I Want a Guy
"I Want a Guy" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Supremes | ||||
from the album Meet The Supremes | ||||
B-side | "Never Again" | |||
Released | March 9, 1961 | |||
Recorded | Hitsville U.S.A.; December, 1960 | |||
Genre | Doo-wop | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | Tamla T 54038 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Berry Gordy Brian Holland Freddie Gorman | |||
Producer(s) | Berry Gordy, Jr. | |||
The Supremes singles chronology | ||||
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Meet The Supremes track listing | ||||
11 tracks
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"I Want a Guy" is a song written by Freddie Gorman, Berry Gordy and Brian Holland and was the debuting single for Motown girl group The Supremes in 1961.[1] It was also recorded by The Marvelettes on their album Please Mr. Postman. Featuring Diana Ross in lead, the song was a doo-wop ballad similar to what the Supremes had been recording since forming as "The Primettes" two years earlier.
The song's lyrics tell about a lonely woman who wants a new lover who won't mistreat her and always be loyal to her.
- I want a guy to love me
- One who will love me completely
- Not like the last
- Who's in the past
- Who broke my heart and made me cry
When issued, the song failed to chart forcing Berry Gordy to find other options for the teenage quartet - its full lineup included Barbara Martin alongside Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. Three members of the group (Ross, Wilson and Ballard), in fact, had already recorded a single, "Tears of Sorrow"/"Pretty Baby", in their previous quartet, "The Primettes". In between the two singles the teenaged girls would replace Betty McGlown with Martin, and the new quartet would be recording under a new name (and under a new record deal). This song would be issued as a b-side of a Marvelettes hit ("Twistin' Postman") later that year and would be led by Wanda Rogers, one of her first with the group.[1] Their version, more up-tempo than the original, also would not chart nationally, but became a regional hit.
Personnel
The Supremes version
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Barbara Martin
- Musitron & Ondioline instrumentation by Raynoma Liles Gordy
- Other instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
- Additional keyboards by Joe Hunter
- Bass by James Jamerson
- Drums by Benny Benjamin
- Flute by Thomas "Beans" Bowles
- Guitar by Eddie Willis and Joe Messina
The Marvelettes version
- Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers
- Background vocals by Gladys Horton, Georgeanna Tillman, Wyanetta "Juanita" Cowart, and Katherine Anderson
- Musitron & Ondioline instrumentation by Raynoma Liles Gordy
- Other instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
- Bass by James Jamerson
- Drums by Benny Benjamin
- Guitar by Eddie Willis
- Organ by Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
- Piano by Marvin Gaye
- Tenor saxophone by Hank Cosby
- Baritone saxophone by Andrew "Mike" Terry
References
- ^ a b c The Complete Motown Singles Vol 1: 1959-1961 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
- v
- t
- e
- Florence Ballard
- Cindy Birdsong
- Susaye Greene
- Lynda Laurence
- Barbara Martin
- Betty McGlown
- Scherrie Payne
- Diana Ross
- Jean Terrell
- Mary Wilson
- Meet The Supremes (1962)
- Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
- More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
- I Hear a Symphony (1966)
- The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
- The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
- Reflections (1968)
- Love Child (1968)
- Let the Sunshine In (1969)
- Cream of the Crop (1969)
- Right On (1970)
- New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
- Touch (1971)
- Floy Joy (1972)
- The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
- The Supremes (1975)
- High Energy (1976)
- Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
- Together (1969)
- The Magnificent 7 (1970)
- The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
- Dynamite (1971)
- The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
- Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
- TCB (1968)
- On Broadway (1969)
- Farewell (1970)
- The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
- A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
- The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
- We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
- Merry Christmas (1965)
- The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
- "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
- "I Want a Guy"
- "Buttered Popcorn"
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
- "Let Me Go the Right Way"
- "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
- "A Breathtaking Guy"
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
- "Run, Run, Run"
- "Where Did Our Love Go"
- "Baby Love"
- "Come See About Me"
- "Stop! In the Name of Love"
- "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
- "Nothing but Heartaches"
- "I Hear a Symphony"
- "My World Is Empty Without You"
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
- "You Can't Hurry Love"
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
- "The Happening"
- "Reflections"
- "In and Out of Love"
- "Forever Came Today"
- "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
- "Love Child"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "I'm Livin' in Shame"
- "I'll Try Something New"
- "The Composer"
- "No Matter What Sign You Are"
- "The Weight"
- "I Second That Emotion"
- "Someday We'll Be Together"
- "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
- "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
- "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
- "Stoned Love"
- "River Deep – Mountain High"
- "Nathan Jones"
- "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
- "Touch"
- "Floy Joy"
- "Automatically Sunshine"
- "Without the One You Love"
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
- "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
- "Bad Weather"
- "Tossin' and Turnin'"
- "He's My Man"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
- "Early Morning Love"
- "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
- "High Energy"
- "You're My Driving Wheel"
- "Let Yourself Go"
- "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
- T.A.M.I. Show
- Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
- Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
- Sparkle (1976 film)
- Dreamgirls (musical)
- Dreamgirls (film)
- Sparkle (2012 film)
- Discography
- Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
- Members
- FLOS
- Farewell concert
- Return to Love Tour
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