Romper Stomper

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go?

And Diana Ross stomps into the list, leading the Supremes in their first hit, the 1964 Holland-Dozier-Holland opus Where Did Our Love Go?, which was originally offered to the Marvelletes (the big dogs in the girl groups yard) who thought it was a bit childish. Ross, of the 'no-hit Supremes' as they were then known, latched her claws into it, and the result is a saccharine sweet "burning, burning yearning" of "burning love that stings like a bee".

It's really girl group-y. This could be the template, in fact. Sweet as sugar harmonies, a sax solo, minimal but driving drumming with a great stomp beat that was augmented by 'stomp boards' or additional plywood boards on top of mahogony floors which the artists stomped on while singing.

Needless to say, it's been covered by everyone from the J.Geils Band to Soft Cell to the Pussycat Dolls. And it's cool - it just hits me much more than Aretha's effort. I really like it. Maybe it's the simplicity - you can hear that this was recorded on 3 tracks - just vocals, sax and rhythm, no messing around - walk in, drop the track and head out to become stars. It's a simple song, done simply, relying on nothing by beautiful voices and a hearkening back to simplicity. Oh, and they say the word 'baby' more times than a pack of pregnant women.

Verdict: Sweet death by stomping

Tomorrow: Willie Nelson - On The Road Again