- New Ways but Love Stays
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New Ways But Love Stays Studio album by The Supremes Released October 1970 [1] Recorded 1970 Genre Soul, Pop Length 31:12[1] Label Motown
MS 720Producer Frank Wilson The Supremes chronology The Magnificent 7
(with Four Tops)
(1970)New Ways But Love Stays
(1970)The Return of the Magnificent Seven
(with Four Tops)
(1971) Misc =Singles from New Ways but Love Stays - "Stoned Love"
Released: October 15, 1970
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [2] New Ways But Love Stays is a 1970 album by the Jean Terrell-led version of The Supremes. Building on the foundation of the group's first LP, Right On, New Ways was produced by Frank Wilson and features The Supremes' most successful single with Terrell, "Stoned Love". The Sly & the Family Stone-inspired plea for peace and love was written by Wilson and a Detroit teenager named Kenny Thomas. The song's title, read by many entertainment executives as a double-edged drug reference, prevented the song from making an impact in some areas; for example, footage of The Supremes performing the number was edited out of a November 1970 episode of The Merv Griffin Show. However, the song still was a huge success on the charts, reaching number 7 on the Billboard hot 100, and number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Also a huge smash hit in Europe and the UK, "Stoned Love" sold 2.4 million copies worldwide.
New Ways But Love Stays was originally titled Stoned Love after its hit single; the controversy over the song's name prevented this from occurring. Another change that befell the project was the alteration of the original album cover. The original design used a photograph which depicted the three Supremes in Afros and black turtlenecks, giving them a Black power look. Apparently feeling that such a look would go against the Supremes' established "glamour girl" image, Motown's final cover for New Ways But Love Stays includes one of the Black power photos, but it is inset within a circle and surrounded by additional inset pictures of the three Supremes in their more familiar gowns.
Besides its notable hit single, the album also includes several notable album tracks, such as "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" (a Spinners cover), and "It's Time To Break Down". "It's Time To Break Down" is today recognized as a minor "dusty groove" classic, and was sampled by hip hop producer DJ Premier for the Gang Starr song "JFK 2 LAX", included on the 1998 LP Moment of Truth.
New Ways also features covers of then-current hits by Simon & Garfunkel ("Bridge Over Troubled Water"), The Beatles ("Come Together"), and Steam ("Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)"). This album is also the first to feature lead vocal lines by Cindy Birdsong, on "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
Contents
Track listing
- "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" (Martin Coleman, Richard Drapkin)
- "Stoned Love" (Yennik Samoht, Frank Wilson)
- "It's Time to Break Down" (Ellean Hendley, Wilson)
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Paul Simon)
- "I Wish I Were Your Mirror"
- "Come Together" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
- "Is There a Place (In His Heart for Me)"
- "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" (Paul Leka, Dale Frashuer, Gary DeCarlo)
- "Shine on Me"
- "Thank Him for Today" (Vincient DiMarco, Wilson)
Credits
- Jean Terrell: lead vocals and background vocals
- Mary Wilson: lead and background vocals
- Cindy Birdsong: lead and background vocals
- Frank Wilson: producer except Is There A Place
- Clay MacMurray: producer Is There A Place
Chart history
Chart Peak
positionU.S. Billboard 200 68 U.S. Billboard R&B Albums Chart 12 References
Categories:- 1970 albums
- The Supremes albums
- Albums produced by Frank Wilson (musician)
- Motown albums
- English-language albums
- "Stoned Love"
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