Buttered Popcorn
Encyclopedia
"Buttered Popcorn" is a 1961 song written by Motown president Berry Gordy
and songwriter Barney Ales, and produced by Gordy, and released as a Tamla label single by Motown singing group The Supremes
. It was the group's second single since signing with Motown Records (and their third overall) as well as their second, and last, single for the Tamla label. Starting with the next single release the group’s future recordings would be issued under the Motown label.
on lead, but the only one with her as the sole lead. The song talks of a woman who’s worried that her man is more concerned with eating “buttered popcorn” than her, as he eats it "For breakfast, lunch and a dinner too". In the group’s early days all of its members got a chance to sing lead on stage and in the recording studio, with Ballard having the role of main lead singer on stage. However producers at both Lu Pine and Motown felt that the vocals of members Diane Ross
and Mary Wilson
had a better chance at the targeted cross-over audience, with Ross having the most pop-sounding voice of the group.
Despite the fact that Ballard’s leads were deemed "too soulful", Buttered Popcorn was considered by Motown's Quality Control department to be the best song to be issued as The Supremes second Motown single. However, Berry Gordy was determined that Ross should be the group’s main lead and wanted the group’s cover of The Miracles
' "Who's Lovin' You
" to be the single's A-side. In the end, Gordy and Quality Control compromised; the Ballard-led song would remain the single’s A-side, but the single would be promoted as if it was a "double A-side" one.
The Supremes next single, "Your Heart Belongs to Me
", would be led by Ross (who would now be billed as Diana), and would be their first to chart nationally. Afterwards the label decided to make Ross the group's primary (and later lone) lead singer, while Ballard and Wilson would be relegated to backup singers; but would sing lead on album tracks and on stage (until 1966) and given lead lines on singles (until 1963). Fourth member Barbara Martin
, meanwhile, would leave the group just before the release of (and after recording) the group's next single, leaving it a trio.
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
and songwriter Barney Ales, and produced by Gordy, and released as a Tamla label single by Motown singing group The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
. It was the group's second single since signing with Motown Records (and their third overall) as well as their second, and last, single for the Tamla label. Starting with the next single release the group’s future recordings would be issued under the Motown label.
Recording
This is not only one of the rare singles to feature Florence BallardFlorence Ballard
Florence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
on lead, but the only one with her as the sole lead. The song talks of a woman who’s worried that her man is more concerned with eating “buttered popcorn” than her, as he eats it "For breakfast, lunch and a dinner too". In the group’s early days all of its members got a chance to sing lead on stage and in the recording studio, with Ballard having the role of main lead singer on stage. However producers at both Lu Pine and Motown felt that the vocals of members Diane Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
and Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson (singer)
Mary Wilson is an American singer, formerlymember of the Motown female singing group The Supremes during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure...
had a better chance at the targeted cross-over audience, with Ross having the most pop-sounding voice of the group.
Despite the fact that Ballard’s leads were deemed "too soulful", Buttered Popcorn was considered by Motown's Quality Control department to be the best song to be issued as The Supremes second Motown single. However, Berry Gordy was determined that Ross should be the group’s main lead and wanted the group’s cover of The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
' "Who's Lovin' You
Who's Lovin' You
"Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song, written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. The song has been recorded by many different artists including The Miracles, who recorded the 1960 original version, The Temptations, The Supremes, Terence Trent-D'arby, Brenda and The Tabulations, John Farnham,...
" to be the single's A-side. In the end, Gordy and Quality Control compromised; the Ballard-led song would remain the single’s A-side, but the single would be promoted as if it was a "double A-side" one.
Reception
Both sides of the single received a lot of airplay on local Detroit stations, but problems very quickly aroused. The first version of the song was withdrawn because it was considered "too raw", and a smoother take was released. Gordy did little to promote the single’s A-side, and, some time later, the label discovered that the song could be conceived to have a scandalous "double meaning", and switch to pushing the B-side alone before ceasing promotion of the single altogether. Neither sides of the single charted nationally, but were smash hits on several regional charts in parts of the country.The Supremes next single, "Your Heart Belongs to Me
Your Heart Belongs to Me
"Your Heart Belongs to Me" is a 1962 song written and composed by The Miracles' William "Smokey" Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes during their early years with the label...
", would be led by Ross (who would now be billed as Diana), and would be their first to chart nationally. Afterwards the label decided to make Ross the group's primary (and later lone) lead singer, while Ballard and Wilson would be relegated to backup singers; but would sing lead on album tracks and on stage (until 1966) and given lead lines on singles (until 1963). Fourth member Barbara Martin
Barbara Martin
Barbara Diane Martin in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the...
, meanwhile, would leave the group just before the release of (and after recording) the group's next single, leaving it a trio.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Florence BallardFlorence BallardFlorence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
- Background vocals by Diane RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Mary WilsonMary Wilson (singer)Mary Wilson is an American singer, formerlymember of the Motown female singing group The Supremes during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was the only singer to be a consistent member of the group in its eighteen-year tenure...
and Barbara MartinBarbara MartinBarbara Diane Martin in Detroit, Michigan is an African-American singer; better known for being one of the original founding members of Motown singing group The Supremes. After The Primettes dropped Betty McGlown from their lineup due to McGlown's upcoming nuptials, Martin replaced her in the... - Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...