The Supremes, Where Did Our Love Go | Throwback Vibez

In the 24^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Where Did Our Love Go” by The Supremes. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 24^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on The Supremes, performed by “Where Did Our Love Go”.

“Baby, baby / Baby don’t leave me / Ooh, please don’t leave me / All by myself.” ICONIC to the nth degree – that’s that Motown exemplified! “Where Did Our Love Go” marks one of 20 top-10 hits by the iconic Motown girl group, The Supremes. Everything The Supremes touched seemed to turn into gold. Making this two-and-a-half song even more elite is the fact that it’s the first of 12 no. 1 hits by the iconic collective. Specifically, the opening song from Where Did Our Love Go spent two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.  Who penned this masterpiece? Why, none other than Brian Holland, Edward Holland, and Lamont Dozier aka Holland-Dozier-Holland! Brian and Lamont also produced.

Notably, “Where Did Our Love Go” features the iconic lineup comprised of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard.  This would remain the lineup until 1967 when Ballard exited the collective. This iteration, which earned 10 of those 12 no. 1s, struck gold with this infectious, lighthearted joint.  It’s all about those pesky matters of the heart! “You came into my heart (Baby, baby) / So tenderly (Where did our love go?),” The Supremes sing, adding “With a burning love (Baby, baby) / That stings like a bee (Baby, baby, ooh, baby, baby).” Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus: “Ooh, baby, baby (Baby, baby) / Where did our love go? / Ooh, don’t you want me? (Baby, baby) / Don’t you want me no more? (Baby, baby, ooh, baby, baby).” Besides the enjoyable lead pipes of Diana Ross, and the cute, playful backups by Wilson and Ballard, the instrumental is vintage – 60s soul, baby! Part of that vintage sound includes the saxophone solo, which provides a fabulous contrast.  More could be said of “Where Did Our Love Go”   but like so many classics, the music speaks for itself.

The Supremes • Where Did Our Love Go • Motown • 1964

The Supremes, Where Did Our Love Go: Throwback Vibez No. 24 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]