Christmas came early in 1965 for fans of The Supremes. In November of that year, Motown released not one, but two albums from the beloved trio of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard: The Supremes at the Copa and Merry Christmas. Both of these LPs would not only score on the Billboard charts but become truly sparkling additions to the Supremes' discography. Still perennial favorites, both Copa and Merry Christmas showcase the group's tremendous versatility, vibrancy and dynamism. Now, 50 years later, Motown once again is bringing Christmas early! Last Friday saw the first-ever release of Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz, with Miss Ross tackling Charlie Smalls' beloved Broadway score as a solo artist - and as various characters! Today brings a Supreme treat for the second week in a row with the new release (available via all digital service providers) of a 50th anniversary expanded edition of The Supremes' Merry Christmas.
Amazingly, Merry Christmas was one of five Supremes albums released in 1965 - and that's not counting their three unreleased LPs recorded that year! It was no surprise, however, that Motown's premier artists would record a Christmas collection. The Supremes epitomized Berry Gordy's passion for developing all-around artists who could cross over to a variety of genres; hence, Diana, Mary, and Flo tackled with equal verve albums of Sam Cooke covers, country tunes, and British Invasion hits. At the Copa (bountifully expanded in 2012 on CD and DD) had everything from Broadway to the bossa nova! Merry Christmas would both bring The Supremes' sound to classic Tin Pan Alley holiday standards and traditionals, and introduce a handful of new Christmas offerings, Motown-style.
Producer Harvey Fuqua (the onetime Moonglow and all-around legend who had helmed The Supremes' We Remember Sam Cooke LP) and ace arrangers Gene Page, H.B. Barnum and Ernie Freeman oversaw the instrumental tracks in Los Angeles in August 1965. Diana Ross recorded her lead vocals in Detroit the following month, supported by the background vocals of The Andantes with Pat Lewis. The twelve selections on Merry Christmas featured silky, elegant and joyful renditions of acknowledged classics like "White Christmas," "Silver Bells," "The Little Drummer Boy," "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Joy to the World," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein's Sound of Music showtune "My Favorite Things" which had been adopted by numerous pop artists as a holiday song following its stage debut in 1959.
A host of future classics rounded out Merry Christmas. Most notably, "My Christmas Tree" introduced a fresh young songwriter recently signed to Motown's publishing arm on the west coast. His name was Jimmy L. Webb, and the beautifully bittersweet reflection became the first published composition from the future author of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman," and countless other melodies which have enriched the American songbook. Webb would, of course, go on to helm a vastly underrated 1972 LP for The Supremes, then consisting of Mary Wilson, Jean Terrell and Lynda Laurence. Fuqua himself co-wrote the effervescent, spiritual "Children's Christmas Song" which found Diana inviting Berry Gordy's children Joy, Berry and Terry, and Miss Ross' own brother Chico, to join the sing-along chorus (actually sung by The Andantes). Motown's ballad specialist Ron Miller ("For Once in My Life," "A Place in the Sun," "Touch Me in the Morning") contributed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me," later to be recorded by Stevie Wonder on his Someday at Christmas - itself named for a Ron Miller song. Al Capps, arranger extraordinaire and frequent collaborator of producer Snuff Garrett, co-authored the infectious, brassy "Little Bright Star," while Don Gustafson was responsible for penning the lovely, reverent "Born of Mary."
Merry Christmas was an instant success, making it to No. 6 on the annual Billboard Christmas chart and placing alongside the illustrious likes of Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, The Beach Boys and Johnny Mathis. The Supremes would perform the single A-side "Children's Christmas Song" on Hullabaloo, memorably clad in Santa hats and their gorgeous, now-iconic gowns. (It was backed on 45 by "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" in the U.S., while "Rudolph" and "Santa Claus" were issued on 45 in some overseas locales.) The next year, they made a major impression with "My Favorite Things" on The Ed Sullivan Show in a lavish production number.
Over the years, outtakes from Merry Christmas have surfaced on various releases including the Florence Ballard-led renditions of "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night" (the latter technically a stunning Flo solo, having no background vocals). The most recent CD edition from 1999 - and reissued in 2003 as part of Universal's 20th Century Masters series - premiered "Noel" and added "The Christmas Song" and "Silent Night" (both previously issued in different mixes) as well as the Moonglows cover "Just a Lonely Christmas."
This new expanded 50th anniversary edition includes the entire original album in both mono and stereo (marking the digital debut of the distinctive mono album featuring Miss Ross' alternate vocals on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" and "My Christmas Tree") and brings together that quartet of outtakes from the 1999/2003 reissue plus "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and Flo's "O Holy Night," both previously released but now for the first time appearing on an edition of Merry Christmas. And that's not all! The dynamic duo of producers Andrew Skurow and George Solomon and executive producer Harry Weinger have filled this overflowing stocking with even more Christmas goodies! The bonus material also includes The Sherman Brothers' "It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas" from their score to Walt Disney's The Happiest Millionaire and originally recorded for The Supremes' unreleased Disney LP, and two previously unreleased tracks: an alternate version of "Silver Bells" with an additional second verse, and a live 1967 Copa performance of "My Favorite Things." And every one of the bonus tracks has been newly mixed by Kevin Reeves to reveal rich new detail in vocal and orchestration. Seth Foster has remastered all tracks, and this release also happily features a digital booklet with liner notes by Skurow, design by Solomon (incorporating beautiful full-color photos and memorabilia images), and full credits and discography.
