1963
February (-)
Recording sessions for the album “The Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop” (released in 1965). Most of the songs are recorded in the morning because of an unknown local engagement at the same time. (see also February 6, 8, 17, 26 & 28)
February 2
Single “My Heart Can’t Take It No More” released (#129 on pop charts).
February 6
Recording session for “(The Man With The) Rock And Roll Banjo Band” (working title: “Rock And Roll Banjo Man”).
February 8
Recording session for “I’m The Exception To The Rule” (Supremes dub-in unknown).
February 17
Recording session for “Lazy Bones”.
February 26
Recording sessions for the album “The Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop”.
February 28
Recording session for “You’re Gonna Come To Me” (version 3) (erroneously credited as version 2 in “Where Did Our Love Go – 40th Anniversary Edition") - see the discography for more information.
March 27
Recording session for “Everyday I’ll Love You More than Yesterday”.
It may as well be March 25 as the text in the booklet of “Where Did Our Love Go – 40th Anniversary Edition” states that the recording session was held the day before Diana turned 19 – so March 25 – but the same booklet credits it on March 27.
It may as well be March 25 as the text in the booklet of “Where Did Our Love Go – 40th Anniversary Edition” states that the recording session was held the day before Diana turned 19 – so March 25 – but the same booklet credits it on March 27.
April (-)
Concert(s) at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia. See also May 17-26.
April 14
Concert at the Municipal auditorium in Kansas City, shared bill with Aretha Franklin, the Contours, Freddie King, Milt Buckner and his orchestra
April 19
Beginning of a three months Motortown tour at the Regal Theater in Chicago (along with the Supremes on tour: Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, the Marvelettes, the Miracles the Contours).
The three shows per day policy is changed to a four shows per day policy because of the success of the tour.
Note: Chicago is mistaken with New York in Billboard April 27 issue compared to its May 4 issue.
The three shows per day policy is changed to a four shows per day policy because of the success of the tour.
Note: Chicago is mistaken with New York in Billboard April 27 issue compared to its May 4 issue.
April 26
Motortown Revue in St Louis, MO.
April 27
Motortown Revue at the Murat in Indianapolis, IN.
April 28
Motortown Revue at the Coliseum in Evansville, IN, as part of the 1963 edition of the Show of Stars (a cast of 50 artists performing for 4 hours).
LP “Recorded Live: Motor Town Revue, vol.1” recorded during the Apollo shows is released with only one track by the Supremes (see the discography for more information). Released one week after the Billboard April 27 issue.
April-May
May 3-9
Motortown Revue at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC.
May 6
Recording session for “Beginning To The Ending”, but unlikely a vocal session because of the engagement at the Howard Theater.
May 7
Recording session for “Run, Run, Run”, “Standing At The Crossroads Of Love”. This recording session is unlikely a vocal session because of the engagement at the Howard Theater.
Note 1: According to the booklet of “The Supremes Box Set” released in 2000 “Run, Run, Run” was recorded during their first recording session with the songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland (H-D-H) (so on September 13, 1962) but in the same booklet, the track credits dates it on May 7 (p.18 & p.53).
Note 2: According to the booklet of “Where Did Our Love Go – 40th Anniversary Edition” this is the first recording session with H-D-H since five months, so since around mid-December (after the end of the Motortown tour), which means that other recording sessions were held during the second half of December (unreferenced here).
Note 1: According to the booklet of “The Supremes Box Set” released in 2000 “Run, Run, Run” was recorded during their first recording session with the songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland (H-D-H) (so on September 13, 1962) but in the same booklet, the track credits dates it on May 7 (p.18 & p.53).
Note 2: According to the booklet of “Where Did Our Love Go – 40th Anniversary Edition” this is the first recording session with H-D-H since five months, so since around mid-December (after the end of the Motortown tour), which means that other recording sessions were held during the second half of December (unreferenced here).
May 10-16
Motortown Revue at the Royal Theater, Baltimore. See also April (?-26?).
May 17-26
Motortown Revue at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, PA.
