"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 successf ...

(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 ...

, Florence Ballard 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", 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", 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", Smokey Robinson produced the song with the same sound that had provided hit singles for early Motown star Mary Wells. The Supremes would sing background for Wells on her hit "

You Lost the Sweetest Boy "You Lost the Sweetest Boy" is a song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and released as a single by Motown star Mary Wells. The song is most noted for the background vocals by The Supremes and The Temptations. Song information In this so ...

" 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 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), Florence Ballard 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 Ma ...

: 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