Cream of the Crop — The Supremes

Cream of the Crop feels like the final, elegant bow of a legendary stage performance.

There is an unmistakable sense of transition permeating the record, as the 1960s draw to a close and the group's central figure prepares for a solo flight.

The music is deeply rooted in the sophisticated Detroit soul that defined the decade, yet it carries a heavier, more mature emotional weight than their earlier, more buoyant hits. It is the sound of professional excellence meeting personal departure.

Moments Worth Listening For

The iconic, swelling orchestral intro of Someday We'll Be Together that signals both an end and a beginning.

The way the backing vocals on The Beginning of the End create a swirling, almost psychedelic wall of sound behind Ross.

The sparse, bluesy guitar lick that opens Loving You Is Better Than Ever before the full band kicks in.

Where This Album Departs

How does Cream of the Crop sound next to the rest of The Supremes's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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