Reflections (The Supremes song)

"Reflections"
Single by Diana Ross & the Supremes
from the album Reflections
B-side "Going Down for the Third Time"
Released July 24, 1967 (U.S.)
Format Vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A);
March 2 and May 9, 1967
Genre Psychedelic pop, psychedelic soul
Length 2:50 (original release)
3:18 (remastered)
Label Motown
M 1111
Writer(s) Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s) Brian Holland
Lamont Dozier
Diana Ross & the Supremes singles chronology
"The Happening"
(1967)		 "Reflections"
(1967)		 "In and Out of Love"
(1967)
Reflections track listing
Music sample
"Reflections"
Alternative cover

"Reflections" is a 1967 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the first Supremes record released under the new billing, Diana Ross & the Supremes, and is among their last hit singles to be written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland (H–D–H).

The song is also among the final singles to feature Florence Ballard, who recorded vocals for this song during one of her last studio sessions before she was fired on July 1.[1] It peaked at Number Two on the United States and in the top five on the United Kingdom pop music charts in September 1967.[2]

History

Background

This single, released at the height of the Summer of Love of 1967 and the Vietnam War, was the first Supremes' release to delve into psychedelic pop; H–D–H's production of the song, influenced by the psychedelic rock sounds of bands such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys, represented a shift in Motown's pop sound during the latter half of the 1960s.[3] One of the last released 45s with Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson collaboratively singing background, the psychedelic influence is apparent in the song's arrangement, which featured relatively early use of synthesizers on a popular record.

Release and reception

"Reflections" peaked during the late summer and early fall of 1967. Making the highest debut on US Billboard pop chart the week of August 6, the song reached #2 the week ending September 9, 1967. Verging on being the group's 11th American number-one single, "Reflections" stalled at the penultimate position for two weeks behind Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe," which Diana Ross rerecorded as a solo for the Reflections album.[4] The single also peaked concurrently in the UK at #5.[5]

The first nationally televised performance to feature Ballard's replacement, Cindy Birdsong, as a member of The Supremes on American television, now billed "Diana Ross & the Supremes," was on the ABC variety program The Hollywood Palace, airing Tuesday, September 26, 1967.[6]

Track listing

  1. "Reflections" – 2:50
  2. "Going Down for the Third Time" – 2:30

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1967) Peak
position
Australia 26
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 2
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles 4
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 2
Dutch Singles Chart 3
UK Singles Chart 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1967) Rank
Canada [7] 42
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [8] 41
U.S. Cash Box [9] 21
UK [10] 42

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Mary (1988). Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme. 204: Random House Value Publishing. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-8154-1000-3.
  2. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 79 (36): 22. 1967. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Lundy, Zeth (17 August 2007). "Reflections: Motown in 1967". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  4. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. 229: Billboard Books. p. 980. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  5. ↑ Feldman, Christopher (2000). Billboard Book of Number 2 Singles. 94: Billboard Books. p. 288. ISBN 0-8230-7695-4.
  6. ↑ Host: Sammy Davis, Jr. (26 September 1967). "Sammy Davis Jr./Diana Ross & the Supremes". The Hollywood Palace. Season 5. Episode 4. Hollywood. ABC. KABC.
  7. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  9. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1967". Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  10. ↑ "Top 100 1967 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-01.

External links

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