By STONE LOVE (24.30.124.189) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 08:57 pm:

MOTOWN 45 WAS A HIT FROM THE START.FRIST WAS THE SUPREMES MARY WILSON CINDY BIRDSONG WITH KELLY ROWLAND OF DESTINY'S CHILD.AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THEY LOOK GOOD AND THEY SOUND GOOD.SINGING A 60s SUPREMES MEDLEY YOU KEEP'S ME HANG'IN ON. BABY LOVE. YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE.STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE.MARY WILSON WAS SUPREME AS ALWAYS.AND THE RETURN OF CINDY BIRDSONG ALL I CAN SAY CINDY DON'T STOP SINGING.AND FOR KELLY ROWLAND A SUPREME FOR ONE NIGHT SHE WAS GREAT.I MUST SAY KELLY SOUND SO GOOD SINGING WITH MARY AND CINDY.AS MUCH AS I WOULD HAVE LIKE TO SEE SHERRIE PAYNE DIANA ROSS JEAN TERRELL LYNDA LAURENCE SUSAYE GREEN SING WITH MARY WILSON AND CINDY BIRDSONG IT WAS STILL A GREAT PERFORMANCE WITHOUT THEM.(DIANA WAS NOT MISSED) LIONEL RICHIE OPEN THE SHOW WITH ALL NIGHT LONG AND LATER CAME BACK WITH KELLY ROWLAND TO SING ENDLESS LOVE AND AGAIN KELLY WAS GREAT.SMOKEY ROBINSON SING JUST TO SEE HER.JERMAINE JACKSON SING I'LL BE THERE WITH NICK LACHEY.THELMA HOUSTON'S DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY. WHAT A SHOW STOPPER. WAYNE BREADY SING SIEVIE WONDWR'S SUPERSTITON.WAYNE WAS VERY GOOD WITH DANCER.BRAIN MCNIGHT PUT A NEW STAMP ON MARVIN GAYE'S WHAT'S GOING ON?(ALSO WITH DANCERS) MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS(LOIS REEVES DELPHINE REEVES)SING DANCING IN THE STREET.THEY SEEMED TO BE HAVING FUN.THE FOUR TOPS HAD THE PEOPLE STANDING BUT I WAS NOT READY FOR GLADYS KNIGHT NEITHER ONE OF US. WHAT A GREAT VOICE GLADY HAS.LET ME KEEP IT REAL GLADY NIGHT TURN MOTOWN 45 OUT.THE FINAL ACT WAS ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SINGING AIN'T NO MOUNTIAN HIGH ENOUGH .WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY MOTOWN 45 WAS A PHENOMENOL SHOW.THE BAND(WHAT A BAND)THE DANCERS STAGE DESIGN THE SOUND SYSTEM.THE WHOLE SHOW WAS GREAT.I WANT TO SAY TO THE PRODUCERS OF THE SHOW LIKE JOHN HAMLIN AND TISHA SEIN JOB WELL DONE.SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO DEAL WITH THE NEGATIVE THINGS(AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).NO WE CAN'T GO BACK TO MOTOWN 25(AND IT WAS GREAT)BECAUSE PEOPLE CHANGE FOR WHAT EVER REASON YOU JUST MOVE ON. BECAUSE LIFE GO'S ON.PEOPLE(MOST NEGATIVE PEOPLE)CAN SAY THIS PERSON COULD HAVE BEEN THERE OR THAT PERSON SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.I'M JUST HAPPY THAT IT WAS A MOTOWN 45.
MOTOWN 45 WAS BRILLIANT.
PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCES LIKE BERRY GORDY MICKEY STEVENSON CLAUDETTE ROBINSON FREDA PAYNE SHERRIE PAYNE BRENDA HOLLOWAY KIM WESTON TELMA HOPKINS OLLIE WOODSON JANIE BRADFORD BETTY KELLY AND MANY MANY MORE.

By STONE LOVE (24.30.124.189) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 09:02 pm:

P.S MABLE JOHN WAS ALSO THERE.

