Welcome to the tenth edition of the Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the number one song on the Billboard charts from 50 years ago and reflect on the music of the past. Today we'll be taking a look at the song 'Someday We'll Be Together' as performed by Diana Ross & The Supremes. If you've never heard the song, or could use a reintroduction, you can take a listen to the song here.
'Someday We'll Be Together' was originally recorded by the group Johnny & Jackey in 1961, and was written by Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers and Harvey Fuqua. When the Tri Phi record label for which the song was recorded was purchased by Mo-Town later into the 1960s, the songwriting team also moved to the Detroit powerhouse, with Beavers subsequently leaving for Chess records.
We fast forward to 1969, where Johnny Bristol had created a new arrangement and instrumental backing track of the song, originally intended to be given to Jr. Walker & The All-Stars. However, when Berry Gordy heard the new arrangement, he thought it would be perfect for the solo debut of his superstar and love interest, Diana Ross. Unfortunately, Diana proved to be pretty uncomfortable performing the song in the studio, and required encouragement from Bristol, whose ad libs and words were captured on Ross' vocal take. In the end, this was eventually marketed as the final Supremes single, even though no other member of the group made any vocal contribution.
It's very easy to see that this is during the end of the Supremes life cycle, as Berry Gordy is focusing exclusively on Diana Ross, not even giving the other members backing vocals. It also has a bit of a bittersweet finality to it, both in lyrical content and in sound, contributing more to the feeling that the group's demise had come. As a song, it's okay I guess. A little too mid paced and sentimental for my taste, as I generally like my Mo-Town hits on the upbeat and bouncy side. That may be why Gordy made this the final Supremes single and not Ross' debut; that would be a pretty unexciting first song and not exactly starting a solo career on the best foot.
It also feels fitting that this song with its sense of closure would be the final number one single of 1969, and though the song had been released in October, it took until New Year's Eve time to reach that spot.
So, that's it for Golden Nuggets for a minute. I'll be back soon with the first number one of 1970, 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' by B.J. Thomas, but until then, I'll be trying to pump out some 2019 year end lists. I've decided against a decade list since that'd be a lot of me rehashing my old year end lists. Until next time.
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