For some reason I have a poor quality, digitally recorded song, maybe taken from vinyl or cassette. It's labelled as being by The Supremes, and it does sounds like Diana Ross on lead vocals. The song is called "(We've Got) Honey Love". It's recorded a tone or so higher, and is half a beat faster, than the other versions.

Now, I've searched high and low, to find out where it came from, (what album/single etc) but to no avail. Every search I've done, be that through boxes, books and the internet, comes down to the same thing. The song was only recorded by The Vandellas or the Velvelettes, NOT by The Supremes. Can anyone shed any light on this please?.

3 minutes ago, Motownsoulman said:

For some reason I have a poor quality, digitally recorded song, maybe taken from vinyl or cassette. It's labelled as being by The Supremes, and it does sounds like Diana Ross on lead vocals. The song is called "(We've Got) Honey Love". It's recorded a tone or so higher, and is half a beat faster, than the other versions.

Now, I've searched high and low, to find out where it came from, (what album/single etc) but to no avail. Every search I've done, be that through boxes, books and the internet, comes down to the same thing. The song was only recorded by The Vandellas or the Velvelettes, NOT by The Supremes. Can anyone shed any light on this please?.

Ask Bob Klein on here.

I have a hazy recollection this track was on a cassette he sent me.

I've never seen nor heard of any Supremes' version of that. I only know of The Vandellas and Velvelettes' version. Maybe it sounded high enough to be Diane Ross because it was recorded at a sightly higher speed (done by a US Supremes'/Ross fan, or an NS fan/DJ)??? Or, maybe it was just an unreleased Supremes' version that only was released on Digital 1966 or 1967(perhaps never issued on anything because its production was only partial (never finished), or was deemed not a good enough take?

I don't recall ever labelling that song being sung by The Supremes. I know Diane Ross' voice very well, I don't like her singing at all. I can't stand her shrill voice. I'd remember hearing a Supremes' version of that song.

Edited October 5Oct 5 by Robbk

(We've Got) Honey Love (Richard Morris-Sylvia Moy) published Jobete 06-May-69

alt title: Honey Love

The Vandellas; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 05-Jan-68 ; produced by Richard Morris

29-Apr-68; LP (S): Gordy S926 Ridin' High
29-Apr-68; LP (M): Gordy G926 Ridin' High [DJ copies only]
20-Mar-69; 45 (M): Gordy G 7085 A
21-Aug-74; LP (S): Motown M7-778R2 Anthology
07-Sep-93; CD (M): Motown MOTD 6313 Live Wire! The Singles 1962-1972
1997; CD (M): Britannia 530 709 Motown: The History: The Happening [UK]
May-02; CD (S): Motown 016 837 2 Ridin' High / Sugar 'n Spice [UK]
07-Mar-06; CD (S): Motown B000522602 Gold
06-Dec-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0010270-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9 1969
29-Apr-13; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0017845-02 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1962-1972

The Velvelettes; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 09-Aug-67 ; produced by Richard Morris, Sylvia Moy ; [1st odb (lead Cal Gill)]

30-Oct-67 [acetate]; 45 (M): CDMN 0898-FHLL
31-Oct-04; CD (S): Motown 980 9372 The Motown Anthology [UK]

The Velvelettes; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 09-Aug-67 ; produced by Richard Morris, Sylvia Moy ; [2nd odb (lead Sandra Tilley)]

12-Jan-05; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0003619-02 Motown Sings Motown Treasures Volumes 1+2

Just as I suspected. It must have been one of The Velvelettes' versions, sped up a bit. Maybe Sandra Tilley on lead? Cal Gill's voice is more recognisable.

Could a mix up come from this, it mentions that song and Diana Ross.

This is opening line from an interview with Cal Gill in Record Collector in 2007.

She possessed one of the most earthy, soulful vocal deliveries associated with the Motown label, but Cal Gill, lead singer with The Velvelettes, was told she had to pinch her nose while singing (We’ve Got) Honey Love to sound more like Diana Ross – even though the five-piece (Cal Gill, Norma Barbee, Bertha Barbee, Mildred Gill, Betty Kelly) had beaten The Supremes not once but twice in a Motown Battle Of The Stars talent contest in 1964.

https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/standing-in-the-shadows-of-motown

Can you post a sound clip?

47 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Can you post a sound clip?

