In 1970, the Supremes were riding high with new lead singer Jean Terrell and their top 10 hit single “Up The Ladder To The Roof” while the Four Tops remained one of Motown’s classiest groups and had hit big once again with “Still Water (Love).” As Motown had done with the ’60s Supremes and the Temptations, the ’70s Supremes were brought together with the Tops, this time for a series of three albums, all of which are included on this fabulous new two-CD set, Magnificent: The Complete Studio Duets. Two of the albums appear on CD for the first time.

But that’s not all. The Supremes and Tops recorded enough for a fourth album – 11 tracks of high-quality Motown magic that also are included in this collection.

The newly formed supergroup was lovingly dubbed “The Magnificent 7,” a name that stuck and became the title of the Supremes and Tops’ first album together. Producers on the LP included Duke Browner, Clay McMurray, and Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson; Nick and Val, with Paul Riser arranging, delivered a spirited remake of “River Deep, Mountain High,” which became a worldwide hit.

Return Of The Magnificent Seven followed, with tracks – including the single “You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart” – produced by Clay McMurray, Henry Cosby, Ashford & Simpson, Johnny Bristol and Bobby Taylor. Dynamite, their final LP together, included great covers of Bread’s smash “If,” the Barbara Lewis classic “Hello Stranger,” Stephen Stills’ “Love The One You’re With,” two from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy To Come By” and “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” – and Aretha’s “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream,” among others.

Then there are the unreleased tracks: stunning remakes of “It’s Your Thing, ”Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Joy The World” and the jazz standard “Poinciana,” plus seven more that would have made up a fourth Supremes-Tops album. Also included are fresh mixes of their biggest hits together, “River Deep,” and “You’ve Got to Have Love In Your Heart.”

Magnificent: The Complete Studio Duets collection also includes a beautiful 28 page booklet stuffed with rare photos, an essay by Mark Bego with personal reminiscences from the groups and detailed annotations – another loving tribute to two Motown supergroups from Hip-oSelect.com.

DISC 1
1. Knock On My Door
2. For Your Love
3. Without The One You Love
4. Reach Out And Touch (Somebodys Hand)
5. Stoned Soul Picnic
6. Baby (Youve Got What It Takes)
7. River Deep, Mountain High
8. Aint Nothing Like The Real Thing
9. Everyday People
10. Its Got To Be A Miracle (This Thing Called Love)
11. A Taste Of Honey
12. Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music
13. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart
14. I Wonder Where Were Going
15. Call Me
16. One More Bridge To Cross
17. If You Could See Me Now
18. Ill Try Not To Cry
19. Im Glad About It
20. Lets Make Love Now
21. I Cant Believe You Love Me
22. Where Would I Be Without You Baby
23. What Do You Have To Do (To Stay On The Right Side Of Love)

DISC 2
1. Its Impossible
2. The Bigger You Love, The Harder You Fall
3. Hello Stranger
4. Love The One Youre With
5. Good Lovin Aint Easy To Come By
6. Melodie
7. If
8. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You
9. Dont Let Me Lose This Dream
10. Do You Love Me Just A Little, Honey
11. Function At The Junction
12. Hold On To Me
13. When Im With You
14. Chain Reaction
15. You Aint Livin Till Youre Lovin
16. Bring Back Your Love
17. I Had A Dream
18. Poinciana
19. Its Your Thing
20. Joy To The World
21. Gimme Some Lovin
22. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart (2009 Mix)
23. River Deep, Mountain High (2009 Mix)

It's nice that Hip-O is getting into high gear with the Motown sets, then it's not so vital that we get the Japanese mini sleeves.

My only complaint about Hip-O Select's Motown product, is that as each month goes by, it becomes more Likely that "The Complete Motown Singles" Vols. 12A & 12B......are not to be. By that point, much of the "Motown" music was being recorded in L.A. anyhow.

Phil, they said that they would only do boxes of the Hitsville, Detroit years. So 1972, or whenever it was that they moved to LA, would be the cut-off point.

What would make anyone think they won't make good on their plan to release TCMS through '72?

Because they(Hip-O Select) originally said that there would be a Vol.12A & 12B, and these sets(which they intended to release in 2009 for the 50th anniversary of Motown) would mark the end of the series.

True, but I wouldn't take their inability to release the final sets on time to mean that they are never coming. Weren't we supposed to see a lot of Motown releases from them this year- Stevie Wonder, Supremes, Isleys, etc? They are just dragging their feet.

Hip-o Select also released The Supremes "This Is The Story, The 70's Albums: Vol. 1, 1970-1973" in 2006. Almost 3 years later, I was starting to give up hope that Vol. 2 would ever see the light of day. However, a friend of mine recently heard from someone at Motown who reassured him that Vol. 2 will be coming out later this year or early next year. As a music collector for many years, I have come to accept that release dates change! I'd think if Hip-O Select there would be Volumes 12A and 12B, then they will release them, though perhaps not as originally planned. Incidentally, there are still 5 months left to the year, so they could still come out!

It's been a mere seven months since the last Motown Singles set came out. Is that really cause for alarm? Harry Weinger said repeatedly that they will release everything through the end of 1972. I see no reason to doubt him.


Glad to read about this new Supremes/Four Tops set - I'm on it!

This is now available for pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M2N9LG/?tag=imwan-20

Guess what showed up yesterday at 'Rama? The price was right!

I can never seem to get a definitve answer to any of my Motown questions when contacting the folks at Hip-O. Even Harry Weinger, who is always prompt in replying to personal e-mails is vague when discussing the proposed Motown50 rollout (with the anniversary year almost at a close).

I'm not so concerned about Vols. 12A & 12B in the series. Motown's final year of operation before completely closing down the Detroit offices was in late 1972, so I'm certain we'll see those final boxes. Rather, it's the rest of the planned rollout that's lagging behind; most important for me (of course) are the three box sets that comprise the Supremes' entire 1960's output - their catalog STILL in severe disarray. Stevie Wonder's 60's output was also promised, but they have already been released as SHM-CD Mini-LP's in Japan (along with Marvin Gaye's 60's output) if you want them. Other titles on the original list (Marvelettes, Miracles and Michael Jackson solo) have since appeared, so I continue to wait for them to concentrate on their "flagship" group (i.e. "The Girls" as Ed Sullivan called them). Just the same, poorly executed campaign.