Someday We'll Be Together by Diana Ross & the Supremes

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On “Someday We’ll Be Together”, Diana Ross yearns to be reunited with her long-distance lover, and bids farewell to the Supremes. Released at the end of 1969, it was the Supremes' final single with Ross, who had led them to become arguably America’s most popular group. It was the last of their 12 chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot 100 and the final #1 of the 1960s. “Someday” was originally recorded by the duo Johnny & Jackey (Johnny Bristol and Jackey Beavers) in 1961. Motown Records brought in Bristol to produce a new version of the song for Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, but Motown chief Berry Gordy wanted to make it Diana Ross' first solo single. Bristol struggled to get the sound he wanted from Ross, and encouraged her along the way, which made it onto tape. That’s him coaching Diana through the song, offering “Sing it pretty” and “You better” throughout. Motown decided to release this as by “Diana Ross and the Supremes,” even though Ross was the only Supreme on the recording. (Backing singers had replaced the other Supremes on most recordings since 1967.) Gordy thought it was a fitting farewell, and wanted Ross to leave the Supremes on a commercial high note.