Don't hesitate; grab your own Santa hat and get ready to celebrate a very Merry Christmas in complete style with Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard at the Amazon Digital link below (and other digital service providers). It will doubtless be one of your favorite things!
The Supremes, Merry Christmas: Expanded Edition (Motown/UMe, 2015) (Amazon U.S.)
Disc One
- White Christmas [Mono Version]
- Silver Bells [Mono Version]
- Born of Mary [Mono Version]
- Children's Christmas Song [Mono Version]
- The Little Drummer Boy [Mono Version]
- My Christmas Tree [Mono Version]
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer [Mono Version]
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town [Mono Version]
- My Favorite Things [Mono Version]
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Me [Mono Version]
- Little Bright Star [Mono Version]
- Joy to the World [Mono Version]
- White Christmas [Stereo Version]
- Silver Bells [Stereo Version]
- Born of Mary [Stereo Version]
- Children's Christmas Song [Stereo Version]
- The Little Drummer Boy [Stereo Version]
- My Christmas Tree [Stereo Version]
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer [Stereo Version]
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town [Stereo Version]
- My Favorite Things [Stereo Version]
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Me [Stereo Version]
- Little Bright Star [Stereo Version]
- Joy to the World [Stereo Version]
Disc Two
- The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
- Just a Lonely Christmas
- Noel
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Silent Night
- O Holy Night
- It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas
- Silver Bells (Alternate Version)
- My Favorite Things (Live at the Copa - May 20, 1967)
- Season's Greetings
Disc One, Tracks 1-12 from Merry Christmas (Mono), Motown M 638, 1965
Disc One, Tracks 13-24 from Merry Christmas (Stereo), Motown MS 638, 1965
Disc Two, Track 1 alternate mix first issued on The Supremes: Never-Before-Released Masters, Motown MCD 09075MD, 1987
Disc Two, Tracks 2 & 5 alternate mixes first issued on Christmas in the City, Motown 374636326-2, 1993
Disc Two, Track 3 alternate mix first issued on reissue of Merry Christmas, Motown 012 153 355-2, 1999
Disc Two, Track 4 alternate mix first issued on A Motown Christmas Carol, Motown 314530433-2, 1995
Disc Two, Track 6 alternate mix first issued on A Motown Christmas Volume 2, Motown 44001636424, 2001
Disc Two, Track 7 rec. for Diana Ross and the Supremes Sing Disney Classics, alternate mix first issued on Never-Before-Released Masters, Motown MCD 09075MD, 1987
Disc Two, Tracks 8-9 previously unreleased
Disc Two, Track 10 originally issued on promo single, 1965
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No CD available? Therefore, no album cover artwork, no informative liner notes, no information I can hold in my hand to read about what L.A. studio was used, or session musicians/arrangers involved. Very sad. Until this reaches the CD format, I have no interest. I do miss Hip-oSelect.com, and their superb Motown reissues!!
^ Yes, Joe!!! This would be a big seller - hands down! Along with Phil Spector's Christmas Album - this is the greatest! I don't know what is up but I have not purchased ANY of these digital downloads. I do, however, have every Hip-O-Select reissue etc. I think it is a grave mistake! I would have also picked up THE WIZ on disc - but F the download only biz!
Just FYI - As noted above, there is a wonderful digital booklet included with this release. It contains all of the information and credits you've come to expect from the physical Hip-o Select reissues (which were produced by the same team).
A digital booklet is no booklet at all. The thought of downloading music, and MP3 files, leaves me cold. The sound isn't the same. Also, I want a booklet I can hold in my hands, turning the pages at my leisure- and pleasure, for the joy of appreciating reissued music as well as listening to songs unheard heard by most people until now. I want to be able to take the CDs with me when I go on one of my frequent extended road trips, safe in their case and ready for play in my car stereo or at home.
Sadly, I believe the very people who'd buy this most, the serious fans of Motown, The Supremes or The Girl Group Sound, will never hear it. They'll pass this digital release up. I truly hope a CD format gets issued!
Yes, some people want better sound quality than a 256 kbs mp3 file. I hate amazon and iTunes downloads. If they have to download then why not full cd quality. Also, why not buy a CD, over time you just have to spend money on more storage space for downloaded audio. If they want to go hi res then they should release it in a physical format such as a flash drive or SD card that will play on a stereo unit. I still believe in 2 channel stereo.
I am very pleased to see this expanded edition made available just in time for Christmas. Over the years I have tracked down both the hard to find MONO vinyl version of The Supremes Merry Christmas as well as the more readily obtainable Stereo version. Now to have both digitally remixed with all the extra tracks that have been released in various collections over the years is a Supremes fan's dream come true!
The mono and stereo mixes have not been digitally remixed for this release. The original mixes have been used, but have been remastered. Only the bonus tracks are remixed.
