Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations is, as the title implies, a … Read Full Bio ↴Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations is, as the title implies, a collaborative album combining Motown's two best selling groups, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations. Issued by Motown in late 1968 to coincide with the broadcast of the Supremes/Temptations TCB television special, the album was a success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200. Originally the lead single was to have been "The Impossible Dream" as featured in the climax to the TV spectacular TCB. However, it was decided to release "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" as a single instead even though it wasn't featured on TCB. This became a number-two hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B singles chart, and the follow-up, "I'll Try Something New", was a Top 30 hit. A third single, "I Second That Emotion", was released exclusively in the United Kingdom, where it became a Top 20 hit.

Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations marks the first on-record appearance of new Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards, who was brought in as David Ruffin's replacement in July 1968.

All of the tracks on the album are covers of songs for other artists. Both "I Second That Emotion" and "I'll Try Something New" were originally recorded by Motown's Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, while "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" was an outside hit for Dee Dee Warwick before it became a hit for the Supremes and Temptations. Motown's Marvin Gaye had previously had hits with "Try It Baby" and, as a duet with Tammi Terrell, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". "This Guy's in Love with You" was a hit for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass , while "Funky Broadway" had been recorded as a hit for Wilson Pickett. The Sweet Inspirations' signature song, "Sweet Inspirations", is also covered here, as is Stevie Wonder's "A Place in the Sun", The Four Tops' "Then", and the show tune "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha.

Frank Wilson served as executive producer of the project. Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, joint-recorded at both the main Hitsville USA studio in Detroit, Michigan, the Golden World studio in Detroit, and satellite studios in Los Angeles, primarily features leads by Diana Ross of the Supremes and Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations, with additional leads by Temptations Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin.

Sweet Inspiration
Diana Ross and the Supremes with the Temptations Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need your sweet, sweet inspiration
I need you here on my mind every hour of the day
Without your sweet, sweet inspiration
The lonely hours of the day just don't go my way.
A woman in love needs sweet inspiration
And honey that's all I ask
You know that's all I ask from you
I gotta have your sweet inspiration, yeah

You know there just ain't no telling
What a satisfied woman might do.
When you call "Baby", baby
Is such a sweet inspiration
And when you call me "Darling", darling
Sets my heart a-skating
And if I'm out in the rain, baby
And in a bad situation
You know I just reach back in my mind
And there I find your sweet, sweet inspiration.
Inspiration, yeah, oh, what a power
And I got the power every hour of the day
I need your sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet inspiration, yeah
To go on living, to keep on giving this way.
I need your sweet, sweet inspiration
And I got the power every hour of the day

I need your sweet, sweet inspiration
To go on living, to keep on giving this way.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sweet Inspiration" by Diana Ross & the Supremes/The Temptations convey the need for love and inspiration in the life of a woman in love. The song begins with the expression of the singer's longing for the inspiration that her lover brings to her life. The lyrics suggest that this inspiration is necessary for the singer to get through her day-to-day life, particularly the lonely hours.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of this inspiration and the power it holds over the singer. The lyrics suggest that the singer needs this inspiration to go on living and to keep on giving in the way she has been. The song also mentions how the simple act of being called "Baby" or "Darling" by her lover brings her immense joy and inspiration. The lyrics express that this inspiration gives the singer the strength to face difficult situations.

In essence, the song conveys how love and inspiration can be a driving force in one's life. It highlights the significance of a loving relationship and the effect it can have on one's life, particularly in times of need.

Line by Line Meaning

I need your sweet, sweet inspiration
I require your love, encouragement and support to keep me going

I need you here on my mind every hour of the day
I want to constantly think about you and feel your presence even when you're not physically with me

Without your sweet, sweet inspiration
If I don't have your love and encouragement,

The lonely hours of the day just don't go my way.
I feel lonely and sad throughout the day.

A woman in love needs sweet inspiration
A woman who is in love requires love and encouragement to feel content.

And honey that's all I ask
That's all I need from you, my love.

You know that's all I ask from you
I hope you understand that's all I need from you.

I gotta have your sweet inspiration, yeah
I really need your love and encouragement.

You know there just ain't no telling
I cannot predict the extent of my happiness and excitement when I feel your love and encouragement.

What a satisfied woman might do.
In response to your love and encouragement, I might do anything.

When you call "Baby", baby
When you call me baby,

Is such a sweet inspiration
It's such a lovely feeling of love and encouragement.

And when you call me "Darling", darling
When you refer to me as darling,

Sets my heart a-skating
It gives me butterflies and fills me with happiness.

And if I'm out in the rain, baby
Even when I'm going through a tough time,

And in a bad situation
And I find myself in a difficult situation,

You know I just reach back in my mind
I look back at our memories

And there I find your sweet, sweet inspiration.
And there I find your love and encouragement, which continue to give me strength.

Inspiration, yeah, oh, what a power
Love and encouragement are so powerful and motivating.

And I got the power every hour of the day
Your love and encouragement give me the strength to face each moment.

To go on living, to keep on giving this way.
I need your love and encouragement to keep me going and to continue giving love and support in return.

I need your sweet, sweet inspiration
Once again, I need your love and encouragement.

To go on living, to keep on giving this way.
I need your love and encouragement to keep me going and to continue giving love and support in return.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN CAMERON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@maxineboatwright2012

6y↑1

I love this version of Sweet Inspiration. By the Temptations and the Supremes. Have not heard this in years. Miss you Eddie, David, Dennis, Melvin, and Paul. Where did the time go.