The Magnificent 7 (album)

For other uses, see Magnificent Seven.

1970 studio album by the Supremes and the Four Tops

The Magnificent 7

Studio album by

the Supremes and the Four Tops

Released| September 1970
Recorded| 1970
Genre| Soul, R&B
Label| Motown
Producer| Frank Wilson, Duke Browner, Clay McMurray, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
The Supremes chronology
| Right On
(1970)  | The Magnificent 7
(1970)  | New Ways but Love Stays
(1970)

|
|

The Four Tops chronology
| Changing Times
(1970)  | The Magnificent 7
(1970)  | The Return of the Magnificent Seven
(1971)

|
|

Singles from  The Magnificent 7

1. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
Released: April 6, 1970
2. "River Deep, Mountain High"/"Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music"
Released: November 5, 1970

The Magnificent 7 is a collaborative album combining Motown's premier vocal groups, the Supremes and the Four Tops. Issued by Motown in 1970, it followed two collaborative albums the Supremes did with the Temptations in the late 1960s. The album featured their hit cover of Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep – Mountain High", which reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In the UK, the album peaked at number 6.[1] In December 1971, Billboard reported UK album sales of 30,000 copies.[2]

Apart from "Knock on My Door" (written by Patti Jerome and Joe Hinton), the tracks on the LP are covers of rock and soul songs, including the duet by Dinah Washington and Brook Benton "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)", Bobby Scott's "A Taste of Honey", Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People", Ed Townsend's "For Your Love" and Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic", as well as hits by other Motown artists: the Tops' own "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)", the duet "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Gaye's and Kim Weston's "It's Got to Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)", The Spinners' "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" and former Supremes' bandmate Diana Ross' 1970 debut solo single, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)".

"River Deep – Mountain High" was released as a single in the Netherlands, with "Knock on My Door" on the flip side. Two more singles were issued in the United Kingdom in 1972: "Without the One You Love" with "Let's Make Love Now" on the B side; and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" backed by "Where Would I Be Without You, Baby". As was the case with the previous pairing of Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations, Motown appeared to feel that group names alone would insure heavy sales and little attention was paid to content, thus the absence of original material. The album sold poorly in the USA but did better in Europe.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]
Cashbox| (Favorable)[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [6]

Cashbox published, 'The Supremes and Four Tops have been making music for a long time, but never as a single group. Now, for the first time, the two super groups unite to deliver what must be called the most soulful and energetic package of the year. Their voices and musical styles blend together as if they have always been a part of the same group. "Knock On My Door," "For Your Love," "Reach Out And Touch (somebody's hand)," "Everyday People," and "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music," are only a few of the cuts that will make this classic LP a chart topper.'[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side One

1. "Knock on My Door" (Joe Hinton, Patti Jerome) – 2:15
2. "For Your Love" (Ed Townsend) – 2:54
3. "Without the One You Love" (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland) – 3:10
4. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 4:20
5. "Stoned Soul Picnic" (Laura Nyro) – 3:10
6. "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" (Clyde Otis, Murray Stein) – 2:59

Side Two

1. "River Deep – Mountain High" (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector) – 4:52
2. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 2:29
3. "Everyday People" (Sylvester Stewart) – 2:52
4. "It's Got to Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)" (Vernon Bullock, Sylvia Moy, William "Mickey" Stevenson) – 3:55
5. "Taste of Honey" (Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott) – 2:57
6. "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" (Martin Coleman, Richard Drapkin) – 2:59

## Personnel

[edit]

The Supremes

* Jean Terrell – soprano vocals
* Mary Wilson – alto vocals
* Cindy Birdsong –soprano vocals

The Four Tops

* Levi Stubbs – lead baritone vocals
* Abdul "Duke" Fakir – first tenor vocals
* Lawrence Payton – second tenor vocals
* Renaldo "Obie" Benson – bass vocals

Technical personnel

* Frank Wilson – executive producer
* Duke Browner – producer (tracks 1A, 2A, 5B, 6B)
* Clay McMurray – producer (tracks 3A, 6A, 3B, 4B)
* Nickolas Ashford – producer (tracks 4A, 5A, 1B, 2B)
* Valerie Simpson – producer (tracks 4A, 5A, 1B, 2B)
* The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
* David Van DePitte, Paul Riser – arrangers

## Chart history

[edit]

Chart (1971)  | Peak
position

|

Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] | 73
UK Albums (OCC)[1] | 6
US Billboard 200[8] | 116
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 15
US Cashbox Top 100[10] | 72

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The Supremes | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
2. ^ Phillips, Paul (December 25, 1971). "U.K. Motown in Biggest Ever Year". Billboard. p. 46. Retrieved 1 January 2020 - via Google Books.
3. ^ The Magnificent 7 at AllMusic
4. ^ a b "cashbox / album reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. October 17, 1970. p. 42. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
5. ^ Colin Larkin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1229\. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
6. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely New Reviews : Every Essential Album, Every Essential Artist. Random House. p. 685\. ISBN 0679737294.
7. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3736". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
8. ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
9. ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
10. ^ "TOP 100 Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. January 9, 1971. Retrieved 2 January 2022.

