Floy Joy
Encyclopedia
Floy Joy is a 1972 album released by The Supremes
on the Motown label. This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson
and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy
" and the U.S. top 40 hit, "Automatically Sunshine
", both of which were top 10 hits in the U.K.
. The then-current line-up of The Supremes
included original Supreme Mary Wilson
, Cindy Birdsong
, and Jean Terrell
. Appearing on the album cover alongside Terrell and Wilson was new member Lynda Laurence
, brought in to replace Cindy Birdsong, who was noticeably pregnant at the time of the photo shoot.
Floy Joy marks for the first time that Mary Wilson had several leads on an album. Wilson and Terrell trade-off lead vocals on "Floy Joy" and "Automatically Sunshine", whilst Terrell has sole lead on the album's third single, "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love". Wilson takes solo lead on the ballad "A Heart Like Mine." The "Floy Joy" single was the Supremes' final Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, reaching as high as #9 in the UK
. Its follow-ups, "Automatically Sunshine" and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" were not as successful, with "Automatically Sunshine" peaking at 37 on the Billboard Hot 100
, 21 on the Top Soul Singles
and being the group's final Top 10 hit in the U.K. (#10, the fifth in little over two years for the post-Ross line-up), and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" peaking at 59 on the Billboard Hot 100
and 21 on the Top Soul Singles
, and missing the UK altogether. Cindy Birdsong takes lead on the spoken passage in The Wisdom of Time.
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...
on the Motown label. This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy
Floy Joy (song)
"Floy Joy" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single in December 1971 by popular Motown female singing group The Supremes....
" and the U.S. top 40 hit, "Automatically Sunshine
Automatically Sunshine
"Automatically Sunshine" is a single written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes as the third single off their popular album Floy Joy in 1972....
", both of which were top 10 hits in the U.K.
Overview
Following the aborted album Promises Kept, Motown handed-over production duties for the Supremes to in-house songwriter, producer, artist, and company vice-president William "Smokey" RobinsonSmokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
. The then-current line-up of 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...
included original Supreme 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...
, Cindy Birdsong
Cindy Birdsong
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Birdsong , better known by her stage name, Cindy Birdsong, is an American singer, most famous for singing with the legendary soul groups Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and The Supremes.-Early life:...
, and Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
. Appearing on the album cover alongside Terrell and Wilson was new member Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove, and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes...
, brought in to replace Cindy Birdsong, who was noticeably pregnant at the time of the photo shoot.
Floy Joy marks for the first time that Mary Wilson had several leads on an album. Wilson and Terrell trade-off lead vocals on "Floy Joy" and "Automatically Sunshine", whilst Terrell has sole lead on the album's third single, "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love". Wilson takes solo lead on the ballad "A Heart Like Mine." The "Floy Joy" single was the Supremes' final Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, reaching as high as #9 in the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Its follow-ups, "Automatically Sunshine" and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" were not as successful, with "Automatically Sunshine" peaking at 37 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, 21 on the Top Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and being the group's final Top 10 hit in the U.K. (#10, the fifth in little over two years for the post-Ross line-up), and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" peaking at 59 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and 21 on the Top Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, and missing the UK altogether. Cindy Birdsong takes lead on the spoken passage in The Wisdom of Time.
Side one
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" (Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
) - "Floy JoyFloy Joy (song)"Floy Joy" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single in December 1971 by popular Motown female singing group The Supremes....
" (Robinson) - "A Heart Like Mine" (Robinson, Ronald WhiteRonald WhiteRonald "Ronnie" White was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes...
) - "Over and Over" (Robinson)
- "Precious Little Things" (Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Pam Moffett)
Side two
- "Now The Bitter, Now The Sweet" (Robinson, Cecil Franklin)
- "Automatically SunshineAutomatically Sunshine"Automatically Sunshine" is a single written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes as the third single off their popular album Floy Joy in 1972....
" (Robinson) - "The Wisdom of Time" (Robinson, Moffett, Clifford Burston)
- "Oh Be My Love" (Robinson, Warren MoorePete MoorePete Moore is an African American soul singer, record producer, and songwriter, notable as the bass singer for Motown group The Miracles from 1955 onwards, and is one of the group's original members...
)
Personnel
- Jean TerrellJean TerrellJean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer. She replaced Diana Ross as the lead singer of The Supremes in January 1970.-Early life and career:...
- lead vocals and background vocals - 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...
- lead vocals and background vocals - Cindy BirdsongCindy BirdsongCynthia Ann "Cindy" Birdsong , better known by her stage name, Cindy Birdsong, is an American singer, most famous for singing with the legendary soul groups Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and The Supremes.-Early life:...
- background vocals - The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
(Louvain Demps, Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow) - additional background vocals, some songs - William "Smokey" Robinson - producer
- 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...
:- Jack AshfordJack AshfordJack Ashford , known to his friends as Jashford, is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s. Ashford is most famous for playing the tambourine on hundreds of Motown recordings...
- percussion - Jack BrokenshaJack BrokenshaJohn Joseph "Jack" Brokensha was an Australian-born American jazz vibraphonist.Brokensha was born in Nailsworth, Adelaide, South Australia. He studied percussion under his father, and played xylophone in vaudeville shows and on radio...
- percussion - Eddie "Bongo" Brown - percussion
- Dennis CoffeyDennis CoffeyDennis Coffey is an American guitarist. He was a studio musician for many soul and R&B recordings.-Biography:Coffey learned to play guitar at the age of thirteen, in the Michigan Upper Peninsula town of Copper City...
- guitar - Robert WhiteRobert White (guitarist)Robert Willie White was an African-American musician. Of note for being one of the main guitarists for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, White is best known for performing the familiar guitar riff on The Temptations' number-one hit single "My Girl", but played the guitar on...
- guitar - Eddie WillisEddie WillisEddie "Chank" Willis is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
- guitar - Johnny Griffith - piano, keyboards
- James JamersonJames JamersonJames Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
- bass - Zachary Slater - drums
- Andrew Smith - drums
- Marvin Tarplin - guitar
- Earl Van DykeEarl Van DykeEarl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Van Dyke was preceded as keyboardist and bandleader of the Funk Brothers by Joe Hunter...
- piano, keyboards
- Jack Ashford