A rare live recording of The Supremes at New York City's famous Copacabana nightclub. Excellent liner notes from iSupreme: "This was recorded on the night of the 20th of May, 1967 only a few months before founding member and soprano of the group Florence Ballard was fired. This performance features very entertaining and funny interaction between the members of the group to the great delight of the audience. This performance also includes the infamous little part where Diana Ross boasts ...Thin is in!' and Florence Ballard replies '...and honey, fat is where it's at!' "
Those who know the history of The Supremes and the ultimate fate of Ballard, as well as readers of the recent The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard, should appreciate the significance of Diane's "joke."
THANK YOU!
I have been hunting for this for months. Now there are several on You Tubes, I am thrilled.
Posted by: Vern | 23 October 2008 at 11:22
Love, love, love, love Florence Ballard. She was the soul of the Supremes.
Posted by: Braxton | 23 October 2008 at 11:24
That's right Diane Ross ... sorry Diana is what they cal you know. Go ahead and fcuk Berry Gordy and push rub it in. Humiliate Florence Ballard onstage, push her closer to the bottle and a nervous breakdown.
Such a class act.
Posted by: ATL KID | 23 October 2008 at 11:27
ROD WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. HER NAME IS MISS DIANA ROSS.
YOU ARE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO BE PROVOCATIVE IN EVERY POST.
LET BYGONES BE BYGONES. FLORENCE AND DIANA PATCHED THINGS UP BEFORE HER DEATH. DID YOU SEE DREAMGIRLS?
Posted by: Timothy B | 23 October 2008 at 11:30
Timothy, that was a joke right?
Posted by: Allen H | 23 October 2008 at 11:36
Wow, Timothy, how should I answer that?
How about read a history book? Florence Ballard died sick, broke and penniless. And no DIANE ROSS did not make up with her befoe her death.
Dreamgirls is/was a work of fiction loosely based on the Supremes. But in the movie they all made up and the Florence character, Efie White, had a triumphant return. Not the story in real life.
And Diana Ross was born DIANE Ross, that is her stage name. Man, do any of you read anything?
Posted by: ATL Kid | 23 October 2008 at 11:45
Yeah, ALLEN H, I think TIMOTHY is pulling our body parts. He cannot be serious. If he is, I'm outta' here. Ross fanatics can get violent.
Posted by: Derrick for Philly | 23 October 2008 at 11:48
I've got my own thoughts about this situation (which I will keep to myself) but one thing we all should agree on is that nobody knows what truly went down but the three of them ... It's a tragic story for sure, which is why when it comes to The Supremes (with Ross and after) I try to stick to the music. I love live recordings of them because they show how versatile and talented all three of those women were. Refreshing post. :-)
Posted by: S. Flemming | 23 October 2008 at 12:18
I like Mary Wilson, the "heart of the Supremes." She has fought for their legacy and history for sometime.-QH
Posted by: QH | 23 October 2008 at 14:03
Timothy is right about Diana and Florence. It has been clearly documented that Diana and Florence talked immediately following the release of Mahogany. They talked about a hour. Florence loved the movie, but hated the ending. Shortly after that conversation Florence received a nice check in the mail from Motown, which many believe Diana was behind. I am sure Florence realized that Diana did what she had to do. Berry knew from day one who was going to lead the Supremes. Diana was the voice to lead Motown to crossover. He gambled and the payoff was big.
Posted by: mitch | 06 November 2008 at 22:36