By Shawn1b (65.30.15.198) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 10:18 pm:

Stonedlove you seem have the best review of the show most of the people are claiming that Kelly with The Supremes was a disaster and That Martha didn't sound good and the only two people who were good were Smokey and Gladys .But I just couldn't believe that because from the photo's I saw it seemed as tho The Supremes and Martha were throwing down as well as everybody else .Some people made fun of Lionel saying he didn't sound good either so I am very glad to come across your review !Boy wished I could have been there !Shawn

By 8supremes (209.221.223.105) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 01:14 am:

I was there too and thought the show was great!!! The Supremes tribute featuring Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong, and Kelly Rowland was fantastic and lots of fun to watch. They had on fabulous form fitting short gowns, and all looked extremely beautiful, especially Cindy Birdsong!!!! Cindy looked like she did in 1975!!!! She was all smiles, and appeared to be happy to be in the spotlight again. Vocally I thought they all sounded very good. Kelly performed "You Keep Me Hangin'On" Mary Sang "You Can't Hurry Love" Cindy sang part of "Baby Love" with Kelly, Mary and Kelly shared the lead on "Stop In The Name Of Love." Mary and Cindy both came out for the finale and had changed outfits. Cindy was wearing a Black Cocktail dress with a Yellow embroidered silk long fitted overcoat (she looked fantastic!) and Mary wore a black business suit outfit that was very fitted and very short(She has great legs!)

By Andy Skurow (205.188.117.14) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 02:07 am:

When I arrived at the Shrine Friday afternoon to watch rehearsals, I had no idea that I was simply going to be blown away. Everyone looked and sounded great. One by one, they each managed to take my breath away.

Watching Smokey rehearse, or say Mary and Cindy with Kelly. They tore it up, it was wonderful, and very surreal. A special moment during rehearsals (okay they were all special), was when Lionel Richie and Kelly Rowland rehearsed Endless Love. She kept giggling and couldn't look at him. When the song hit an instrumental break, she started jumping up and down, "I can't believe I'm singing with Lionel Richie!!!" it was a great moment. What a dream come true this must have been for her.

Later that evening, the Temptations, who taped early due to a previous engagement, did their segment with an audience who came in just to see them. Ron Tyson and G.C. Cameron were fantastic. Ollie Woodson was in the audience supporting the guys.

Then, on Sunday, came final dress rehearsal and the taping. Backstage, all the artists were hanging out and chatting. It was mesmerizing just to look around: Jermaine Jackson here, Macy Gray there, Mary Wilson and Michael McDonald engrossed in conversation, the Funk Brothers hanging out, former Motown employees like Bob Jones, Lamont Dozier or Georgia Ward came to say hello and show support, key Motown supporters like Alan Slutsky or Mark Bego, everyone was just there, calm and cool, but the energy - off the charts. It was wonderful, and I'm still not sure how I didn't explode from the excitement.

The taping was fantastic. Brian Holland's daughter sat to my left. Claudette Robinson, Janie Bradford and Brenda Holloway to my right, Mable John behind me. Freddie Gorman two rows ahead. They could have cancelled the taping, and I wouldn't have cared. This was sheer heaven.

The performances were strong, the show great. Lionel Richie looks like he found a way to reverse the aging process. Contrary to the review about Kelly Rowland, she was incredible. Maybe he heard something I didn't. I'll have to wait and see the show. How will it look on TV? I have no idea. What I do know, is that sitting in the audience, we were having one serious party.

We all have different opinions of what the show was or should have been. So for those who were concerned with whom was there or not there, it wasn't what the taping was all about. Was it the entire Motown family, no, but it was the vision of a group of people who succeeded in putting on a great show. Smokey Robinson addressed it before introducing Berry Gordy.

Discussing the show afterward, we all agreed, it was great, but if you had to find the highlight, Gladys Knight tore it up. She is amazing.

The after party had a different tone, the excitement contained before the show was unleashed after the show. Everyone was buzzing. The amazing HW was there, looking exceptionally cool and talking to biographer David Ritz who looked ultra sharp. Scherrie Payne looked like a million dollars. Kim Weston, Brian and Eddie Holland, Nona and Jan Gaye were talking and taking pictures.

The reviews are mixed. Okay, it's not Motown 25, but then again, it's not Motown 30 either. For me, it was pure magic, and an experience I'll never forget. Enjoy the show when it airs in May.

As Claudette Robinson said, "I guess we'll have to start planning Motown 50 right now."

By STONE LOVE (24.30.124.189) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 02:39 am:

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ANDY SKUROW FOR YOUR OPINIONS ON MOTOWN 45.WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS THE REVIEWS GO'S.HOLLAND DOZIER HOLLAND WAS ALSO THERE.ANDY YOU WERE RIGHT AGAIN SHERRIE PAYNE DID LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLORS.
MOTOWN 45 WHAT A NIGHT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

By STONEWALL (68.237.93.170) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 11:00 pm:

Question for Soulful Detroiters who were at the M-45 show:

Did any of U ask or simply find out thru the Motown grapevine at the location why some of the Motowners were in the audience instead of performing on the M-45 stage, such as:
* BRENDA HOLLOWAY, e.g., "You've Made Me So Very Happy", written by BH and #1 by B.S.T., this song appeals across-the-board and to all ages.
* SCHERRIE PAYNE, e.g., should have been w/ her 2 SUPREMES bandmates on stage leading the medley of D.R.S. #1 hits instead of by an uncomfortable, ill-suited non-Supreme!
* KIM WESTON, e.g., the show lacked any solo female classic Motowner performing (tho a G.K.P. group song, they soloed GLADYS on her 1st song and on 2nd song was w/ PIPS; THELMA was disco on this show).

