Number 1 With A Bullet: The Supremes And “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone”

The Supremes - Love Is Here and Now You're Gone (Motown, 1967)

As tensions escalated amongst the members of the Supremes while offstage, the public persona of the Supremes, c. ’67, remained unchanged. That is, they continued to turn out #1 hits.

“‘Talk singing’ is what we called it,” said Lamont Dozier, referring to the spoken word intro to the Supremes’ ninth #1 single, “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone.” Perhaps in deference to the troubles that were brewing backstage amongst the group, the song speaks of the beginning of a breakup: “You persuaded me to love you/And I did/But instead of tenderness/I found heartache instead.”

Named by co-writer Eddie Holland as his favorite Supremes song, “Love Is Here” was recorded in LA across three dates in fall 1966 and released in early 1967. The trio performed the song on The Andy Willliams Show in January ’67 and watched it hit #1 in March.

Check out more songs that were “#1 with a Bullet.

Read Michael Verity’s music reviews and get free MP3′s at MP3.com.

Need even more Michael Verity? Check out MichaelVerity.com.