Come See About Me
"Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.
"Come See About Me" | ||||
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Single by The Supremes | ||||
from the album Where Did Our Love Go | ||||
B-side |
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Released | October 27, 1964 | |||
Recorded | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); July 13, 1964 | |||
Genre | Pop, rhythm and blues | |||
Length | 2:41 | |||
Label | Motown M 1068 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
Producer(s) | Brian Holland Lamont Dozier | |||
The Supremes singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
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"Come See About Me" | ||||
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Single by Jr. Walker & the All Stars | ||||
from the album Home Cookin' | ||||
B-side | "Sweet Soul" | |||
Released | November 1967 | |||
Recorded | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); 1967 | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 3:01 | |||
Label | Soul S 35041 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
Producer(s) | Johnny Bristol | |||
Jr. Walker & the All Stars singles chronology | ||||
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The song became third of five consecutively released Supremes songs to top the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States (the others are "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Back in My Arms Again"). It topped the chart twice, non-consecutively, being toppled by and later replacing the Beatles' "I Feel Fine" in December 1964 and January 1965.[1][2]
History
Overview
Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, it was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two separate weeks: December 13, 1964, to December 18, 1964, and January 10, 1965, to January 16, 1965, and reached the number three position on the soul chart. The Supremes, whilst being the first to record the song, were not the first to issue it as a single. That distinction fell to Nella Dodds, and her version started selling, climbing to #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but Motown Records quickly released the Supremes' version as a single, which killed sales of Nella Dodds' version. The group made their first of 17 appearances[3] live on the popular CBS variety program The Ed Sullivan Show performing this single on Sunday, December 27, 1964.[4]
The group also recorded a German version of the song, entitled "Johnny und Joe".
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
- All instruments by the Funk Brothers
- Joe Messina – guitar
- Earl Van Dyke – Wurlitzer electric piano
- James Jamerson – bass guitar
- Benny Benjamin – drums
- Jack Ashford – percussion, vibes
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Other versions
- The Supremes recorded a German-language version of the song, titled "Jonny und Joe" as the b-side of the 1965 single "Thank You Darling" (also sung in German) in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.[8] "Jonny und Joe" was later included on two various Motown artists compilation albums Motown Around the World (1987, 1CD)[9] and Motown Around the World: The Classic Singles (2010, 2CD)[10] and also on Diana Ross & the Supremes compilation 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1961–1969 (2011, 3CD).[11]
- In 1965, The Newbeats released a version of the song on their album Run Baby Run.[12]
- In 1967, the song was a repeat hit for Motown act Jr. Walker & the All Stars, whose version reached the top 10 on the R&B chart and the top 25 on the pop chart.[13]
- Neil Sedaka recorded a cover for his 1983 album of the same name. His version features Supreme Mary Wilson as a featured backup vocalist.
- Lloyd Charmers recorded, as Soul Stirrers, an early reggae version released in 1969 on the Tramp label in Jamaica.
- In 1987, Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens covered the song on his album Let's Boogie, making it a hit in the UK and Ireland. Shakin' Stevens version surpassed the Supremes' original no. 27 chart placing by reaching no. 24.
- In 1992, a minor key version was released by the alternative band The Afghan Whigs on their Uptown Avondale EP.
- In 2001 the song was covered by fellow Detroit singer Freda Payne (whose sister Scherrie Payne became a member of the Supremes in 1973) on her fifteenth studio album Come See About Me.
- In 2012, the song was covered in the Glee episode "Thanksgiving", by Dianna Agron, Naya Rivera, and Heather Morris.
- American indie rock band Yo La Tengo performed a version of the song in March 2013 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series.[14]
- In 2013, the song was covered in the Nashville episode "You're No Angel Yourself" by Clare Bowen and Chaley Rose and it is included on the albums The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1 (2013, Deluxe edition) and Nashville Cast - Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor: Season 2 (2014).[15][16]
See also
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1964 (U.S.)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1965 (U.S.)
References
- "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 76 (51): 24. 1964. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 77 (3): 20. 1965. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- Yusuf, Nilgin (26 April 2008). "The Supremes on show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- "The Supremes/The Serendipity Singers/Leslie Uggams". The Ed Sullivan Show. Season 18. Episode 14. New York City. 24 December 1964. CBS. WCBS.
- Flavour of New Zealand, 11 February 1965
- "Billboard Magazine, March 13, 1965". Billboard.
- The Supremes - "Thank You Darling" / "Johnny und Joe" (1965) single releases & credits at Discogs
- Various Artists - Motown Around the World: The Classic Singles (2010) album releases & credits at Discogs
- Various Artists - Motown Around the World: The Classic Singles (2010) double CD review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, credits & releases at AllMusic
- Diana Ross & the Supremes compilation 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection: 1961-1969 (2011) triple CD review by Steve Leggett, credits & releases at AllMusic
- The Newbeats, Run Baby Run Retrieved April 28, 2015
- Jr. Walker & the All Stars - "Come See About Me" / "Sweet Soul" (1967) single releases & credits at Discogs
- "Yo La Tengo covers The Supremes". Retrieved 2013-03-19.
- Clare Bowen & Chaley Rose - "Come See About Me" (2013) video from Nashville episode "You're No Angel Yourself" at YouTube
- Nashville Cast - Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor: Season 2 (2014) album review by Thom Jurek, credits & releases at AllMusic