I also would buy this and The Wiz on CD but would not purchase just a download. And what's the point of dividing the tracks into "Disc One" and "Disc Two" if there are no actual "discs" being released?!
I was wondering about that "disc" thing as I was reading it as well! Surprised they didn't split it into a "Side 1", "Side 2", "Side 3" and "Side 4" to replicate LP sides as well.
Nothing unusual there. Many fans take digital downloads and burn them to discs; numerous digital-only releases are formatted or "numbered" in the style of CDs. I could have numbered the tracks here # 1-34, but it's easier to read, too, to have the Mono & Stereo albums on "Disc One" and the bonus tracks on "Disc Two."
Unfortunately, all the ungrateful sentiment posted here and on other forums at this release will only help dissuade Universal/Motown from releasing any other Supremes expanded editions. Those of us who grew up on the Supremes and Motown have to face REALITY that this is 2015 and not 1985. CD is not the prime format anymore for making money for the music labels, it is digital... Harry Weinger, Andy Skurow, & Geroge Solomon put together this and the other Motown reissues mainly out of love for the music than money for sure. Universal, as a company, couldn't care less about music fans like us. These guys had to strategically lobby to get an okay to do and have get these projects released.
Diana Ross "Sings Songs From The Wiz" would not have seen the light of day had NBC not had last night's live broadcast of "The Wiz" This expanded Christmas release at least shows that these guys are in there trying to get stuff for us released.
Incidentally, I know that most Supremes fans have waiting for the expanded version of the 1966 album "Supremes A Go-Go" for a while, and hey, isn't next year 2016? This release could be coming to us as a deluxe edition to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the album.
Just because we are of a certain age doesn't mean we need to be negative and ungrateful.
AMEN!
I don't think the "ungrateful sentiment" will stop these releases. If people are willing to shell out money for the downloads, they will continue to be released. If not, they won't. Whining and hurt feelings on the internet are not criteria used for business decisions. Suggesting people just keep their thoughts to themselves when they feel passionately about owning a physical product isn't going to encourage Universal to release more downloads. Everyone has their own views on this and message boards would seem a place to discuss it. No one is being abusive here. Just expressing frustration with the trend away from a product they can hold.
Ever since Hip-o Select ceased to exist, we are stuck with useless digital downloads. The target audience for music of this age want physical media with creative packaging and informational booklets, like they had in abundance with Hip-o Select. I'm extremely disappointed with the direction Universal music is going with their releases. The Motown Singles box sets still are my absolute favorites. Now, Motown fans get this.
What would have been a sale is now no sale for me.
Recently, Mary Wilson was in Hollywood, selling her newest album in both CD and digital MP3 file formats. Guess which sold the most? And, Ms. Wilson signed the CD covers for her many loyal fans who were there for this special event. How do you autograph an MP3 file?
"Useless" is in the eye of the beholder.
I'm old fashioned and like a CD to hold but I know that I have to move with the times and "get with it" lol. Thank you so much to the guys that got the go ahead for the recent Diana Ross solo and the Supremes album releases, much appreciated 😁
This is great news in time for Christmas. While I would have preferred a physical cd, I choose to see the glass as half full and cannot wait to download this release tonight when I get home!
I also would prefer a physical cd release but agree with HAPPY MOTOWN FAN. I checked my earlier expanded cd I had created and found only two tracks I did not have on my Supremes Christmas album. I purchased those two for $1.29 each and created a 2015 expanded edition, made a nice cd insert with cover and used a printable blank cd for my physical need. I am not settling but accepting that I have as close to an actual release as we are likely to see for this title. Merry Christmas to all.
Another digital download only release. Meh! Never have, never will.
What the writer fails to include is that the background voices on the original released (in 1965) Christmas albums were the Andantes and NOT Mary Wilson nor Flo Ballard.
Please see Paragraph 3, Lines 3-5 above.
Is the Expancded only available as mp3? 7Digital has only a 12 track version.
The Pono music store has this expanded release in 44/16 lossloss FLAC for $21.89.
Lossy data reduced audio is poor. If Universal Music insists on doing download-only releases, why not offer a lossless full fidelity version? And offer it to people in the U.S.A. !!! (Some previous download-only Motown releases are offered in Europe as lossless audio, but those download dealers refuse to sell to customers in the U.S.A..). I will not buy Mp3 or AAC downloads. They omit 90% of the sound, leaving a hollow shell of sound; vague and with no detail, and a loss of clarity.
From now on, the only Motown archival releases that I will buy are the CD's(Admittedly by more obscure Motown artists from the 1961-64 period) from Britain's "ACE" label. They are the last remaining outlet (for previously unreleased Motown music on CD) that Universal Music is willing to permit. Check out ACE's latest various artists Motown archival CD "Love and Affection:More Motown Girls".
The bonus tracks are not especially revealing which is why they were not included on the original LP. Mary's take on "The Christmas Song" is quite good. However, what the Second Disc demonstrates better than any release is how "Small" was Diana Ross' voice yet how magnificently she used her voice! She sounds quite beautiful on several cuts and she shows she understood her voice and what it could and could not do. Gordy always knew better and this Second Disc show that in all of its marvelous details!