Hip-O Select's The Complete Studio Duets rounds up the recordings the Supremes made with the Four Tops after Jean Terrell took over for the departed Diana Ross: 1970's The Magnificent 7, its 1971 sequel The Return of the Magnificent 7, 1971's Dynamite, and 13 bonus tracks, 11 of which are previously unreleased. Neither the Supremes nor the Four Tops were at a commercial peak when producer Frank Wilson brought them together for the duets, so the pairing was something of a way to goose the groups toward hits. Wilson didn't produce The Magnificent 7 -- its title a clever reference to the group's combined numbers -- having Ashford & Simpson, Duke Browner, and Clay McMurray producing four songs a piece for the LP. Apart from the opening song and lead single "Knock on My Door," the bulk of the album is devoted to glitzy covers of contemporary hits, whether it's from the Motown stable ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"), the Fifth Dimension ("Stoned Soul Picnic"), Phil Spector ("River Deep, Mountain High"), or Sly Stone ("Everyday People"). The three sets of producers mesh well, offering subtle hints of trademark flair -- particularly the lushness of the Ashford & Simpson productions -- but the focus is entirely on Jean Terrell and Levi Stubbs, who tear into these familiar tunes and make them feel like more than a Motown hits revue.
The Supremes:
- Jean Terrell - lead vocals
- Mary Wilson - vocals
- Cindy Birdsong - vocals
The Four Tops:
- Levi Stubbs - lead vocals
- Abdul "Duke" Fakir - vocals
- Renaldo "Obie" Benson - vocals
- Lawrence Payton - vocals
Magnificent - The Complete Studio Duets (2009) (CD1)
The Magnificient Seven (1970)
1 - Knock On My Door (2:19)
2 - For Your Love (2:58)
3 - Without The One You Love (3:30)
4 - Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) (4:44)
5 - Stoned Soul Picnic (3:24)
6 - Baby (You've Got What It Takes) (3:14)
7 - River Deep, Mountain High (4:51)
8 - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (2:38)
9 - Everyday People (3:00)
10 - It's Got To Be A Miracle (This Thing Called Love0 (4:10)
11 - A Taste Of Honey (3:12)
12 - Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music (3:08)
Return Of The Magnificient Seven (1970)
13 - You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart (2:49)
14 - I Wonder Where We're Going (3:01)
15 - Call Me (3:16)
16 - One More Bridge To Cross (3:05)
17 - If You Could See Me Now (3:02)
18 - I'll Try Not To Cry (2:46)
19 - I'm Glad About It (3:17)
20 - Let's Make Love Now (3:19)
21 - I Can't Believe You Love Me (3:28)
22 - Where Would I Be Without You Baby (4:31)
23 - What Do You Have To Do (To Stay On The Right Side Of Love) (2:52)
Magnificent - The Complete Studio Duets (2009) (CD2)
Dynamite (1971)
1 - It's Impossible (3:33)
2 - The Bigger You Love, The Harder You Fall (3:11)
3 - Hello Stranger (3:02)
4 - Love The One You're With (3:46)
5 - Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By (2:20)
6 - Melodie (3:12)
7 - If (3:24)
8 - If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (2:40)
9 - Don't Let Me Lose This Dream (2:31)
10 - Do You Love Me Just A Little, Honey (3:57)
Bonus Tracks
11 - Function At The Junction (2:57)
12 - Hold On To Me (2:44)
13 - When I'm With You (3:47)
14 - Chain Reaction (3:48)
15 - You Ain't Livin' Til You're Lovin' (3:19)
16 - Bring Back Your Love (3:01)
17 - I Had A Dream (3:04)
18 - Poinciana (3:59)
19 - It's Your Thing (3:39)
20 - Joy To The World (3:09)
21 - Gimme Some Lovin' (4:05)
22 - You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart (2009 mix) (3:45)
23 - River Deep, Mountain High (2009 mix) (6:31)
