Back in My Arms Again

Album: More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
Charted: 40 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was The Supremes' fifth consecutive #1 hit in the US, following "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," "Come See About Me" and "Stop! In The Name Of Love." All five were written by the Motown team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland, known collectively as Holland-Dozier-Holland.

    "Back In My Arms Again" finds lead singer Diana Ross reunited with her man and determined to keep him, even if it means ignoring her friends' pleas to leave him.
  • Supremes Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard get a mention in the third verse, starring as two of the friends hectoring Ross to dump her man:

    How can Mary tell me what to do
    When she lost her love so true?
    And Flo, she don't know
    'Cause the boy she loves is a romeo


    In real life, their friendship was strained around this time, with Wilson and Ballard frustrated because Ross had become the focal point of the group. They were happy to get their names mentioned though.
  • The acoustics in Motown's studio are on display in this track, with a warm, organic reverb that was impossible to replicate elsewhere. Among the musicians on the track were Earl Van Dyke on piano and Mike Terry on saxophone.
  • The working title for this song was "Back In His Arms Again." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA
  • The Supremes run of consecutive #1 hits came to an end after this song when "Nothing But Heartaches" only reached #11. With five chart-toppers in a row on the Hot 100, it gave them the still-standing record for most consecutive #1 hits on that tally by a girl group. They ended up recording six more, all but one written by Holland-Dozier-Holland.
  • This hit the top spot in America on June 12, 1965. A week later, it was supplanted by another Motown track composed by Holland-Dozier-Holland: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by The Four Tops.

Comments: 5

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 28th 1965, the New York City disc jockey Murray the K's television special, 'It's What's Happening, Baby!', was aired on the CBS-TV network...
    One of the eighteen acts to appear on the show were the Supremes; at the time the trio's "Back In My Arms Again" was at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Top 100 chart, twenty-two days earlier on June 6th, 1965 it had peak at #1 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 11 weeks...
    As already stated it was the trio's fifth straight #1 record; their next release, "Nothing But Heartaches", peaked at #11 but then they bounced right back with "I Hear a Symphony", for it peaked at #1 for two weeks.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPolish born singer Genya Ravan covered this song in 1978 and had a very minor hit with it, peaking only at No. 92 on Billboard...
  • Mark Desjardins from Vancouver, BceBay has current listings for the original Supremes bread wrapper for much less, curently $38.00. As well, there is a fantastic picture of the Supremes eating the bread listed under Vintage Photos - Supremes. Good luck!
  • Kristin from Bessemer, AlThis song was recorded on December 1, 1964, before "Stop! In the Name of Love", but wasn't released by Motown until April 15, 1965.
  • Jim from Dearborn Heights, MiAround this time in 1966 Schafer Bread came out with The Supremes white bread special formula with their faces sketched on the plastic wrap this is now a collector's item i saw one for $200.00 dollars at a record store
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.