Baby Love – Oh baby…Yet another Motown classic. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers

Let’s talk about the song writing process with a focus on one of the most prolific teams to ever have their creativity pressed to vinyl.

I am talking about Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, better known as Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Today’s feature song is ‘Baby Love’ by the Supremes which was released as the follow up single to ‘Where Did Our Love Go’. This order of songs is important because the success of the aforementioned hit led to a formula for success that Holland-Dozier-Holland were somewhat forced to follow.

Read on…

It was at the insistence of Motown head Berry Gordy that Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier wrote ‘Baby Love’ to sound suspiciously like its predecessor. The style complimented Diana Ross’s strong lead vocals and the back-up provided by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. It has been documented that the word ‘Baby’ was mentioned 68 times in ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ so naturally the next song would be addressed to his ‘Baby Love’. Lamont Dozier is on record as saying that the song was about his “first love who he never got over.”

The process was so rigid in these early days of Motown, Berry Gordy insisted that the song writers punch in when they arrive to work in the morning, and punch out at the end of the day. This workmanlike routine was inspired by Berry Gordy’s knowledge of people who worked on the assembly line at the nearby Lincoln-Mercury plant. Holland-Dozier-Holland reluctantly complied.

Here is Lamont Dozier’s basic recollection of the way their songs came together

I would collaborate with Eddie on lyrics and with Brian on melodies. Then Brian and I would go into the studio and produce the actual record although Eddie should have been put down as one of the producers because he helped teach the artists the tune when the lyric was finished.”

Lamont Dozier

From here you get the classic Supremes style which employed studio techniques such as foot stomping, handclaps and echoes. This became their signature sound.

So, what happened when Holland-Dozier-Holland shared the original demo of ‘Baby Love’ with Berry Gordy?

It was rejected. The verdict came down firmly on the side of no…According to Gordy it was lacking something.

When H-D-H finished it the first time. I said ‘It’s great, but it has no life, there’s no gimmick here…of course they disagreed with me. But they went back into the studio and re-cut it. And at the beginning, they put in the little thing, ooh-ooh-ooh – that little bit. And I said, that’s perfect!”

Berry Gordy

We all know the result of this extra push.

In hindsight, Brian Holland agreed.

When we cut ‘Baby Love’ the first time, it was a little too slow. We wanted to add a little more pep to it.”

Brian Holland

‘Where Did Our Love Go’ and ‘Baby Love’ both went to #1 on the Billboard top singles charts. This success made them the first Motown act with two #1s. This led the way to five #1s in a row. The remaining three were ‘Come See About Me’, ‘Stop In the Name of Love’ and ‘Back in My Arms Again’.

Read how closely Brian Holland was aligned with Lamont Dozier in the approach to the song writing process.

When we write a song, we try to express real feelings about a real situation. In writing the song for The Supremes it was obvious that we were writing for pretty young girls, of whom one is the so-called lead singer. Therefore, in writing ‘Baby Love,’ we pictured a simple story about a girl whose boyfriend has left her and who loves him very dearly and who would like the boy to come back. The music fits this simple story.”

Brian Holland

They make it sound so easy.

Enjoy ‘Baby Love’ from ‘Top of the Pops’ in 1964.

Nearly sixty years after their celebrated chart success, the Supremes still exist as a standard for quality recording techniques and delivery. Naturally, efforts to either replicate or interpret their work exists across in interesting range of artists.

Tim Curry is most famous for his role as Dr. Frank N.Furter in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. Here he is doing a strong interpretation of ‘Baby Love’ in 1976. This was released on the album ‘From the Vaults’ in 2010.

The bridge from the Supremes to La Toya Jackson seems rather obvious. This 1995 cover is a clear homage to the artists who paved the way. La Toya turns this emotional plea into something bouncy and fun. Much like the original.

You can always count on Erasure to offer something a little different. This is strong. This brilliant cover was delivered on a tribute album known as ‘Motown Mania’ which was released in 2000.

It gets even better. Who else should be featured other than the original song writer, Lamont Dozier? This is from his 2002 album ‘Reflections of Lamont Dozier’. This is next level. He recites the lyrics as though it’s a list of reasons why the couple should reconcile. Who can say no to this?

Every once in a while, Donny Osmond comes up in my research and I can never resist sharing his covers. This is from 2014. This song takes Osmond back to his formative days and his genuine love for music.

The first time I heard ‘Baby Love’ was on the radio. I was 7 years old. It impressed me so much that 13 years later I contacted the writing and arrangement team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and asked them to produce an album for me – ‘Donald Clark Osmond’. I really wanted to do a remake of this song but I am no Diana Ross. So I thought, what if I approach this song like Al Green? He too is another artist that affected my musicality.”

Donny Osmond

Here is the result.

There is no better way to conclude than this medley that was offered by an intriguing combination in 2018. Here is Lamont Dozier and Graham Nash. This collaboration was appropriately entitled ‘Reimagination’. It includes four of the five #1 hits. Other tracks on this collection include Dozier presenting his music alongside Lee Ann Womack and Todd Rundgren, and more. Check it out. Until then, close your eyes and listen.

Remarkably, four of the key figures in this post are still with us.

Living legends, each and every one of them.

Diana Ross will celebrate her eightieth birthday in March of next year.

Brian Holland has his name on 145 hit songs in the United States and another 78 in the United Kingdom.

Eddie Holland – Alive and kicking at turned 84 last month. His musical resume closely rivals his brother’s. He also worked with the great Norman Whitfield. (See ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’)

Berry Gordy Jr – Is alive and kicking at 93. The mastermind behind Motown Music has his fingerprints on an entire genre of music. Music fans owe this man a huge thank you.

Please take a moment to remember the greatness of each of the following.

Florence Ballard – Died on February 22, 1976

Mary Wilson – Died on February 8, 2021

Lamont Dozier – Died on August 8, 2022

One of the many purposes of Ted Tocks Covers is bringing the creative process into focus, and emphasizing the role of the many people who bring the music to our ears. Today’s feature is a perfect example of collaboration, and the minor tweaks that turn something ordinary into a sound that has become literally timeless.

Enjoy and share.

For just shy of three minutes, today’s song will make you forget everything, or better yet, it might make you realize that everything will be alright.