Brett Callwood
Former Supremes Go With the FLOS: Gosh, the Catalina Jazz Club is a swanky joint. Frankly, we’re surprised they let us in. Fortunately, the super-friendly staff not only granted our scruffy (relative to most of the other patrons) selves entry, they seated us right at the front.
In a recent review of the Temptations at the Saban in Beverly Hills, we pointed out that the chance to see original member Otis Williams should be grabbed while we have him. Any Temptations is better than no Temptations.
The situation with the Supremes is different but there are similarities. There isn’t a Supremes still performing, so we’re left with two options: We can, and should, go see Miss. Diana Ross at every available opportunity. She always plays Supremes songs and, as last year’s Hollywood Bowl concert proved, she’s still magnificent. The other option is to see the group officially billed as Scherrie & Susaye Former Ladies of THE SUPREMES.
Sometimes referred to as FLOS, the group has previously included Jean Terrell, Cindy Birdsong and Lynda Laurence in the ranks — all former members of the Supremes. Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene were the final two members to join the band, and they’re joined in FLOS by Joyce Vincent, a Detroit native who was at one point under consideration for the Supremes but it never happened.’
Here’s the thing — those last couple of Supremes albums, featuring Payne and Greene (High Energy and Mary, Scherrie & Susaye, both 1976) were awesome. The late, great Mary Wilson had taken the group in a more disco direction, but the songs were magnificent. Honestly, we would have preferred to hear a lot more of those songs on Saturday night. But still, the Supremes classics were welcome.
Every one is a winner: “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” “Stoned Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Stop In the Name of Love,” and a closing “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
There was time for Vincent’s cover of Dionne Warwick’s “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” and to give a warm welcome to Payne’s famously singing sister Freda Payne, who was in attendance.
The ladies sounded wonderful throughout, and this jazz crowd on the Strip lapped it up. They’re not the Supremes, but they’re not pretending to be. This group is exactly what it says on the tin: Former Members of the Supremes, and they’re still dazzling.
(Brett Callwood)
Former Supremes Go With the FLOS
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