I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking
Encyclopedia
"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" is a disco
-styled soul
single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie
and Brian
, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes
in 1976 on the Motown label. It was the first single since "Your Heart Belongs to Me
" in 1962 to feature four Supremes. It is also notable for being the last top forty single the group would score before their contract with Motown expired the following year.
, Lynda Laurence
and Cindy Birdsong
- two times within four years - de-facto group leader Mary Wilson
struggled to keep the group going. After hiring Scherrie Payne
to lead them on their self-titled 1975 album, the group found themselves in search of a group member again after Birdsong left due to problems with the group's management team, led by Wilson's husband Pedro Ferrer. After Birdsong split in early 1976, Wilson eventually found another former Wonderlove background singer, multi-vocal talent Susaye Greene
to complete the trio again. All of the tracks had been completed with Birdsong, but Greene was brought in to overdub her vocals on two tracks. Among those two were "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking". Greene added in a high register vocal reminiscent of her former Wonderlove member Deniece Williams
which again made it a different Supremes recording than they were used to. With Greene in the lineup adding in high vocals, Wilson comfortably in the lower vocal regions and Payne with a commanding soprano lead, this allegedly composed of the strongest vocal lineup of the Supremes' entire career.
, number 25 on the R&B singles chart
, and hit number three on Billboard's disco chart. It was also the Supremes' last of thirty-three singles to hit the top 40 nearly thirteen years after first hitting the top 40 with "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
". Within a year after this single's release, the Supremes disbanded.
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-styled soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie
Edward Holland, Jr.
Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
and Brian
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal 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...
in 1976 on the Motown label. It was the first single since "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...
" in 1962 to feature four Supremes. It is also notable for being the last top forty single the group would score before their contract with Motown expired the following year.
Recording
By 1976, the Supremes were four years without a top 40 recording and were constantly changing group members. After departures from Jean TerrellJean 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:...
, 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...
and 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:...
- two times within four years - de-facto group leader 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...
struggled to keep the group going. After hiring Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
to lead them on their self-titled 1975 album, the group found themselves in search of a group member again after Birdsong left due to problems with the group's management team, led by Wilson's husband Pedro Ferrer. After Birdsong split in early 1976, Wilson eventually found another former Wonderlove background singer, multi-vocal talent Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene
Susaye Greene , is an African-American singer, best known for being the last official member to join Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977.-Early life and career:...
to complete the trio again. All of the tracks had been completed with Birdsong, but Greene was brought in to overdub her vocals on two tracks. Among those two were "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking". Greene added in a high register vocal reminiscent of her former Wonderlove member Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
which again made it a different Supremes recording than they were used to. With Greene in the lineup adding in high vocals, Wilson comfortably in the lower vocal regions and Payne with a commanding soprano lead, this allegedly composed of the strongest vocal lineup of the Supremes' entire career.
Reception
Released in March 1976, the single caught buzz among the group's disco fan base as well as pop and R&B radio, who had since 1973 been shunning from Supremes singles much or less blamed for the dismal promotion by Motown Records' staff. Because of the return of the Holland brothers to Motown and their reunion with the Supremes, hype was created for the single and it soon led to a rare hit for the group heading into the autumn of their heyday. The single eventually peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard 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...
, number 25 on the R&B singles chart
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 hit number three on Billboard's disco chart. It was also the Supremes' last of thirty-three singles to hit the top 40 nearly thirteen years after first hitting the top 40 with "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
"When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and recorded in 1963 by Motown singing group The Supremes. It is notable as the Supremes' first Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 recording, following seven previous singles between January 1961 and September...
". Within a year after this single's release, the Supremes disbanded.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Scherrie PayneScherrie PayneScherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
and Susaye GreeneSusaye GreeneSusaye Greene , is an African-American singer, best known for being the last official member to join Motown girl group The Supremes, remaining in the group during its final years of existence from 1976 to 1977.-Early life and career:... - Background vocals by Scherrie PayneScherrie PayneScherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
, 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...
, 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:... - Produced by Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
and Eddie HollandEdward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....