Cusp Song of the Day: Reflections

In a book with 21 Supremes songs, "Reflections" appears first—appropriately, since in writing Cusp I spent years reflecting on the events and music of the book's era. The song plays at Mark's 1967-themed party in Chapter 2, and indeed it was released in 1967 at a seminal moment for the group. That year's name change from "The Supremes" to "Diana Ross & the Supremes" was a key step in Berry Gordy's plan for Diana's superstardom.

The song was among the last of a long string of Supremes releases written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, featuring Florence

Ballard, and with backing by the Funk Brothers. Its psychedelic sound and use of synthesizers made it a perfect fit for the Summer of Love, when it charted. It rose to number 2.

My first errata: In the listing of songs in The Cusp of Everything, I mistakenly credit this song to The Supremes. In fact, it was the first single released under the name Diana Ross & the Supremes. A rookie mistake!