- Florence Ballard (RIP 1976) - vocals (1961-67)

- Cindy Birdsong - vocals (replaced Florence Ballard)

  (1967-)

- Lynda Lawrence - vocals (replaced Cindy Birdsong) 

  (1972-)

- Barbara Martin - vocals (1961-63)

- Scherrie Payne - vocals (replaced Jean Terrell) (1974-)

- Diana Ross - vocals (1961-69)

- Jean Terrell - vocals (replaced Diana Ross) (1969-74)

- Mary Wilson - vocals

- The Bluebells (Cindy Birdsong)

- The Glass House (Scherrie Payne)

- Mary Wilson (solo efforts)

Genre: soul

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Touch

Company: Motown

Catalog: MS-737

Year: 1971

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4563

Price: $5.00

Cost: $66.00

It's unfortunate that the post-Diana Ross Supremes catalog is largely overlooked since there are quite a few efforts that match (and even surpass) some of the original line-ups outputs.  

1971's "Touch" found The Supremes (now Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell and Mary WIison) continuing their partnership with producer/writer Frank Wilson.  Musically this one's a mild disappointment.  With WIlson and partner Pam Sawyer responsible for about half of the material, the set sported a couple of winners, though the two most commercial numbers were penned by others - Clifton Davis' 'Here Comes the Sunrise' and 'Johnny Raven'.  Okay, okay, I'll admit the Sawyer-Wilson-penned 'Happy (Is a Bumpy Ride)' was pretty good. Overall the collection simply fails to match Wilson's previous efforts with the group. 

Motown tapped the album for two marginally successful singles:

- 1971's 'Nathan Jones' b/w 'Happy Is a Bumpy Road (Motown catalog number 1182)

- 1971's 'Touch' b/w 'It's So Hard To Say Goodbye' (Motown catalog number 1190) Postscript - a young Elton John wrote the fawning back cover liner notes.

"Touch" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) This Is the Story   (Pam Sawyer - Frank Wilson) - 3:26

2.) Nathan Jones   (L. Caston - K. Wakefield) - 3:02

3.) Here Comes the Sunrise   (Clifton Davis) - 3:47

4.) Love It Came To Me This Time   (L. Caston - K. Wakefield) - 3:21

5.) Johnny Raven   (B. Page) - 3:19

(side 2)

1.) Have I Lost You   (Pam Sawyer - Leon Ware) - 2:44

2.) Time and Love   (Laura Nyro) - 4:07

3.) Touch   (Pam Sawyer - Frank Wilson) - 3:43

4.) Happy (Is a Bumpy Ride)   (Pam Sawyer - Frank Wilson) - 3:08

5.) It's So Hard for Me To Say Goodbye   (Pam Sawyer - Frank Wilson) - 3:16

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Supremes

Company: Motown

Catalog: M6-828S1

Year: 1975

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4497

Price: $5.00

Cost: $66.00

Geez, when are The Supremes no longer The Supremes?  

By the time 1975's cleverly titled "The Supremes" was released the line up consisted of Cindy Birdsong, Cherrie Payne and Mary Wilson.  Without wanting to sound overly cynical, the three were essentially hired guns brought on board in an effort to reinvigorate The Supremes name plate.  While all three were decent singers, none was particularly distinctive and that left them at the mercy of outside songwriters and producers.  In this case, they were teamed  with a staggering six separate production teams, including Hal Davis, Brian Holland, and Michael Lloyd.  Needless to say,  the album simply bounces all over the musical spectrum.  With the exception of Terry Wodford and Clayton Ivey's 'Give Out, But Don't Give Up' (which sounded like a throwback to prime time Motown), nothing here is particularly strong, though a couple of the pseudo-dance tracks 'He's My Man', 'Early Morning Love' and 'Where Do I Go From Here' grow on you.  Elsewhere Motown tapped the album for a pair of singles:

- 1975's 'He's My Man' b/w 'Give Out, But Don't Give Up' (Motown catalog number M1358F)

- 1975's 'Where Do I Go From Here' b/w 'Give Out, But Don't Give Up' (Motown catalog number M1374F)

"The Supremes" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) He's My Man   (Greg Wright - K. Patterson) - 

2.) Early Morning Love   (H. Beatty - Brian Holland - Eddie Holland) - 

3.) Where Is It I Belong   (S. Brown III - R. Brown - E. Brown ) - 

4.) It's All Been Said Before   (Dennis Lambert - Brian Potter) - 

5.) This Is Why I Believe In You   (M.B. Sutton - Pam Sawyer) - 

(side 2)

1.) You Can't Stop a Girl in Love   (Terry Woodford - G. Soule) - 

2.) Color My World Blue   (F. Johnson) - 

3.) Give Out, But Don't Give Up   (Terry Woodford - Clayton Ivey - B. Wyrick)

4.) Where Do I Go From Here   (Eddie Holland - Brian Holland) - 

5.) You Turn Me Around  (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) -