High Energy (The Supremes Album) - Overview

Overview

The penultimate studio album released by the group, the Supremes began recording High Energy in December 1975, when its lineup consisted of Scherrie Payne, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Birdsong left the group in February 1976, and her replacement, Susaye Greene, was overdubbed on two tracks, including "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking". Greene also assumed lead vocal duties on the title track. Along with Meet The Supremes and Reflections, these are the only studio albums to include four members of the group rather than the usual three. (Let the Sunshine In and Cream of the Crop both had Florence Ballard appear on a previously recorded track for each album, though she had long been dismissed from the group).

Lead vocals on the other tracks were split between original group member Wilson and Payne. Wilson takes the lead on the album's ballads "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You", "Till the Boat Sails Away" and "I Don't Want to Lose You". Wilson and Payne split the lead duties on "You're What's Missing in My Life", opening up the dance numbers "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking", "You Keep Me Moving On" and "Only You (Can Love Me Like You Love Me)" for Payne. In the US, the single reached #40 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the final Top 40 single release for the Supremes.

Alternate mixes of "High Energy" and of "Don't Let My Teardrops Bother You" appeared on the Supremes' The 70s Anthology compilation. "Room at the Top" was also recorded during the sessions, but Eddie Holland felt that the song didn't fit with the feel of the remainder of the album. This track also surfaced on The 70s Anthology. Scherrie Payne recorded a lead vocal to the title track "High Energy;" however her vocal take has yet to be found. Payne has stated that Cindy Birdsong also recorded a lead vocal for "High Energy," but her version has yet to be found as well.

The entire album was released for the first time on CD on May 17, 2011 on the three-disc set Let Yourself Go: The '70s Albums, Vol 2 - 1974–1977: The Final Sessions which also includes the complete album in a different mix by Russ Terrana.