"A Breathtaking Guy" is a 1963 song written and produced by

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

and released first by

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

singing group

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...

(1963) and later by

The Marvelettes The Marvelettes were an American girl group that achieved popularity in the early to mid-1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who wa ...

(1972). The single was originally released under the title "A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heartbreaking Guy" by The Supremes, but was shortened after its official release. All three Supremes members -

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

Florence Ballard Florence Glenda Chapman (''née'' Ballard; June 30, 1943 – February 22, 1976) was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown vocal female group the Supremes. She sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including ten number-o ...

and Mary Wilson - sang the chorus with the original title together. :''Diana: Are you just a breathtaking...'' :''Florence: First sight soul-shaking...'' :''Diana: One night love-making...'' :''Mary: Next day heartbreaking...'' :''Group: ...Guy?

Overview

One of the rare singles to feature the Supremes singing all lead vocals, it also was their highest charting single at this point, reaching number 75 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The group was jokingly referred to at this time as the "no-hit Supremes" by the Motown staff. However, their next single, "

When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and recorded in 1963 by Motown singing group The Supremes. It is notable as the Supremes' first ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Top 40 recording, followin ...

", would break the group's "no-hit" streak. It would also mean that, with the exception of Ballard's and Wilson's ad-libs on the 1964 single "

Baby Love "Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes from their second studio album, ''Where Did Our Love Go''. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964. ...

", this would be the last time any member other than Ross would have a lead part on a single for the rest of the decade. Much like their earlier single, "

Your Heart Belongs to Me "Your Heart Belongs to Me" is a 1962 song written and composed by The Miracles' William "Smokey" Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes during their early years with the label. The song is about a woman whose lov ...

", Smokey Robinson produced the song with the same sound that had provided hit singles for early Motown star

Mary Wells Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with The Supremes, The Miracles, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the F ...

. The Supremes would sing background for Wells on her hit " You Lost the Sweetest Boy" with

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

. This would be the last single Robinson would produce for the group until 1969; this is due to the production team of

Holland–Dozier–Holland Holland–Dozier–Holland was a songwriting and production team consisting of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland. The trio wrote, arranged and produced many songs that helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s. During ...

having a very strong hold on the Supremes' released material from late 1963 to early 1968. In 1972, song was issued as the final single credited to

. The single failed to chart.

Personnel

The Supremes version

*Lead and background vocals by

(verses; choruses),

and Mary Wilson (choruses) *Produced and written by

*Instrumentation by

The Funk Brothers The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Its members are considered among the most successful groups of stud ...

The Marvelettes version

*Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers *Background vocals by

The Andantes The Andantes were an American female session group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Mar ...

: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps *Produced and written by

*Instrumentation by

Chart history

The Supremes version

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breathtaking Guy, A 1963 songs 1963 singles The Supremes songs The Marvelettes songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson Motown singles