Rating: 
Summary: Life As A Dreamgirl - All That Glitters I s Not Gold
Review: Taken simply as an insider's view of the music biz and entertainment world, this books ranks as one of THE best I've ever read. I did not expect to find myself so thoroughly involved once the pages started turning. I had skipped Ms. Wilson's first book, "Dreamgirl - My Life As A Supreme". Now I realize why it caused such a stir upon its release 17 years ago.I must say, I will never listen a Supremes song quite the same way again, or for that matter, view Diana Ross the same way either. Ahh, the price of fame, as thouroughly illustrated on these pages -- what they do to friendships, relationships, love, understanding, etc. Sad to say, there are no winners in the end, as shown in the sad, sad demise of Flo Ballard, and Ms. Wilson's continuous struggle to achieve recognition for herself as the forgotten Supreme. Even Ms. Ross, as evidenced by her embarrassing public mishaps in 2003, has met her demise as her once-secretive substance and alcohol abuse is no longer a secret. Perhaps Ms. Ross is still wrestling with her own personal demons from her past? Still, Mary Wilson has to be applauded for her courage and honesty for writing another heartfelt tome to her life and its joys, sorrows, struggles, and triumphs (of which there are too few here). Some Amazon readers may choose to view this book as a "way of settling old scores". To me, this book is a story of a person's long journey to cope with life's endless journey of self realization and discovery. As exemplified in Ms. Wilson's book, it is one that is inspiring and deeply moving.
Rating: 
Summary: Come Seethe About Me
Review: The jury is still out in my mind as to whether I would recommend another reader make the investment of time to plod through this six-hundred page volume. In fairness, this work is actually two autobiographies and a legal brief: "Dreamgirl" was the original autobiography of Mary Wilson, published in 1986, which covered the amazing run of the Supremes as a threesome through the 1960's. "Supreme Faith" was penned in 1990, partly with the intention of continuing Ms. Wilson's post-Diana Ross years, and partly as a critique of the music industry. And just so no one would miss the point, there is a 1999 epilogue of some length regarding the author's protracted legal battle to ownership of the name "Supremes." In the late 1950's middle-schooler Mary Wilson teamed with her Detroit neighbors Florence Ballard, Diane Ross, and Betty McGlown, to form one of the many neighborhood rock and roll vocal groups springing up in both black and white communities. It was an article of faith among all young dreamers of the time that singing groups needed to be foursomes, possibly because the music departments of the public schools indoctrinated students with the classical polyphonic harmonies: soprano, alto, tenor, bass. The group that would become the Supremes began as the "Primettes," a little sister version of a popular Detroit male group, the Primes. The Primettes played school hops, primarily, and developed a loyal following as they themselves finished high school. About the time Martin dropped from the group, the Primettes connected with an up-and-coming impresario, Berry Gordy, whose simple recording facilities housed in a private home would become the world famous Motown recording empire. In the early 1960's the Motown facility was a halfway house of sorts for genuine stars like Smokey Robinson and Mary Wells and those on the fringes struggling to make their bones. The author has mixed emotions of those formative years: she acknowledges that her tutelage under established performers and her experiences with the early primitive Motown road tours no doubt advanced her career. What she and her best friend Ballard did not particularly like was Gordy's reshaping of the Primettes. Gordy, a pivotal character in this work, is remembered today as something of a cutting edge figure in the early days of Rock and Roll, a bulwark against the British Invasion, but in truth he had a good sense of the old black tradition of live entertainment, the so-called chitlin' circuit. Like all musical executives, he wanted and needed lucrative singles to keep the business afloat, but unlike his white counterpart Phil Spector, Gordy believed in creating acts with live appeal. What Gordy saw in the Primettes was the possibility to do both: create hits and market a stage act of three black women of stunning figures and Liberace wardrobes with crossover appeal to white audiences in Vegas and the Copa. Not surprisingly, Dick Clark and Ed Sullivan independently came to the same conclusion. Clark gambled and included the now Supremes on his 1964 summer tour before the group had a top hit; Sullivan would later feature the group nearly thirty times on his Sunday night show. Gordy assessed correctly that Diane Ross's voice would sell the records. This was a setback for the author, and particularly for Ballard who at heart believed she was a better singer than Ross. Relegated visually and artistically to a backup role, the author has the good grace to concede that in the 1960's she herself was not an accomplished soloist. What she seems to resent is Gordy's clumsy and deceitful efforts to promote Diane-now Diana-and his open dislike of Ballard, whose alcoholism and tragic demise are detailed. The reader gets the sense that even now the author does not get the big picture. As late as the 1999 prologue, it had still not dawned upon the author that there was something much more terribly wrong with Ross than the character flaws she attributes to her. Interestingly, when in early 1964 the Supremes, with the new arrangement team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, recorded "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," and "Come See About Me," the songs that would jettison the group into pop music history, the author recalls disliking the songs as what would later be termed "bubble gum music." There is irony in the fact that during the 1964-1969 years, when the Supremes seemed to match the Beetles hit for hit, the inner harmony of the three friends was deteriorating in direct proportion. Reading the account of the great years is a bit like sitting in the front ring of a prize fight: one gets a bit more sweat, spit, and blood than he bargains for. All the same, the first half of the book, the glory years, so to speak, is a valuable primary source, and to her credit, the author gives public attention to a fine cast of unheralded black writers, musicians, and choreographers whose contributions might have been otherwise lost. The second volume, which begins with the departure of Ross from the Supremes in 1970, carries forward the same grudges and limited vision. The new Supremes enjoyed one good year, perhaps due to public antipathy against Ross. The author claims that the group's failure to thrive was due to Gordy's' unwillingness to promote the group and thus implicitly undermine Ross. That Gordy was capable of such pettiness is probably true. But the author is loathe to admit that on its very best day, the recreated Supremes were probably less entertaining than the latter day Three Stooges with Shemp Howard. It did not help matters that the author married an abusive husband and made him the group's business manager, alienating the last talented members. The author's final professional efforts to remake herself into a Holiday Inn lounge singer have an all too familiar ring to them. If volume one had the characteristics of a prizefight, volume two is tag team wrestling.