3 hours ago, Chalky said:

(We've Got) Honey Love (Richard Morris-Sylvia Moy) published Jobete 06-May-69

alt title: Honey Love

The Vandellas; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 05-Jan-68 ; produced by Richard Morris

29-Apr-68; LP (S): Gordy S926 Ridin' High
29-Apr-68; LP (M): Gordy G926 Ridin' High [DJ copies only]
20-Mar-69; 45 (M): Gordy G 7085 A
21-Aug-74; LP (S): Motown M7-778R2 Anthology
07-Sep-93; CD (M): Motown MOTD 6313 Live Wire! The Singles 1962-1972
1997; CD (M): Britannia 530 709 Motown: The History: The Happening [UK]
May-02; CD (S): Motown 016 837 2 Ridin' High / Sugar 'n Spice [UK]
07-Mar-06; CD (S): Motown B000522602 Gold
06-Dec-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0010270-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9 1969
29-Apr-13; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0017845-02 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1962-1972

The Velvelettes; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 09-Aug-67 ; produced by Richard Morris, Sylvia Moy ; [1st odb (lead Cal Gill)]

30-Oct-67 [acetate]; 45 (M): CDMN 0898-FHLL
31-Oct-04; CD (S): Motown 980 9372 The Motown Anthology [UK]

The Velvelettes; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 09-Aug-67 ; produced by Richard Morris, Sylvia Moy ; [2nd odb (lead Sandra Tilley)]

12-Jan-05; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0003619-02 Motown Sings Motown Treasures Volumes 1+2

I've already ready all that, days ago, though I don't think it's definitive.

1 hour ago, Alan T said:

Could a mix up come from this, it mentions that song and Diana Ross.

This is opening line from an interview with Cal Gill in Record Collector in 2007.

She possessed one of the most earthy, soulful vocal deliveries associated with the Motown label, but Cal Gill, lead singer with The Velvelettes, was told she had to pinch her nose while singing (We’ve Got) Honey Love to sound more like Diana Ross – even though the five-piece (Cal Gill, Norma Barbee, Bertha Barbee, Mildred Gill, Betty Kelly) had beaten The Supremes not once but twice in a Motown Battle Of The Stars talent contest in 1964.

https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/standing-in-the-shadows-of-motown

I suppose that makes sense. I'm not giving up yet though.

14 hours ago, Modernsoulsucks said:

Ask Bob Klein on here.

I have a hazy recollection this track was on a cassette he sent me.

How do I search for a member?

37 minutes ago, Motownsoulman said:

How do I search for aHe's on the thread now.

38 minutes ago, Motownsoulman said:

How do I search for a member?

He's on the thread now.

RobbK.

I must be mistaken as he doesn't seem to know.

4 hours ago, Motownsoulman said:

I've already ready all that, days ago, though I don't think it's definitive.

It's as definitive as you are going to get from Motown.

12 hours ago, Modernsoulsucks said:

  13 hours ago, Motownsoulman said:

12 hours ago, Modernsoulsucks said:

  13 hours ago, Motownsoulman said:

12 hours ago, Modernsoulsucks said:

  13 hours ago, Motownsoulman said:

On 05/10/2025 at 13:36, Modernsoulsucks said:

Ask Bob Klein on here.

I have a hazy recollection this track was on a cassette he sent me.

13 hours ago, Motownsoulman said:

Rod: The tape of "(He's Got) Honey Love" that I sent you was The Velvelettes' version, with Cal Gill on lead. I'm sure it wasn't The Sandra Tilley lead Velvelettes' version, or the Martha and The Vandellas' version. I think that it's more likely that the higher-pitched version was Cal Gill's lead version, because that was the one circulating among Soulies, probably from carvers made from your copy of the tape. I don't remember outside people even knowing about the Sandra Tilley lead version, as the 10 inch acetate that it was on hadn't yet been sold on auction back in the early '80s. What The OP describes is probably Cal's version, sped up a bit. I doubt that she actually sang it while holding her nostrils closed. It would have sounded too nasal and unnatural, and we wouldn't have liked it. Do you recall which DJ's played it? Maybe you can ask them if they sped it up. Although, I don't think speeding it up would have helped make it a better dance beat. It was already set at a pretty good tempo.

Edited October 7Oct 7 by Robbk

I never used that track as I didn't consider it Northern enough.

I'm pretty sure I didn't do copies of those cassettes you sent me for anyone else.

What I did do was make cassettes of Stafford playlist which included some of the unreleased Motown cuts that we did play like "Suspicion", "Love starved heart" etc. along with regular non-Motown 45s.