Classic Pop Icons

The Supremes’ smash hit “You Can’t Hurry Love” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “You Can’t Hurry Love” was released on single in July 1966, backed with “Put Yourself in My Place”. It also featured on the album “The Supremes A’ Go-Go,” which was released the following month.

The Supremes had formed in 1959 as the Primettes, before being signed by Motown the following year as the Supremes, but it wasn’t until 1964 that they had their real breakthrough success with the number one hit “Where Did Our Love Go”. By the time “You Can’t Hurry Love” was released in the summer of 1966, they were superstars, with six US number ones behind them and a huge fan base.

The Supremes were the group most responsible for the Motown sound reaching a global audience and they did so by releasing consistently excellent singles crafted by the hugely talented Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting trio. In the June 2003 issue of Performing Songwriter magazine, songwriter Lamont Dozier recalled the inspiration for “You Can’t Hurry Love”:

The Supremes with Holland-Dozier-Holland

One of the strengths of Holland-Dozier-Holland was their impeccable instincts for what material would suit the artists they were working with. Diana Ross has a calm, seductive vocal delivery, that is completely free of bombast, and Holland-Dozier-Holland always crafted songs that highlighted her vocal strengths. “You Can’t Hurry Love” is a good example. It’s contained within relatively few notes, but the verses and chorus both feature memorable and distinctive melodies that quickly engage the listener. This was radio-friendly material and the sales reflected that.

“You Can’t Hurry Love” – The Supremes

Authorship

As noted above, “You Can’t Hurry Love” was one of many classic hits penned by the legendary songwriting Holland–Dozier–Holland trio. Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics, and Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland wrote the music and produced the track. The trio wrote many other hits for the Supremes, including the number ones “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Come See About Me,” “Baby Love,” and “Stop! In the Name of Love”.

Recording date/location

“You Can’t Hurry Love” was recorded on on June 11 and July 5, 1966 at Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A), located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.

Musicians

Diana Ross provided the lead vocals on “You Can’t Hurry Love”. Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard are officially credited as the backing vocalists, but Marlene Barrow of the Adantes has claimed that she replaced Ballard on this track. The Adantes were used as backing vocalists on many Motown recordings.

The instrumentation was provided by the legendary Motown house band The Funk Brothers.

Chart performance

“You Can’t Hurry Love” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 4, 1966. This was the Supremes’ seventh of 12 number one singles in the US.

The single peaked at number three on the UK singles chart.

“The Supremes A’ Go-Go” album was the first album by a female group to top the Billboard album chart.

Other notable recording

“You Can’t Hurry Love” – Phil Collins

Phil Collins was reaching his commercial peak when he topped the UK singles chart with his well worked cover of “You Can’t Hurry Love” in 1982. Collins clearly had a natural affinity with the material, and would return to Motown for inspiration on a number of occasions before recording an entire album of Motown covers in 2010.

Collins 1988 hit “Two Hearts” was written in collaboration with “You Can’t Hurry Love” songwriter Lamont Dozier.

There will be a new Song of the Week on August 13.

“You Can’t Hurry Love” is available on many compilations, including the good value 2-CD set “The Supremes – Gold”.

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