The story behind The Supremes’ iconic hit, often playfully referred to as the “Shoop Song” due to its memorable “Baby, baby” backing vocals, is one of initial rejection and surprising success. Penned by the legendary Lamont Dozier, along with Brian and Eddie Holland, “Where Did Our Love Go” wasn’t initially destined for the queens of Motown. In fact, it was almost shelved entirely, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the music industry and how sometimes, the songs artists resist the most become their defining anthems.
Lamont Dozier himself conceived the track with The Marvelettes in mind, crafting it in the key of Gladys Horton, their lead singer. At Motown during that era, songwriters bore the financial burden for tracks that went unrecorded by their artists, adding pressure to secure placements. Dozier confidently presented the song to Gladys Horton, fully expecting it to be a perfect fit for The Marvelettes. However, her reaction was far from enthusiastic. According to Dozier, Horton declared, “Oh, honey, we don’t do stuff like that. And it’s the worst thing I ever heard.” This vehement rejection left Dozier in a precarious position, needing to find another artist quickly to avoid footing the bill for the track.
In his search, Dozier went through the Motown roster, eventually landing on The Supremes, then known as the “no hit Supremes.” Desperate, he pitched the song to them, portraying it as tailor-made for their sound, knowing they were in dire need of a breakthrough hit. Surprisingly, The Supremes also initially turned down “Where Did Our Love Go.” Perhaps influenced by Gladys Horton’s negative opinion, or simply not connecting with the song at first, they were hesitant. Undeterred, Dozier, along with Brian and Eddie Holland, persisted. They convinced the group that this song was their “saving grace,” a chance they couldn’t afford to miss. Martha and the Vandellas had already found Top 40 success with Holland-Dozier-Holland, and the songwriting trio argued this could be The Supremes’ ticket to similar, if not greater, heights.
Reluctantly, The Supremes agreed to record the song, but their initial displeasure carried over into the studio. Diana Ross, in particular, voiced her strong objection to the key, finding it too low for her vocal range. Indeed, Dozier had written it in Gladys Horton’s lower key, and with the track already laid down, Ross had to adapt, singing in a register she wasn’t accustomed to. Ironically, this initial frustration and the lower key turned out to be serendipitous. As Dozier observed, Diana’s “bad attitude and the low key were exactly what the song needed!” Furthermore, Dozier had meticulously arranged intricate background vocals for Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. However, the group, still resistant to the song, refused to learn them. In a moment of improvisation, Dozier instructed them to simply sing “Baby, baby, baby.” This seemingly simplistic solution, born out of necessity, became the song’s signature hook, instantly recognizable and undeniably catchy.
Despite the creative breakthrough in the studio, tensions remained high. Diana Ross and Lamont Dozier reportedly exchanged heated words, leading Ross to complain to Berry Gordy, Jr., about Dozier’s behavior. Gordy visited the studio to mediate and, while there, listened to the track. While he acknowledged its quality, even Berry Gordy, the Motown mogul, wasn’t immediately convinced of its chart-topping potential, predicting it would reach the Top 10 but unsure if it was a number one hit.
Released nonetheless, “Where Did Our Love Go” defied expectations, soaring to the top of the charts and becoming The Supremes’ first number one hit. It launched them into superstardom, initiating a remarkable run of 13 consecutive number one singles crafted by Holland-Dozier-Holland. The transformation was immediate and dramatic. Dozier recounted a humorous encounter at the airport shortly after the song’s release, where he and the Holland brothers saw The Supremes disembarking a plane, adorned in mink stoles and carrying Yorkshire terriers. The image perfectly encapsulated their overnight transition from struggling artists to glamorous stars, all thanks to the song they initially resisted – the “shoop song” that changed everything.
