Post by timmy84 on Jun 19, 2007 11:18:07 GMT -5
People nowadays when mentioning girl groups state that either the Spice Girls (who were only here for six years), TLC (ten years with the same lineup) and Destiny's Child (a reverberating row of singers) were or are the best-selling girl groups of all time.
BUT I inclined to think the Supremes are still hailed as the most successful. I mean sure, yes, TLC and Destiny's Child and the Spices rocked stadiums all over the world and sold a bajillion records but that doesn't mean trap to me.
Had it not been for all the legendary ladies of the Supremes, I don't think you'd hear of those three groups. Now I know I've been critical of the Supremes' historic achievements but that doesn't mean I don't think they're unworthy because of a lucky PR machine *coughBERRYcough* BUT I see how before the Supremes, there wasn't such a thing as longevity with girl groups on the charts. I mean, sure, the Shirrelles and the Vandellas have continued on but not in the same quantities but the Supremes were the ones who stayed charting and performing for nearly fifteen years, I think that's an accomplishment within itself.
I mean think of it:
The Supremes were the first girl group to gain international acclaim, even more worldwide based than the Shirelles - who are renowned as one of the first girl groups and one of the most successful girl groups in the early-sixties. They were the second after the Shirelles also to have their own commercial brand (white bread) and they were the only girl group who could handle the Apollo, Ed Sullivan, American Bandstand and the Copacabana at the same time almost!
And they did rival the Beatles in popularity. In fact, I think it's silly to think the Beatles were that successful during the '60s like that. Sure they changed rock music but the Supremes changed the boundaries of pop music and how it should be promoted. They were truly the first female group of their generation to mix soul with glamor and sophistication, something the Vandellas, Ronettes and Shirelles never had (since they were more street-oriented) but even with that, I think the Supremes truly were the blueprint for the girl group and they made history together for fourteen years.
Look at the accomplishments:
*33 U.S. Top 40 pop recordings between 1963's "When the Love Light Starts Shining Through His Eyes" and 1976's "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking", 30 of them reaching the Top 40 in the UK (an impressive number that not even those three groups I mentioned accomplished).
*23 U.S. Top 10 hit singles between 1964's "Where Did Our Love Go" and 1970's "Stoned Love" (23 top 10s in only SIX YEARS?!)
*15 UK Top 10 hit singles and their only number-one UK single ("Baby Love").
*The 12 number one hits they achieved at home between 1964 and 1969 (only FIVE YEARS!)
*8 Top 10 albums, 3 #1 albums and 17 Top 40 albums in the US.
*6 Top 10 albums, 2 #1 albums and 12 Top 40 albums in the UK.
I mean I can go on. Not to mention them breaking barriers in certain exclusive nightclubs from the Copacabana to Las Vegas. I don't count just the Diane-led years, I count all fifteen of these years they charted.
To put it together, this is how many songs charted between June 1962 and early 1977: 47 Billboard pop hits from 1962's "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and 1976's "You're My Driving Wheel" and 48 R&B hits between 1962's "Let Me Go the Right Way" and 1977's "Let Yourself Go". 31 of those hit the UK Top 75. And I'm sure they charted all over the world too like in Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Australia or whatever!
I don't judge who's the best-selling girl group based on album sales, when it comes to what the Supremes accomplished, there's no doubt that they are still the best-selling girl group regardless of what they say.
Right now, the RIAA lists the Dixie Chicks as the best-selling girl group ever based on their sales but history-based, I still think the Supremes are still the most successful girl group in history and nothing would change that. I'm pretty sure even Mary don't know how many hits they accomplished since those eighteen years were probably a blur even with her memoirs! LOL
Let the facts speak for itself.
BUT I inclined to think the Supremes are still hailed as the most successful. I mean sure, yes, TLC and Destiny's Child and the Spices rocked stadiums all over the world and sold a bajillion records but that doesn't mean trap to me.
Had it not been for all the legendary ladies of the Supremes, I don't think you'd hear of those three groups. Now I know I've been critical of the Supremes' historic achievements but that doesn't mean I don't think they're unworthy because of a lucky PR machine *coughBERRYcough* BUT I see how before the Supremes, there wasn't such a thing as longevity with girl groups on the charts. I mean, sure, the Shirrelles and the Vandellas have continued on but not in the same quantities but the Supremes were the ones who stayed charting and performing for nearly fifteen years, I think that's an accomplishment within itself.
I mean think of it:
The Supremes were the first girl group to gain international acclaim, even more worldwide based than the Shirelles - who are renowned as one of the first girl groups and one of the most successful girl groups in the early-sixties. They were the second after the Shirelles also to have their own commercial brand (white bread) and they were the only girl group who could handle the Apollo, Ed Sullivan, American Bandstand and the Copacabana at the same time almost!
And they did rival the Beatles in popularity. In fact, I think it's silly to think the Beatles were that successful during the '60s like that. Sure they changed rock music but the Supremes changed the boundaries of pop music and how it should be promoted. They were truly the first female group of their generation to mix soul with glamor and sophistication, something the Vandellas, Ronettes and Shirelles never had (since they were more street-oriented) but even with that, I think the Supremes truly were the blueprint for the girl group and they made history together for fourteen years.
Look at the accomplishments:
*33 U.S. Top 40 pop recordings between 1963's "When the Love Light Starts Shining Through His Eyes" and 1976's "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking", 30 of them reaching the Top 40 in the UK (an impressive number that not even those three groups I mentioned accomplished).
*23 U.S. Top 10 hit singles between 1964's "Where Did Our Love Go" and 1970's "Stoned Love" (23 top 10s in only SIX YEARS?!)
*15 UK Top 10 hit singles and their only number-one UK single ("Baby Love").
*The 12 number one hits they achieved at home between 1964 and 1969 (only FIVE YEARS!)
*8 Top 10 albums, 3 #1 albums and 17 Top 40 albums in the US.
*6 Top 10 albums, 2 #1 albums and 12 Top 40 albums in the UK.
I mean I can go on. Not to mention them breaking barriers in certain exclusive nightclubs from the Copacabana to Las Vegas. I don't count just the Diane-led years, I count all fifteen of these years they charted.
To put it together, this is how many songs charted between June 1962 and early 1977: 47 Billboard pop hits from 1962's "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and 1976's "You're My Driving Wheel" and 48 R&B hits between 1962's "Let Me Go the Right Way" and 1977's "Let Yourself Go". 31 of those hit the UK Top 75. And I'm sure they charted all over the world too like in Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Australia or whatever!
I don't judge who's the best-selling girl group based on album sales, when it comes to what the Supremes accomplished, there's no doubt that they are still the best-selling girl group regardless of what they say.
Right now, the RIAA lists the Dixie Chicks as the best-selling girl group ever based on their sales but history-based, I still think the Supremes are still the most successful girl group in history and nothing would change that. I'm pretty sure even Mary don't know how many hits they accomplished since those eighteen years were probably a blur even with her memoirs! LOL
Let the facts speak for itself.
