The Supremes & the Four Tops

Magnificent: The Complete Studio Duets (Hip-O Select)

Diana Ross took the voice, but the Supremes’ personality belonged to founder Flo Ballard, meaning respective replacements Jean Terrell and Cindy Birdsong (plus Mary Wilson) cede their baby love to Tops top Levi Stubbs on three 1970s hookups. The Magnificent 7 holsters Laura Nyro (“Stoned Soul Picnic”), Sly Stone, and Ike & Tina. Return of the Magnificent Seven halves the sing-alongs, and Dynamite‘s all wet outside of Marvin & Tami. Outtakes bring little “Joy to the World.”

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This article appears in September 11 • 2009.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.