Note: According to Wikipedia on the Uptown Theater, Georgie Woods was able to book the Supremes for $400 for a full 10-day run; it probably refers to this engagement.
Note: According to Wikipedia on the Uptown Theater, Georgie Woods was able to book the Supremes for $400 for a full 10-day run; it probably refers to this engagement.
May 29
Motortown Revue at the Playland Roller Rink in York, PA. The Supremes are not on the poster advertising the concert, they are part of the “others”…
May 31 - June 6
Motortown Revue at the Apollo Theater in New York. (see also TVgraphy)
June 12
Single “A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heart Breaking Guy” released and quickly re-released with the shortened title “A Breath Taking Guy” (#75 on pop charts).
June 14
Motortown Revue at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ (2 shows at 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.). Artists on the bill: Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, the Miracles, Little Stevie Wonder, The Marvelettes, The Contours, Marv Johnson, Martha and the Vandellas, the Choker Campbell Orchestra, and Bill Murray. So the Supremes may not be part of these shows)
June 16
Motortown Revue at the Carr’s Beach, Annapolis, MD. (The Supremes maybe not be on the bill)
(June –) July
Concert at the Greystone Ballroom in Detroit. The Supremes’ first performance at this place was after the release of “A Breath Taking Guy”. The concert occurred before July 31 or maybe on July 31 as the Supremes recorded there that day.
July 4-7
Concerts at the Airport Drive-In in Philadelphia, PA.
It’s not sure the Supremes are part of these concerts: the artists on the ads in the Philadelphia Daily News (ads in July 3 to July 6 issues) are Sam Cooke, Little Stevie Wonder, the Miracles, Little Anthony, the Contours, Choker Campbell and his fabulous Motor Town Revue Band, plus five other sensational acts. The Supremes could be one of those five acts… or not.
It’s not sure the Supremes are part of these concerts: the artists on the ads in the Philadelphia Daily News (ads in July 3 to July 6 issues) are Sam Cooke, Little Stevie Wonder, the Miracles, Little Anthony, the Contours, Choker Campbell and his fabulous Motor Town Revue Band, plus five other sensational acts. The Supremes could be one of those five acts… or not.
July 15
Recording session for “This Is It” (recording of the track, not the vocals).
July 17
Recording session for “Your Kiss Of Fire” (first session).
July 22
Recording session for “Mr. Blues”.
July 24
Recording session for “Your Kiss Of Fire” (second session).
July 31
Recording session for “Come On Boy” recorded at the Greystone Ballroom (Detroit).
September 10
Recording session for “Bye Baby”.
September 17
Recording session for “My Imagination”.
September 18
Recording session for “Long Gone Lover”, “I Idolize You”.
September 20-29
Motortown Revue at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia. Artists on the ad: Miracles, Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Contours, Kim Weston, Bill Murray, Choker Campbell & his orchestra.
Note: An article in Billboard (May 4, 1963 issue) states: “… in September the review will be broken in three separate shows, each featuring several of the tour’s top stars plus some new Tamla-Motown talent.” Even though the Supremes are not billed on the ads and posters, the booklet of the 40th Anniversary edition of “Where Did Our Love Go” states the Supremes are part of the October-December Motortown Revue.
Note: An article in Billboard (May 4, 1963 issue) states: “… in September the review will be broken in three separate shows, each featuring several of the tour’s top stars plus some new Tamla-Motown talent.” Even though the Supremes are not billed on the ads and posters, the booklet of the 40th Anniversary edition of “Where Did Our Love Go” states the Supremes are part of the October-December Motortown Revue.
October 1
Recording session for “When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” and the background vocals on the Temptations “Not Now I’ll Tell You Later”.
October 4-10
Motortown Revue at the Royal Theater, Baltimore.
October 11-17
Motortown Revue at the Howard Theater, Washington DC.
Oct 18 (&19?)
Motortown Revue at the at the Apollo Theater, with the Supremes.
