollo.
They most certainly did Robert, when they were a young upstart group with only regional hits. That all changed in July 1964. (Incidentally, on the night the Supremes opened at the Copa, the Marvelettes were on stage at the Apollo.)
It’s just amazing how all of these lost tracks suddenly have appeared after all these years. Diana Ross’ 1976 album, More Hits By The Supremes from 1965, Blue, There’s A Place For Us, Live From The Copa, Touch Me In The Morning, For The Baby just to mention a few. How much more is Motown sitting on? How about releasing some videos like TCB, GIT and Diana! (1971). I know they have the technology to release them. Let’s face it, the original Supremes and Diana Ross fans aren’t getting any younger! I’m 56 and as Diana said, “I’m Still Waiting”!
I’m grateful that we are getting these wonderful reissues. But I agree with Bill that it would be a bonus if we could get some video releases.
Thanks to Second Disc for bringing these reissues to our attention with so much detail. Makes my day and look forward to receiving the items like a kid awaiting Christmas! Original Supremes devotees are an aging group with a good probability to purchase so Motown make it happen. Like the Central Park dvd, there are a good number of other TV specials that would be purchased and enjoyed by long time fans and collectors.
A very nice and informative piece written by Joe Marchese. Joe, do you like the 70’s Supremes too? They turned out some AMAZING stuff without Miss Ross at the helm. Stoned Love, Steve.
Post Diana Supremes were exciting. At first it was like a two for one split for releases and the Supremes fans loved the energized threesome. However, over time a lack of interest and support from Motown put the group in decline. Fortunately, stellar releases from Hip-o Select have preserved and expanded that part of their history. However, I wish future dvd releases would also highlight that era and also look for a reissue of Mary Wilson’s solo album and any unreleased tracks that exist. Touch!