The romantic and sentimental "Your Heart Belongs to Me," written by
Smokey Robinson, should have been
the Supremes' first hit. It's every bit as charming as his chartbusters for
Mary Wells.
Diana Ross' sweet tender lead, assisted by
Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard's warm harmonies, could melt icebergs.
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. "I Want a Guy," their first recording, had been done by
the Marvelettes -- the backing voices are buried, and
Ross' voice sounds whiny and high-pitched. This song, along with the '50s-sounding "He's Seventeen," are the only bummers. Ballard shines again on "Let Me Go the Right Way," delivering a tough vocal on top of
Ross and
Wilson's enthusiastic vocals. "Time Changes Things," written by
Brian Holland,
Lamont Dozier, and
Janie Bradford, was a forerunner to later efforts by
Holland-Dozier-Holland. Blues lovers will relish the torching "Play a Sad Song." "Never Again" is straight '50s doo wop; if you didn't know, you would think it was
the Chantels. ~ Andrew Hamilton