London Observer Disses Flo; Author Peter Benjaminson Asks for Correction
The London Observer wrote in its Sunday, November 9 edition that "Stop! In the Name of Love" was recorded by Diana Ross and the Supremes, a group that did not include Florence Ballard.
The story, written by Luke Bainbridge, says that it was in Motown's Studio A where "Barrett Strong, on Motown's first national hit, declared 'Money (That's What I Want)', where Smokey Robinson cried his 'Tears of a Clown', the Four Tops promised 'Reach Out, I'll Be There', Martha Reeves and the Vandellas sent a call out around the world, asking 'are you ready for a brand new beat?' and Diana Ross and the Supremes demanded 'Stop! In the Name of Love'. It was within these four walls that little Stevie Wonder recorded his first songs and, later, as the Sixties faded, Marvin Gaye asked 'What's Going On?'."
What's going on, indeed. Author Peter Benjaminson immediately wrote the Observer about "the
major error in the third paragraph, in which the 1965 pop classic 'Stop! In the Name of Love' is credited to 'Diana Ross and the Supremes.' The Supremes, until 1968, consisted of Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, plus Diana Ross, and the group was called 'The Supremes,' not 'Diana Ross and the Surpremes'. This may be of small consequence to some people, but it's a big point in music history. The Supremes recorded 10 #1 Hits as 'The Supremes,' including 'Stop! In the Name of Love,' between 1964 and 1967. After Florence Ballard was expelled from the group, and Diana Ross took over, renaming the group 'Diana Ross and the Supremes,' the group scored exactly two #1 hits from 1969 until it disbanded."
Neither Flo nor Mary Wilson is even mentioned in the lengthy article.
Any reaction from the Observer will be posted on this website ASAP.