Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross and The Supremes | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) & R&B (#1 for 4 weeks); 1969
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
The Supremes were the most successful “girl group” act of the 1960’s; accumulating an astounding 10 #1 Top 40 singles between the summers of 1964 and 1967. Only three of their non-holiday releases failed to go all the way.
By late 1969, however, the group was in disarray with Diana Ross itchin’ to move on. In spite of the billing on the label, Diana recorded her swan song with the Supremes – Someday We’ll Be Together – with session singers Maxine and Julia Waters rather than members Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong.
Also on hand to help out vocally was Someday’s co-writer, Johnny Bristol, who’d originally released a version in 1962 with Jackie Beavers. In 1969, Bristol took the song to his boss, Motown owner Berry Gordy, who tagged it for the Supremes.
Their version not only marked Diana’s final appearance on a Supremes’ record, it also bookended the decade: the final #1 single of 1969.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Johnny Bristol
Lyrics Written by:
- Johnny Bristol
- Jackey Beavers
- Harvey Fuqua
Award:
- Nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1970
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).