Meet the Supremes is the debut studio album by The Supremes, released in late 1962 on Motown. The LP includes the group's singles: "I Want a Guy", "Buttered Popcorn", "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and "Let Me Go the Right Way".

Critical reception

Andrew Hamilton for Allmusic, described "Your Heart Belongs to Me" as 'romantic and sentimental', writing it 'should have been the Supremes' first hit. It's every bit as charming as his chartbusters for Mary Wells.' Hamilton praised The Supremes' vocals, writing, 'Diana Ross' sweet tender lead, assisted by Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard's warm harmonies, could melt icebergs.' Furthermore, Hamilton praised their 'enthusiastic vocals' on "Let Me Go the Right Way". Hamilton also noted 'Ross' vocals on "Who's Lovin' You" are intense and bluesy; Wilson leads the soulful "Baby Don't Go"; and Ballard leads the raucous "Buttered Popcorn," a tune more suited for the Contours.' Stevie Chick of The Guardian, listed "Buttered Popcorn" as one of the best 10 Supremes songs. Chick expressed that Ballard was 'A bold, big-voiced belter' and described the song as 'A piece of raw, ribald soul lacking the polish that gilded their [The Supremes'] later hits'. Also, 'Ballard growls salaciously on Buttered Popcorn that her boyfriend “likes it greasy, and sticky, and salty, and gooey”, a knowingly saucy performance that somehow escaped the interference of Motown's infamous Quality Control department.' Similarly, Bonnie Stiernberg of Paste wrote 'the innuendo-laced track is not unlike buttered popcorn — salty, fluffy, and oh so good'. Contemporary reviews of "Buttered Popcorn" include a B+ from Cashbox, whilst music columnist Wayne Harada in The Honolulu Advertiser called the song 'A novelty' which 'merits attention'. On the contrary, Hamilton expressed that on their first recording, "I Want a Guy," 'the backing voices are buried, and Ross' voice sounds whiny and high-pitched', describing "I Want a Guy" and 'the '50s-sounding "He's Seventeen," as 'the only bummers'. More positively, "Time Changes Things" is noted as 'a forerunner to later efforts by Holland-Dozier-Holland', "Play a Sad Song" is described as a 'torching' ballad 'Blues lovers will relish' and the 'straight '50s doo wop' of "Never Again" drew a comparison to the Chantels. American music critic Tom Hull noted the album is 'mostly songs by Berry Gordy Jr. or Smokey Robinson,' which 'spawned four singles that went nowhere, although "I Want a Guy" and "Let Me Go the Right Way" are catchy enough.'

Track listing

All lead vocals by Diana Ross except where indicated

Side one

Side two

UK version

The 1964 UK release has a different tracklisting, featuring songs from the US album releases: Meet The Supremes and Where Did Our Love Go. It also contains the b-side "(The Man With The) Rock & Roll Banjo Band", which would later appear on The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop. Following the success of singles "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Baby Love", which peaked at number three and number one in the UK respectively, Meet The Supremes was released in the UK on Stateside (#SL 10109), whilst both singles were still in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart. Meet The Supremes debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart on December 5, 1964, rising to its peak of number 13, the following week. The album spent a total of 6 weeks in the top 20.

Side one

Side two

2010 expanded CD bonus tracks

In early 2010, Motown/Universal Records through Hip-O Select released a deluxe two compact disc edition of the album, which included both the mono and stereo versions of the album, as well as several outtakes, non-album tracks and live performances.

2010 expanded CD bonus track listing

Personnel

Singles history

Chart history