By boynextdoor (65.238.115.186) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 09:50 pm:

I was fortunate to see the original Supremes as well as the Jean, Mary and Cindy line-up. Jean's voice always gave me chills up the spine and back down again....still does. I found her in person persona rather flat, though. Whereas, Diana was off the scale with her stage presentation. Did anyone else ever experience this?

By shawn1 (64.154.126.254) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 10:12 pm:

I think Jean could be quite Stunning when she wanted to be on stage !She wasn't over the top like Ross .But Jean was and is a great singer who really lets her voice do her talking for her .I don't think she's the entertainer Ross is .Shawn

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 11:23 am:

Jean was not the charismatic performer that Diana Ross was/is. It seemed she did not care about being the "star." However, she was a stunning vocalist. I saw both lineups many times and I never heard flatness or being off-key. My only quibble with Jean is that she would sometimes back phrase so much she was almost in another song. But her ability to do harmonies with Mary and Cindy was wonderful, taking the top, middle, or bottom when needed. It gave the Supremes the ability to produce a variant of sounds

By Marv (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:30 pm:

I saw Jean in Detroit in 1990 and was totally floored by this woman's vocal talents. After the show she was very pleasant to speak with as well.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 11:05 pm:

Michael--what does "back phrases mean?";Marv--was Jean alone or with FLos. I thought she hasnt done any solos since 70s. Her voice did not sound as strong the last time I heard it-and Ive heard that from others as well-tho she is my all time favorite vocalist.

By John Barry Sheffield (195.92.168.169) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:45 am:

I never did see Diana with The Supremes, only solo, but JEAN well her vocals and looks just knocked me out and still do!!

John

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:04 am:

I never saw the post-Diana Supremes perform live and the only time I saw the Supremes perform live was at the old Regal Theatre in Chicago when they were part of the Motortown Revue. This was in early 1963, I was 8 years old.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Vandelron:

By back phrasing I meant that Jean at times would lag way behind the beat of a song. It is particulary evident on the "Supremes Live in Japan" (Jean, Mary, Lynda) which was only released in Japan, although I found it on Ebay. I think Motown decided not to release it here for good reason. I love Jean's voice but on this album she is doing a great deal of back phrasing and seems to be throwing away the Supremes songs and then comes to life on songs that are not Supremes like Tossin and Turnin. It was towards the end of her tenure with the Supremes and she may have been over it all.

Having said all this, she was vocally an exciting addition to the group. Her work with Mary and Cindy was just superb because she had no problem being part of the harmonies and could sing anywhere within those harmonies. However, the times that I met her backstage she seemed a bit shy and withdrawn with Mary and Cindy being more personality driven. This seemed to worsen as times went on. Cindy was always sweet and caring and would say things like "did you drive here? now you drive home safely" or "what did you think of the show?" And she would sincerely be interested. And Mary is always wonderful to fans. But Jean I always sensed would rather be somewhere else or that something was bothering here. Onstage, she sang her ass off!

By kelly (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:45 pm:

cleo maybe it's just me but you seem a little
hmmm.onesided as far as the supremes go.jean
is not more off key than the other. i think
she's a delightful performer and covered
diana's spot quite nicley. wish she made more
songs after leaving the supremes.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 04:38 pm:

Kelly:

Jean is an incredible vocalist and I never said that she sang off-key. I saw the Supremes live with Jean 22 times never heard Jean sing off-key! Please read my post again. The last line says that "onstage she sang her ass off." And I am not sure what "one-sided" means. There is abolutely no question that Jean had/has a better voice than Diana.

Maybe you are referring to someone else's post? I hope so, otherwise it may mean you have a problem with my posts in general. In any event...
Peace
Michael

By kelly (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 05:26 pm:

excuse me mr cleo maybe the word you used
was (lag). whatever it was there was a
little something wrong. but i enjoy your
post. if you care to e-mail and discuss
whatever you talking bout feel free.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 05:27 pm:

Cleo/Michael:
Agreed on Jean Terrell - I felt she was a better singer in the Supremes than Diana and listening to their "Right On" album attests to the elegance of her vocals with Cindy & Mary's harmonies (also having talents like Frank Wilson & our own "poster" Clay McMurray working with them doesn't hurt, either!).

Hey, Kelly:
Do you have an issue with Cleo/Michael's posts? Your "stalking" nature is quite disturbing especially since you reacted to something Cleo/Michael never even said. It's one thing to have an opinion and a dialogue with someone continuously - it's another when someone is constantly harranged by another.