* v
* t
* e

The Supremes

* Florence Ballard
* Cindy Birdsong
* Susaye Greene
* Lynda Laurence
* Barbara Martin
* Betty McGlown
* Scherrie Payne
* Diana Ross
* Jean Terrell
* Mary Wilson

Studio albums|

* Meet The Supremes (1962)
* Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
* More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
* I Hear a Symphony (1966)
* The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
* The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
* Reflections (1968)
* Love Child (1968)
* Let the Sunshine In (1969)
* Cream of the Crop (1969)
* Right On (1970)
* New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
* Touch (1971)
* Floy Joy (1972)
* The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
* The Supremes (1975)
* High Energy (1976)
* Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)

Collaborative albums|

* Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
* Together (1969)
* The Magnificent 7 (1970)
* The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
* Dynamite (1971)

Live albums|

* The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
* Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
* TCB (1968)
* On Broadway (1969)
* Farewell (1970)
* The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)

Other albums|

* A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
* The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
* We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
* Merry Christmas (1965)
* The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
* Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)

Singles|

* "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
* "I Want a Guy"
* "Buttered Popcorn"
* "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
* "Let Me Go the Right Way"
* "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
* "A Breathtaking Guy"
* "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
* "Run, Run, Run"
* "Where Did Our Love Go"
* "Baby Love"
* "Come See About Me"
* "Stop! In the Name of Love"
* "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
* "Nothing but Heartaches"
* "I Hear a Symphony"
* "My World Is Empty Without You"
* "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
* "You Can't Hurry Love"
* "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
* "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
* "The Happening"
* "Reflections"
* "In and Out of Love"
* "Forever Came Today"
* "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
* "Love Child"
* "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
* "I'm Livin' in Shame"
* "I'll Try Something New"
* "The Composer"
* "No Matter What Sign You Are"
* "The Weight"
* "I Second That Emotion"
* "Someday We'll Be Together"
* "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
* "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
* "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
* "Stoned Love"
* "River Deep – Mountain High"
* "Nathan Jones"
* "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
* "Touch"
* "Floy Joy"
* "Automatically Sunshine"
* "Without the One You Love"
* "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
* "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
* "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
* "Bad Weather"
* "Tossin' and Turnin'"
* "He's My Man"
* "Where Do I Go from Here"
* "Early Morning Love"
* "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
* "High Energy"
* "You're My Driving Wheel"
* "Let Yourself Go"
* "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"

Videography|

* T.A.M.I. Show
* Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
* Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
* Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Inspired works|

* Sparkle (1976 film)
* Dreamgirls (musical)
* Dreamgirls (film)
* Sparkle (2012 film)

Related topics|

* Discography
* Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
* Members
* FLOS
* Farewell concert
* Return to Love Tour

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Four Tops

* Ronnie McNeir
* Lawrence "Roquel" Payton, Jr.
* Alexander Morris
* Michael Brock

* Harold Bonhart
* Levi Stubbs
* Renaldo "Obie" Benson
* Lawrence Payton
* Theo Peoples
* Abdul "Duke" Fakir

Studio albums|

* Four Tops
* Four Tops Second Album
* On Top
* On Broadway
* Reach Out
* Yesterday's Dreams
* Four Tops Now!
* Soul Spin
* Still Waters Run Deep
* Changing Times
* Keeper of the Castle
* Main Street People
* Meeting of the Minds
* Night Lights Harmony
* Catfish
* The Show Must Go On
* At the Top
* Tonight!
* One More Mountain
* Back Where I Belong
* Magic
* Indestructible
* Christmas Here with You

Albums with
The Supremes|

* The Magnificent 7
* The Return of the Magnificent Seven
* Dynamite

Compilations
and live albums|

* Four Tops Live!
* The Four Tops Greatest Hits
* Live & in Concert
* The Ultimate Collection

Singles|

* "Baby I Need Your Loving"
* "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)"
* "Ask the Lonely"
* "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"
* "It's the Same Old Song"
* "Something About You"
* "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)"
* "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
* "Reach Out I'll Be There"
* "Standing in the Shadows of Love"
* "Bernadette"
* "7 Rooms of Gloom"
* "Walk Away Renée"
* "If I Were a Carpenter"
* "Yesterday's Dreams"
* "I'm in a Different World"
* "It's All in the Game"
* "Still Water (Love)"
* "A Simple Game"
* "Keeper of the Castle"
* "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)"
* "When She Was My Girl"
* "Loco in Acapulco"

Related topics|

* Discography
* The Andantes
* Holland–Dozier–Holland
* The Supremes

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template