Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland were one of the most successful songwriting and production teams of the 60s and 70s; they were staff songwriters at Motown Records who also worked with acts in the studio, and were the brains behind some of the labels biggest hits, including classics by the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Miracles, and Martha & the Vandellas. Diana Ross & the Supremes were not only one of Motowns biggest acts of the 60s, they were personal favorites of label chief Berry Gordy, so its no surprise that Holland-Dozier-Holland were often recruited to write and produce material for Motowns flagship act, and just as the title says, The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland features the labels biggest female artists singing a dozen tunes written and produced by their best behind-the-scenes talent. However, this wasnt a best-of collection, but a 1967 set dominated by fresh recordings, which means some of the Supremes most popular recordings of H-D-H compositions dont make the cut, including Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, Where Did Our Love Go, and My World Is Empty Without You. The album also features the Supremes putting their stamp on H-D-H tunes that were hits for the Four Tops (Its the Same Old Song) and Martha & the Vandellas (Love Is Like a Heat Wave), and while theres nothing wrong with these recordings, they dont quite have the same fire as the originals (Ross relatively cool approach was always part of her calling card). With a dozen great songs performed by a fine vocal group backed by an outstanding studio band, theres no way The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland could not be a good album, but it isnt quite as great as it could have been, despite a handful of excellent tracks. ~ Mark Deming

Rovi