New Ways But Love Stays is a 1970 album by the Jean Terrell-led version of "The Supremes."
Overview[]
Building on the foundation of the group's first LP, Right On, "New Ways" was produced by Frank Wilson and features The Supremes' most successful single with Terrell, "Stoned Love".
The Sly & the Family Stone-inspired plea for peace and love was written by Mary Wilson and a Detroit teenager named Kenny Thomas.
The song's title, read by many entertainment executives as a double-edged drug reference, prevented the song from making an impact in some areas.
For example, footage of The Supremes performing the number was edited out of a November 1970 episode of "The Merv Griffin Show."
However, the song still was a huge success on the charts, reaching number 7 on the Billboard hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
It was also a huge smash hit in Europe and the UK, "Stoned Love" sold 2.4 million copies worldwide.
The album was originally titled "Stoned Love" after its hit single. the controversy over the song's name prevented this from occurring. Another change that befell the project was the alteration of the original album cover.
The original design used a photograph which depicted the three Supremes in Afros and black turtlenecks, giving them a Black power look.
Apparently feeling that such a look would go against the Supremes' established "glamour girl" image, Motown's final cover for the album includes one of the Black power photos, but it is inset within a circle and surrounded by additional inset pictures of the three Supremes in their more familiar gowns.
Besides its notable hit single, the album also includes several notable album tracks such as "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" (a Spinners cover), and "It's Time To Break Down."
The song "It's Time To Break Down" is today recognized as a minor "dusty groove" classic and was sampled by hip hop producer DJ Premier for the Gang Starr song "JFK 2 LAX", included on the 1998 LP "Moment of Truth."
The album also features covers of then-current hits by Simon & Garfunkel ("Bridge Over Troubled Water"), The Beatles ("Come Together") and Steam ("Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)").
It is also the first to feature lead vocal lines by Cindy Birdsong, on "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
Tracklist[]
- "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music"
- "Stoned Love"
- "It's Time To Break Down"
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
- "I Wish I Were Your Mirror"
- "Come Together"
- "Is There A Place (In His Heart For Me)?"
- "Na, Na, Hey, Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)"
- "Shine On Me"
- "Thank Him For Today"
Credits[]
- Jean Terrell - Lead vocals
- Mary Wilson - Lead and Background vocals
- Cindy Birdsong - Lead and Background vocals
- Frank Wilson - Producer (except "Is There A Place")
- Clay MacMurray - Producer ("Is There A Place")
Chart History[]
Album[]
| Chart (1970) | Peak Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Albums | #68 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Albums | #12 |
Singles[]
| Single | U.S. Pop Singles Chart | U.S. R&B Singles Chart | U.S. Adult Contemporary Singles Chart | U.K. Pop Singles |
| "Stoned Love" | #7 | #1 | #24 | #3 |