Supremes - Come See About Me

This post will end up looking a lot like the "Baby Love" post. There seems to a be a formula to these, much like the Motown hits themselves.

Mono version (2:39)

In 1964, the hit was the 45 version, and the 45 was mono. (That's true of pretty much every hit in 1964.)

The mono version first appeared on CD on Motown's 4-CD Hitsville USA Vol. 1 (1992), which in my opinion is one of the very best compilations ever released. Stellar track selection, and stellar sound (or as good as these early Motown dashboard-blasters will ever sound). It's also on:

• Motown's 2-CD Supremes Anthology (1995, not the 1986 collection that's also titled Anthology) - digitally identical
• Rhino's Billboard Top Pop Hits 1964 (1994) - same an analog transfer
• Hip-O Select's Complete Motown Singles Vol. 4 1964 Disc 5 (2006) - mastering is a little brash

Go with Hitsville if you want a compilation, or the 1995 Anthology if you want a Supremes set.

Stereo

I know of three different stereo mixes for "Come See About Me".

Stereo 1964 Where Did Our Love Go LP mix (2:42)

This mix starts with the drums at a slightly reduced volume, down about 12 dB in the left channel and down about -24 dB in the right channel.

It showed up first on CD on a Motown Supremes collection called Compact Command Performances 20 Greatest Hits (1983), as part of Motown's first-ever CD releases. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Motown's Motown's Biggest Pop Hits (1986)
• Time-Life's Classic Rock Vol. 3 1964 (1987 release)
• Time-Life's Rock 'N' Roll Era Vol. 12 Supremes 1963-1969 (1987)
• Motown's 16 #1 Hits From The Early '60s (1987)
• Time-Life's Classic Rock Vol. 3 1964 (1993 release)

All of the above have about the same sound quality. May as well go with the first one; I recommend Motown's Compact Command Performances 20 Greatest Hits (1983) for this mix.

Stereo 1967 Greatest Hits LP mix (2:35)

This mix start with the drums WAY down in the mix, down about -40 dB for the first few drumbeats. It also fades significantly earlier than the 1964, running only about 2:35.

I have three discs with the 1967 mix:

• Motown's 2-CD Supremes Anthology (1986, not the 1995 release)
• Motown's Supremes Greatest Hits Vols. 1 And 2 (1986)
• Motown/Silver Eagle's 3-CD Motown 25th Anniversary (copyright 1983) - sounds muddy; avoid

I recommend Motown's Supremes Greatest Hits Vols. 1 And 2 (1986) for this version.

Stereo 2003 The No. 1's album mix (2:43)

Suha Gur remixed all the Supremes tracks on The No. 1's (but not the Diana Ross solo tracks). I haven't heard it, but these remixes seem to be highly regarded.

I will edit this initial post as needed to incorporate any additional info that turns up downstream in this thread.

Edited by crapfromthepast

I have a version that starts with the drums at full volume. It sounds great, even
though that's how it never originally appeared. I believe its from a 2007
Japanese remastering of the original LP.

https://www.discogs.com/The-Supremes-Where-Did-Our-Love-
Go/master/212735

Also, if you listen carefully, the 45 and original LP versions even though they
start at a reduced volume, have the first drum beat intact. The 1967 GH
version (and the version from "#1s") I can't hear it.

Edited by davidclark

Hey Ron:

You never make mention of the Hip-o-select Where Did
Our Love Go (40th Anniversary Edition).

Hip-O Select ‎– B0003696-02

It includes both mono and stereo versions on the first
disc with other session material and a concert on the
second. Almost all of their chart albums were given
this treatment. They were limited and the Hip-o-select
defuncted but that's really the place to start with
their catalog over the early cd pressings.

What version do you think was used on the 1986
twofer Where did our love go/I hear a symphony (Motown
MCDO8005MD) which was a US version but made in Japan
at the dawn of cd distribution?

Edited by AutumnAarilyn

crapfromthepast wrote: I like the Supremes just fine, but I'm not going to pay $176.83 for any CD.

I think the Supremes sources you choose are inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Now if anyone has it and wants Ron to listen to it I don't think he would object, but I wouldn't pay that cost either for a CD.

crapfromthepast wrote: That sounds like a great collection! But here's what Discogs says as of tonight: "4 For Sale from $176.83" I like the Supremes just fine, but I'm not going to pay $176.83 for any CD. The Hip-O Select (and Rhino Handmade before them) discs are great, but are all rare and expensive. I can't really recommend them to any of us collectors.

Available as a flac download on Qobuz for $35. All
those Supremes deluxe editions are still available as
downloads.