Certainly, some of U must have heard or found out something. Let us know!

By Spookey (198.81.26.103) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 11:50 pm:

Haven't anyone reported on the performance of Martha Reeves & Her Sisters??

I'm shocked that Shawn hasn't wrote something on it, come on Sunshine!!

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 03:47 am:

Stoned Love, it appears that U may be so "stoned" that U can't even get your name correct! THE SUPREMES 1970 #1 song is "STONED Love" not STONE Love. So it comes as no surprise, sad as it is, that having misstated your own name (puh-leaze, no excuses) you'd also misrepresent the biggest, overriding fact of the evening of the filming of "Motown 45": DIANA ROSS was greatly missed -- by everyone (except perhaps U, which I doubt)! In fact, one of the most relayed reviews of the show had the following big, bold, bad headline: "If we ever missed Diana Ross, it was this evening at Motown 45". And the actual M-45 t.v. show (on May 17) will miss her, too, and much more as they will have millions less viewers w/ no Miss Ross. Yet, U falsely and ridickulously -- albeit parenthetically -- wrote above in the first post on this file that: "Diana wasn't missed".

Diana not missed? That is simply a falsehood and U know it and U should be ashamed of yourself! How could U write such a lie, especially to fellow members of the S.D. Forum? Did U poll the people? Did U ask BERRY GORDY, the father of a daughter w/ Diana? Did U ask the 2 lonely SUPREMES? No one was sorrier not to see Diana there than the girlz. Did U ever think of the publicity they lost, besides the factor of reuniting with someone who brought them so much fame and glory and money and friendship? U don't have to be smart to know that Diana would have been the highlight of the show and if she reunited with THE SUPREMES, it would have been the talk-of-the-world. The buzz would have been supreme leading up to the t.v. show. The t..v. network could have gotten more dollars for show advertisers with Diana. Without Diana, there is no buzz, less viewers, less money!

Why, if it weren't for the Queen of Motown's provisions, Stoney, U wouldn't even have your name -- either one of them. Bi the way, maybe U should change it to another post-Diana Supremes song, "Bad Weather".

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 03:55 am:

Oh, Spookey, yes, I'll report something on, as U stated, MARTHA REEVES & HER SISTERS. They sang and performed "We Are Family (I've Got All My Sisters With Me)". U'd really go crazy w/ TAVARES. I believe all 5 are brothers. Shawn and I will also ensure that Miss Reeves gets a copy of your posting. "Bless U".

By Love Child (209.42.40.145) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 10:01 am:

OMG Stonewall I'm a big Diana Ross fan but please don't get carried away. Yes..I agree she was missed at the Motown 45 taping without a doubt. But I take exception that you would even suggest the "other 2 Supremes" or "the girlz" as you refer to them are "lonely". They do have names by the way: Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong (for those who have forgotten).

Another thing, Diana DID NOT bring them neither FAME nor MONEY nor GLORY, those were acheived as a GROUP when the GROUP was known as THE SUPREMES. DIANA ROSS wouldn't be where she is today if it weren't for THAT GROUP's achievments. She didn't do it ON HER OWN.

Let's get things into perspective here, if Mary and Cindy were "that needy and that lonely" they would have jumped at the chance to reunite with her in 2000, no matter what Diana was offering them. Did that happen? NO. Why? Because THEY DIDN'T NEED TO.

I love Diana Ross but I can't stand when people slam Mary, Cindy or even Florence (RIP) at her expense, it just isn't necessary.

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 10:43 am:

Wait. Wait a minute. I did not "slam" Mari or Cindy. On the contrary! Only U would think that from the posts. However, there are very few people in this big old world who really believe that Diana would not have made it as big as she has with or without The Supremes. U can't hold back great talent. If it is still not clear to U, do U think that Judy Garland would not have made it w/o her start w/ The Gumm Sisters?

As far as the 2000 Return To Love tour, the ONLY reason that the girlz (as is commonly and politely referred to, ask the archive of Ed Sullivan) did not reunite for the tour is because of all the lawyers, accountants, lawyers, CPAs, lawyers, promoters, lawyers, managers, lawyers and, did I mention, attorneys? It is disingenuous for U to imply that Mary and Cindy were not interested when their representatives, as in lawyers, negotiated for quite some time. The lawyers ruined it for the DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES reunion concert tour.

