High Energy (album)

Infobox Album
Name = High Energy
Type = Album
Artist = The Supremes


Released = April 1, 1976
Recorded = 1975-1976
Genre = Soul/disco
Label = Motown
M 863S1
Length = 26:10
Producer = Brian Holland
Edward Holland, Jr.
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:la9hs30ba39g~T00 link]
Last album = "The Supremes"
(1975)
This album = "High Energy"
(1976)
Next album = "Mary, Scherrie & Susaye"
(1977)

"High Energy" is a 1976 album by The Supremes released on the Motown label. The first album since 1968's "Reflections" to include four Supremes members, it also is notable for featuring the last Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 pop hit for the group, "I'm Gonna Let My Heart do the Walking".

Overview

The penultimate studio album released by the group, The Supremes began recording "High Energy" in December 1975, when its lineup consisted of Scherrie Payne, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong. Birdsong left the group in February 1976, and her replacement, Susaye Greene, was overdubbed on 2 tracks, including "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking". Greene also assumed lead vocal duties on the title track.

Lead vocals on the other tracks were split between original group member Mary Wilson and Scherrie Payne. Wilson takes the lead on the album's ballads "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You", "Till the Boat Sails Away", and "I Don't Want to Lose You". Wilson and Payne split the lead vocal duties on "You're What's Missing in My Life", opening up the dance numbers "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking", "You Keep Me Moving On" and "Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)" for Payne. "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" was the album's sole single release. In the United States, the single reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the final Top 40 single release for The Supremes.

Alternate mixes of "High Energy" and of "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" appeared on the Supremes' "The 70s Anthology" compilation. "Room At The Top" was also recorded during the sessions, but Eddie Holland felt that the song didn't fit with the feel of the remainder of the album. This track also surfaced on "The 70s Anthology". Demo tracks of "High Energy", "You Keep Me Moving On" and "Till The Boat Sails Away" featuring Cindy Birdsong on lead vocals exist, and could be released one day.

Track listing

Side one

#"High Energy" - 5:25
#"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" - 3:33
#"Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)" - 3:04
#"You Keep Me Moving On" - 3:35

Side two

#"Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" - 4:59
#"Till The Boat Sails Away"/"I Don't Want To Lose You" - 8:03
#"You're What's Missing in My Life" 3:56

Personnel

* Scherrie Payne: lead vocals and background vocals
*Mary Wilson: lead vocals and background vocals
*Cindy Birdsong: lead vocals and background vocals
*Susaye Greene: lead vocals and background vocals
*Brian Holland: producer
*Edward Holland, Jr.: executive producer

Singles history

*"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" b/w "Early Morning Love" (b-side taken from "The Supremes") (Motown 1407, March 16, 1976)

Chart history