Rating:
Summary: The Keeper of the Flame
Review: The re-release of this book--and it's impressive sales thus far (in it's second printing already)--prove that Mary Wilson is the supreme Supreme, and the keeper of the Supremes' flame. Even after its original publication in 1986, Dreamgirl remains the most successful Motown book of all time--eclipsing the autobiographies of Diana Ross, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. Mary Wilson reveals it all--the triumph and the tragedy--but she does so without resorting to negativity. Hers is THE story, plain and simple. We see the rollercoaster highs and lows that only Wilson can detail--including her poignant story of spousal abuse, and her continuing struggle to claim her proper place in music history. With this book, Mary Wilson proves that it is she who has nurtured The Supremes' legacy for the past 30 years. had it not been for her efforts, perhaps there would have been no Supremes for Diana Ross to return to in the year 2000.
Rating: 
Summary: Mary the Supreme OPPORTUNIST
Review: This books re-release is just another repeat of Wilson's taking advantage of the huge stardom of the true star of the Supremes: Diana Ross. Her books so obviously use Ross'name and subject as the focal point of these books that it seems as if Wilson had no life of her own (or at least a life that anyone would be interested in reading). It is sad that the legend that to so many people is one of magic and music is being reminisced in such a tawdry and sensationalistic manner. It belongs in the tabloids along with the Star or the Enquirer.
Rating:
Summary: A SUPREME BOOK
Review: This was a fascinating look at the machinations and goings-on in the World of Motown. It seems to me from all the previous reviews that Diana Ross fans are in denial and cannot accept the truth. Mary Wilson was there, she lived this.
Rating:
Summary: Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith. My Life As A Supreme
Review: This was definitely one of the best books I have read since reading Otis Williams Temptations. I grew up listening to the Supremes, so I always wanted to know the story behind the story. I was not let down. This book contains all the elements needed for a good book and the fact that it's true makes the story better. I was sad to read how one night completely changed Flo. I hope her girls grew up proud and strong. As for Diane Ross (as in the book), it's a shame that fame could and would eventually take her to that level. She wasn't the Supreme "Supreme" to me.
Rating:
Summary: AN HONEST AND COMPELLING LOOK AT A BELOVED MUSIC LEGEND
Review: To the objective reader, Mary Wilson comes across as a warm and open person...exactly as she is in real life. (I have met her and spoken with her on occasion over the years). Indeed, this is a very personal work, from a very personal point of view. The main players in the story, Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, and of course, Wilson herself, are accurately portrayed... and legions of other accounts confirm this. Wilson never comes across as intentionally negative. Why should she? She is widely known as an extremely positive person. Indeed, she has defended the Supremes, and yes, Diana Ross, throughout her public life. She has supported and promoted the Supremes unique legacy every day. This is not to say that there are not juicy and spicy parts to this story...no, there are plenty of those! This was long the best-selling rock autobiography of all time! Anyone would be hard-pressed to match the drama, the excitement, as well as the heartache found in this story. However, what makes this story remarkable is the development and growth of its main character...particularly in the past 15 years or so, when Wilson has become a celebrated author, motivational lecturer, actress, producer, mother and college student. What a testament to persistence, genuine-ness, and enthusiasm for life. What an inspiration to all!
Rating:
Summary: AN HONEST AND COMPELLING LOOK AT A BELOVED MUSIC LEGEND
Review: To the objective reader, Mary Wilson comes across as a warm and open person...exactly as she is in real life. (I have met her and spoken with her on occasion over the years). Indeed, this is a very personal work, from a very personal point of view. The main players in the story, Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, and of course, Wilson herself, are accurately portrayed... and legions of other accounts confirm this. Wilson never comes across as intentionally negative. Why should she? She is widely known as an extremely positive person. Indeed, she has defended the Supremes, and yes, Diana Ross, throughout her public life. She has supported and promoted the Supremes unique legacy every day. This is not to say that there are not juicy and spicy parts to this story...no, there are plenty of those! This was long the best-selling rock autobiography of all time! Anyone would be hard-pressed to match the drama, the excitement, as well as the heartache found in this story. However, what makes this story remarkable is the development and growth of its main character...particularly in the past 15 years or so, when Wilson has become a celebrated author, motivational lecturer, actress, producer, mother and college student. What a testament to persistence, genuine-ness, and enthusiasm for life. What an inspiration to all!
Rating:
Summary: Still the legendary group
Review: While I enjoyed reading the book when it first came out, I did find it sad that such books hit the shelves. I can sympathize with Mary and how she was feeling way back when and I hope in writing her books she is able to move on and put the past behind her. It may be difficult to believe but I do feel she has genuine affection for Diana Ross. As with any friend, it's hard to see one of you move on and achieve worldwide success while the other watches it happen. Today I think Mary has grown and is just beginning to make peace with the past and her own emotions and for that I say bravo. We are fans of the Supremes and what is hard to see is how fans pit one Supreme against another. We fell in love with the group as a whole and should continue to respect each individual member. Happy reading,
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