"Lonely" refers to on stage. U are splitting wig hairs. "Lonely" as in missing an actual third Supreme whether it was Diana, Jean or Scherrie.

It's queer that U choose as your moniker a Supremes song, "Love Child", in which The Supremes do not even sing!! Very telling, indeed. FYI, I, like most people, luv all of The Supremes.

By Love Child (209.42.40.145) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 12:00 pm:

LOL....I have not now or ever worn a wig! But I digress.

I chose the username of Love Child only because it is my favorite Supremes song. Mary and Cindy may not have been in the studio when it was recorded but they did sing it live on many occasions while they were in the group.

I could have chosen "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" as my user name, but that would take me an eternity to type out everytime I would go to post on this board.

As far as slamming, I wasn't referring to you per se, It was in general.

As far as the Judy Garland reference is concerned that one went way over my head..I'm not familiar with her outside "The Wizard of Oz" so I'm not touching that one.

All I'm saying is that there would be no DIANA ROSS as we know her today if it weren't for her start with THE SUPREMES. This is NOT to negate her TALENTS but those TALENTS would not have been discovered if she hadn't started out recording with THEM.

By Juicefree20 (141.149.40.232) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 04:28 pm:

What's up folks? Stoney, Stoney, Stoney! I see that you're at it again. Man, I love it, you guys are too much Both you & Love Child have made some very good points here. I just wish that the Supremes circa 1968 cold put the bull & Divaship behind them & give the fans what they truly want to see. Could you imagine the explosion that would occur if Diana, Mary & Cindy graced the stage together again? There would be a tremendous outpouring of love that even they wouldn't believe. When you consider that many of their original fans are beginning to realize their mortality, plus the fact that we've lost so many artists from that period lately, there would such an outpouring of love that would probably equal, if not surpass that of their glory days.

However, there would have to be a better distribution of the funds between the three & all of them should be able to shine equally. As we've seen, people love all three of the Supremes from that period. I feel that as Diana's had more than her share of fame, she should be magnanimous enough to share the glory & let the girls shine a bit more. They're heading down the back nine & they're missing a tremendous opportunity here. If they fail to get this together, it will be everyones loss

Peace
Juice

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 04:48 pm:

Luv Child,

No one will mess w/ us! I agree w/ all that U said.

Out of about 35 D.R.S. singles, "LC" is my '2nd best', seriously.

SW

P.S. What about as a name "Lovelight"?

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 05:03 pm:

Actually, Mr. Juicey Free, it's Supremes circa 1967 (not '68, butt U were thisclose).

Otherwise, and no surprise here, I agree with everything U said.... especially about the mortality.

That's why The Beatles should have had their reunion in 1980 exactly 10 years after they split, as the public urged and begged. After that point, it very soon was too late. Oh, those stubborn Brits. Don't let that happen to the biggest selling American group: The Supremes!!! "Stop! In The Name Of Love (Think It Oh-O-ver)". While all 3 of U are ready, willing and able, reunite as soon as possible girlz!!! U promised, "Someday We'll Be Together".


www.STONEWALLvets.org/songsofStonewall-6.htm

By Love Child (209.42.40.145) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 05:49 pm:

LOL....Thanx for the name suggestion Stoney but I'll stick to my Love Child...LOL.

But yes I would have to agree with you and Juicyfree... I would love to see a reunion of Di, Mary and Cindy, especially since I was only a little baby when they were taking the world by storm back in the day.

And believe it or not I only just got to see their TCB special for the first time last week and was completely blown away..especially that opening number. But I've been a big fan of Diana Ross ever since my cousin dragged me down to the local cinema to see "Mahogany".

So you could actually say I was a Diana Ross fan first and then later a Supremes fan.

Bye the way Stoney I love your site great stuff...keep up the good work.

By STONEWALL (68.237.107.94) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:44 pm:

Why thank U, Love Child. And, 'Mama' in D.R.S.'s "I'm Livin' In Shame" forgives U. Oh, was that song h-o-t at The Stonewall. No one could imagine how they could follow-up "Love Child" butt they sho 'nuff did. Actually, while U were just a very little "Child" in '69, I -- as an underaged teenager -- was dancing up a storm to DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES' "No Matter What Sign U Are" (my Top 5 DRS) in The Stonewall. Bi the way, when "T.C.B." came out on t.v., The Stonewall was raging on. "TCB" was the "talk of the town" -- especially over "Betsy" ROSS! and her being surrounded by "Temptations". The Dreams, oh, that's another group!

If U ever have any suggestions for the S.V.A. website re: "Songs of The Stonewall", U can let me know. Many classic Motown artists have seen it. The Girl Groups ruled at The Stonewall!