Classic Pop Icons

The Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Stop! In the Name of Love” was released on single in February 1965, backed with “I’m In Love Again”. It also appeared on the Supremes’ sixth album “More Hits by The Supremes,” which was released five months later.

The Supremes had been signed by Motown in 1960 as the Primettes, changing their name to the Supremes the following year. Their breakthrough hit came in the summer of 1964 when “Where Did Our Love Go” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Before the year was done they had notched up another two number one singles and become one of the most successful acts in popular music. It must have been a confident group that recorded “Stop! In the Name of Love” in the New Year.

In a 2004 interview with Designer Magazine, songwriter Lamon Dozier highlighted “Stop! In the Name of Love” as one of the favourite songs that he had written, and discussed the inspiration for the song:

“There’s so many that bring about different ideas and different memories when I go through these songs. Say a song like “Stop In The Name Of Love” really brings about a lot of memories cos I was a bit of a playboy at the time that the song came about. This girl caught me with another girl and this is how that song was born. Somehow I tried to diffuse the argument we were having and blurted out viscously “stop baby, please stop in the name of love” and laughing about it as the other girl was lying out the back door. That’s how that song was really born. Things like that really come to mind that play a part in the memory of the song and the love I have for song.”

The song defies the classic verse/chorus pop song structure and instead begins with the dynamic chorus. This was a good idea as the listener’s attention is captured immediately with the “Stop! in the name of love” line. This also worked very well in a live setting as the group performed distinctive and memorable choreography to open the song. The one hand on the hip and other hand pointing forward on the word “Stop!” was the idea of Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin of The Temptations, who taught it to The Supremes before their appearance on the “Ready Steady Go! – Sound of Motown” television special in London. As simple as the choreography is, it’s almost impossible to listen to the song without thinking of it.

“Stop! In the Name of Love” was the first record released on the UK Tamla Motown label. The Supremes’ previous UK singles had been released via the Stateside label.

“Stop! In the Name of Love” – The Supremes

“Stop! In the Name of Love” is among the classic songs included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s permanent collection of the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”.

Authorship

“Stop! In the Name of 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. Previous credits for the songwriting team included The Supremes’ first three number ones: “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Come See About Me” and “Baby Love.”

The Supremes with Holland-Dozier-Holland

Recording date/location

“Stop! In the Name of Love” was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A) on January 5, 7 and 11, 1965.

Musicians

Diana Ross was on lead vocals but there has been some confusion over whether she was backed by fellow Supremes Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, or by the Andantes. The booklet for “The Supremes – 50th Anniversary: Singles Collection 1961-1969” tells us:

“Diana Mary and Florence recorded the song but four days later the tune was re-cut with the Andantes. This became the released version that received a Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Rock & Roll Performance by a Group.”

The liner notes for the “More Hits: Expanded Edition” release say:

“January 5, 1965: ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’ is cut for the Supremes. The girls dub-in their vocals on January 7 and again on January 11 with help from the Adantes. The latter becomes the released version.”

So it would appear that Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson are on the final master, but the sound is filled out by the Adantes, who fulfilled the same role on many Motown recordings.

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

Chart performance

Motown promoted the “Stop! In the Name of Love” single as “Destined to be their [The Supremes] fourth No. 1 record in a row”. The label’s confident prediction came true when the single replaced The Beatles’ “Eight Days a Week” at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on March 21, 1965. The Supremes would achieve 12 number one singles in total.

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

“Stop! In the Name of Love” is available on a number of releases, including the following:

Title
More Hits By the Supremes (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
The Supremes – Gold (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
The Supremes – 50th Anniversary: Singles Collection 1961-1969 (3 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now