Respectfully,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (64.63.221.236) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:16 pm:

Jean Terrell was a better singer than Diana Ross hands down!!!! When it comes to the razzle dazzle and image Diana wins in that department.
I wish Jean could have had more success she reminds me of Dionne Warwick and Nancy Wilson in the stylist department though. Frank Wilson (Cleo) you are right did wonders with our 70s Supremes. The only blunder that man ever did IMO is the song Bridge Over Troubled Water on the New Ways but Love Stays album. Other than that he was great.

Mary and Cindy had harmonies that no one knew existed when this man came into the fold. When you listen to the Supremes Live In Japan Mary blends awfully well with Lynda Lawrence ....Mary Wilson can sing harmony with anyone and I have to say back then she was one of the best background singers in the business. There was not one Supreme she didnt sound great with......
Stephanie

By Motownfan (67.24.158.189) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:09 pm:

I saw Mary with all the line-ups, except with Lynda Laurence. Mary was fantastic. The last show I saw was in Ft. Lauderdale at Bachelors III with Scherrie and Susaye. They all about blew the roof off! I was also impressed with Jean and Cindy. Jean can give you chills, or did. I don't know how she sounds these days. Thank God for CD'S and memories!

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:50 pm:

One of my favorite Supremes memories is when Cindy came out first at Atlantic Citys Steel Pier and sang chorus of EGTRTLove(a song I absolutely hate but Cindy Mary and Jean made it bearable plus this day) and then Mary came out and sang chorus and then Jean--equals and magical.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:06 pm:

I saw Jean with Mary & Cindy at the Apollo X-Mas show 1970, I agree Jean didn't have much stage presence but she has more vocal talent than Diane (SMILE). Mary was a very sweet and gracios person backstage,she has a generous giving personality.

By Marv (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:03 pm:

Each and every time I've met Mary Wilson she has been wonderful. No matter where it was, Mary was always so very nice to the fans. She is a truely beautiful person. I've always felt that Jean is just a bit shy with strangers.

By Linda Di. (66.24.93.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:57 pm:

Since 1965, I've seen every incarnation of Supremes. (My personal favorite group was Mary, Scherrie and Cindy.) Jean is a great vocalist, as is Diana. In their own styles, they're both tops. But having spent time around them both, Jean always seemed uncomfortable around her fans. I believe she was a reluctant star - not wanting much to do with that aspect of the business. Of course, Diana relished that role. I understand Jean is performing on the west coast sometime in April?

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:21 pm:

From what Ive heard Diana relished the fans from afar-not in person or close to her. Correct me if Im wrong.; I dont see Jean as much different from Streisand, Aretha,etc;I guess Jean is shy and or feels off stage less free/private. Mary Wilson's charisma extends off stage as well--I think the magic of the Supremes was Diana's stage presence, Marys beauty,grace and effervescence, and Flo's charm and wit. Together-unbeatable. Ive always felt tho Mary has the most if u had to pick one or the Supremes as central-----------talent,beauty,grace,charisma.And I admire the heck out of Cindy, Flo and Diana too. Jean had the same something as Diana tho different-hence the magic of the Supremes--Mary kept it together 51% after that with some very talented women.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 02:11 pm:

LindaDi and Vandelron:

I think you both hit the nail on the head and it is what I was trying to say in my posts. One of my favorite Jean-led live performances is a version of Heaven Help Us All that they used to do. The time I saw them do it Jean actually got "happy." Cindy and Mary looked at her for a moment and then matched Jean's intensity, it was a thrilling moment.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 02:13 pm:

By the way Jean Terrell, Brenda Holloway, and Betty Wright are supposed to perform in LA on 4/27. If anyone on the West Coast goes to it I would love to hear a report.

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 04:44 pm:

Maybe Jean wanted to be a solo artist as I think she was signed to Motown as a solo artist.I agree that vocally she was ahead of Diana but Ms. Ross certainly had/has the charisma, and those would be tuff pumps to fill.

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

comparing jean to diana is lke comparing
patty labell to whitney. they're so different.
not saying who's better because they both are good in their on way.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:05 pm:

Michael/CH--I got goose bumps reading your post-and C and M looking at her...;;that(HHUAll) sounds very familiar--did they record that?or I may have it on "bootleg" tape.