"Run, Run, Run" is a 1964 song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes. After a couple of years of unsuccessful singles, the Supremes had finally broken through with a Top 40 single (23) in December 1963 with "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes". On the heels of its release, Motown rush-released a second HDH single titled "Run, Run, Run". Inspired by the sounds of Phil Spector and his Wall of Sound,[1][2][3] it was an attempt to give the Supremes a poppier sound compared to their earlier heavy R&B recordings. Billboard described the song as a "strong follow up" to "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes," stating that it "has tough beat in a middle up groove that's great for dancing."[4] Cash Box described it as "a pulsating, big sounding rocker with some torrid triplet keyboard work backing up."[5]
The single peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 on the Cash Box R&B chart.[6] The Supremes would eventually escape the shadow of their so-called "no-hit" past with their next single "Where Did Our Love Go".
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Holland–Dozier–Holland and The Four Tops
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
Chart history
| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 93 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 22 |
| US Cashbox Top 100[9] | 86 |
| US Cashbox R&B[10] | 22 |
References
- ^ Ribowsky, Mark (2009). The Supremes: a saga of Motown dreams, success, and betrayal. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-306-81586-7.
- ^ Dozier, Lamont; Bomar, Scott B. (November 26, 2019). How sweet it is: a songwriter's reflections on music, Motown and the mystery of the muse. United States: BMG Books. ISBN 978-1-94702631-5. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Dahl, Bill (2001). Motown: the golden years. Iola, Wis.: Krause. ISBN 978-1-4402-2557-4. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. February 22, 1964. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 22, 1964. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "US Charts > The Supremes". Allmusic. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cashbox. March 7, 1964. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations". Cashbox. March 28, 1964. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
