Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart
1966 single by The Supremes
| "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" | ||||
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| Single by The Supremes | ||||
| from the album The Supremes A' Go-Go | ||||
| B-side | "He's All I Got" | |||
| Released | April 8, 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Studio | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A) | |||
| Genre | R&B, pop, soul | |||
| Length | 2:53 | |||
| Label | Motown M 1094 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
| Producer(s) | Brian Holland Lamont Dozier | |||
| The Supremes singles chronology | ||||
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| The Supremes A' Go-Go track listing | ||||
12 tracks
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| Audio sample | ||||
"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
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| Alternative cover | ||||
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"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" is a 1966 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was recorded in June 1965 and not released until April 1966. It was one of the few singles written by the team for the Supremes that didn't reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the United States. Nevertheless, the song was a Top 10 hit, peaking at number nine for one week in May 1966.[1] Billboard named the song #90 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[2]
Overview
One of the group's most powerful singles, this uptempo and brassy dance single was somewhat of a departure from the group's much lighter, pop-oriented sound, with a production set for an uptempo soul sound similar to that of material by fellow Motown groups Martha and the Vandellas and the Four Tops. The lyrics tell of how the narrator has been "bitten by the love bug" and no matter what she does, she can't "scratch it" (the itch created by the bite of the love bug). Lead singer Diana Ross' bandmates Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson accompany Ross, as she sings about her lover's grasp on her heart. The girl group performed the hit live on CBS variety program The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, May 1, 1966.[3]
Reception
Billboard said of the song "more exciting sounds from the girls in this slow rhythm rocker with solid back beat."[4] Cash Box described the song as a "throbbing, rhythmic, pop-blues romancer all about a real lucky gal who has finally found the guy that she’s always dreamed about."[5] Record World called it "the new pearl in the string of Supreme hits" and said that it "has all their beloved tricks."[6]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
- Baritone saxophone by Andrew "Mike" Terry
Charts
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 100 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 3 |
| UK R&B (Record Mirror)[9] | 11 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 9 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] | 7 |
| US Cashbox Top 100[12] | 9 |
| US Cashbox R&B[13] | 6 |
| US Record World 100 Top Pops[14] | 10 |
| US Record World Top 40 R&B[15] | 9 |
References
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 28. Nielsen Company. 1966. p. 24. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ "James Brown, The Supremes, Nancy Ames, London Lee". The Ed Sullivan Show. Season 19. Episode 33. New York City. 1 May 1966. CBS. WCBS.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. April 23, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 23, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 23, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "Every Unique AMR Top 100 Single of the 1966". Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5765." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES" (PDF). Record Mirror. May 28, 1966. p. 11. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cashbox. June 4, 1966. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations". Cashbox. June 4, 1966. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "100 TOP POPS: Week of June 18, 1966" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. June 18, 1966. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "TOP 40 R&B: Week of May 21, 1966" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. May 21, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
External links
- YouTube Video-"Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" (Extended Version) - by The Supremes
- v
- t
- e
- Florence Ballard
- Cindy Birdsong
- Susaye Greene
- Lynda Laurence
- Barbara Martin
- Betty McGlown
- Scherrie Payne
- Diana Ross
- Jean Terrell
- Mary Wilson
- Meet The Supremes (1962)
- Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
- More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
- I Hear a Symphony (1966)
- The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
- The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
- Reflections (1968)
- Love Child (1968)
- Let the Sunshine In (1969)
- Cream of the Crop (1969)
- Right On (1970)
- New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
- Touch (1971)
- Floy Joy (1972)
- The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
- The Supremes (1975)
- High Energy (1976)
- Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
- Together (1969)
- The Magnificent 7 (1970)
- The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
- Dynamite (1971)
- The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
- Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
- TCB (1968)
- On Broadway (1969)
- Farewell (1970)
- The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
- A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
- The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
- We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
- Merry Christmas (1965)
- The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
- "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
- "I Want a Guy"
- "Buttered Popcorn"
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
- "Let Me Go the Right Way"
- "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
- "A Breathtaking Guy"
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
- "Run, Run, Run"
- "Where Did Our Love Go"
- "Baby Love"
- "Come See About Me"
- "Stop! In the Name of Love"
- "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
- "Nothing but Heartaches"
- "I Hear a Symphony"
- "My World Is Empty Without You"
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
- "You Can't Hurry Love"
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
- "The Happening"
- "Reflections"
- "In and Out of Love"
- "Forever Came Today"
- "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
- "Love Child"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "I'm Livin' in Shame"
- "I'll Try Something New"
- "The Composer"
- "No Matter What Sign You Are"
- "The Weight"
- "I Second That Emotion"
- "Someday We'll Be Together"
- "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
- "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
- "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
- "Stoned Love"
- "River Deep – Mountain High"
- "Nathan Jones"
- "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
- "Touch"
- "Floy Joy"
- "Automatically Sunshine"
- "Without the One You Love"
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
- "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
- "Bad Weather"
- "Tossin' and Turnin'"
- "He's My Man"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
- "Early Morning Love"
- "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
- "High Energy"
- "You're My Driving Wheel"
- "Let Yourself Go"
- "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
- T.A.M.I. Show
- Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
- Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
- Sparkle (1976 film)
- Dreamgirls (musical)
- Dreamgirls (film)
- Sparkle (2012 film)
- Discography
- Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
- Members
- FLOS
- Farewell concert
- Return to Love Tour
Category
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