Song:The Happening
Album:The No. 1's
The Happening topped the charts in 1967. It was the final single released by Motown as The Supremes. And it was also the theme for the 1967 film The Happening. It did not appear on the soundtrack album or a Supremes album. So it was an orphan. There were plenty of things going on at Motown at the time. I'm sure you are aware that Florence Ballard was upset that Diana Ross got to sing lead on everything. The situation was getting worse and Motown owner Berry Gordy wanted to get rid of Florence. He planned to change the group name to Diana Ross & The Supremes. You can imagine Florence's reaction to that. There was also the ongoing rumor that Diana would go solo. Plus he was in a financial dispute with The Supremes songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. They left Motown in 1968. Gordy wants to keep The Supremes together because they became a cash cow. Their last three singles topped the charts. But Florence wasn't showing up to sessions and sometimes she showed up drunk. Columbia Pictures approached Gordy about a theme for the 1967 film The Happening. It was a heist film starring Anthony Quinn. Gordy told Holland-Dozier-Holland to get together with composer Frank DeVol. The background tracks were recorded in Los Angeles by The Wrecking Crew. The vocals were recorded at Motown in Detroit. The Supremes performed The Happening on The Ed Sullivan Show. The song did not appear on the soundtrack album for contractual reasons. Motown released it only as a single though it was added to a 1967 Greatest Hits album. You can get it on this budget comp. Florence Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong during the recording of the 1968 album Reflections. And the group name was changed to Diana Ross & The Supremes. So The Happening was the end of the original Supremes. Here's The Supremes performing The Happening on The Ed Sullivan Show 1967.
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