Note: a handwritten note by Frank Schiffman, owner of the Apollo, states “10/18/63.... Motown show, week end only...”. October 18 being a Friday, I suppose the Motortown Revue was also at the Apollo on October 19 (and maybe on october 20).
Note: a handwritten note by Frank Schiffman, owner of the Apollo, states “10/18/63.... Motown show, week end only...”. October 18 being a Friday, I suppose the Motortown Revue was also at the Apollo on October 19 (and maybe on october 20).
October (-)
Note: According to Billboard (Dec 14, 1963 issue) the second Motortown Revue Tour begins around mid-October but the third Motortown Revue already begun in September (the second begun on April 19). This is an odd statement after the other one Billboard gave (see September 20-29).
October 30
Motortown Revue at the Coliseum in Evansville, IN. Artists billed on ad: Stevie Wonder, the Contours, the Miracles, Mary Wells, Martha & the Vandellas, Choker Campbell and his band, and many others (also on ad: “all in person 50 artists).
October 31
Single “When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” released (# 23 on pop charts).
November 1
Motortown Revue at the Kiel Auditorium Opera House, St. Louis, MO. Stevie Wonder on the bill.
November 5
Motortown Revue at the Toledo Sport Arena.
November 7
Motortown Revue at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis, IN (shows at 7:15 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.). Mary Wells on the bill.
November 8-14
Motortown Revue at the Regal in Chicago, IL.
November 15
Motortown Revue at the Civic Center in Lansing, MI.
Nov 16 & 17
End of the six-weeks Motortown Revue tour at the Fox Theater in Detroit (2 shows per night) (so this tour begun around October 14). On tour: the Miracles, Mary Wells, the Marvelettes, Kim Weston, the Contours, the Temptations, Chocker Campbell & his band; on some dates: Stevie Wonder, Martha & the Vandellas.
Note 1: according to Billboard December 14, 1963 issue, a six weeks Motor Town tour occurred and ended at the Fox Theater in Detroit on November 16 & 17 (with eight shows on two days instead of four) with the artists listed above. The Supremes are not listed in the article . According to the ad on the Detroit Free Press (November 15, 1963 issue) the line-up is a bit different: Stevie Wonder, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Martha & the Vandellas (but the ad might not be exhaustive).
A program of the Motortown Revue, announced (on eBay) as being sold during this engagement shows a picture of the Supremes on the lower right corner of the back cover.
A program of the Motortown Revue, announced (on eBay) as being sold during this engagement shows a picture of the Supremes on the lower right corner of the back cover.
Note 2: in 1963, the Supremes are opening act of the Vandellas at the Fox Theater in Detroit. They perform “I Am Woman” among other songs. During this engagement the story has it that the Supremes upstaged the Vandellas by appearing with the same gowns. It could have happened during this November 16 & 17 concerts as I haven’t found any other performances in newspapers of the Vandellas at the Fox Theater in 1963 yet.
November 22
Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy: the show scheduled is cancelled as are the shows scheduled for the week-end (September 23 & 24).
November 25
Recording session for “You’re Gonna Come To Me” (version 4), recorded in Chicago, IL (erroneously credited as version 3 on “Where Did Our Love Go – Expanded Edition”- see the discography for more information); recording session for “Honey Babe” in Chicago, IL.
November 30
Motortown Revue at the at the Donnelly Theater in Boston, MA.
December 1
Motortown Revue at the Civic Center in Baltimore, MD. On the Ad: Stevie Wonder, the Miracles, Ben E. King, the Marvelettes, Rufus Thomas, Wilson Pickett, Annie Laurie, Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters (…)
December 9
See December 8, 1962 about the release of the LP “Meet The Supremes”.
December 19
Recording of the track “You’re Gone (But Always In My Heart)”, vocals recording date unknown.
December 31
New Year's Eve concert at the Fox Theater in Detroit, MI (2 shows at 8:30 p.m and 11:30 p.m.). On the Ad: Stevie Wonder, Marv Johnson, the Temptations, Bill Murry (M.C.), Choker Campbell and his orchestra and Liz Lands.
