Back in My Arms Again

{{Infobox song

| name = Back in My Arms Again

| cover = The-supremes-back-in-my-arms-again-1965-US-vinyl.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| caption = US picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = the Supremes

| album = More Hits by The Supremes

| B-side = Whisper You Love Me Boy

| released = April 15, 1965

| recorded = February 24, 1965

| studio = Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit

| venue =

| genre = Pop, rhythm and blues

| length = 2:52

| label = Motown

| writer = Holland–Dozier–Holland

| producer = {{hlist|Brian Holland|Lamont Dozier}}

| prev_title = Stop! In the Name of Love

| prev_year = 1965

| next_title = Nothing but Heartaches

| next_year = 1965

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file =

| description = {{ffdc|1=|log=2024 June 14}}

}}

"Back in My Arms Again" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Back in My Arms Again" was the fifth consecutive and overall number-one song for the group on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the United States from June 6, 1965, through June 12, 1965,{{cite magazine |year=1965 |title=Billboard Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |volume=77 |issue=24 |page=24 |publisher=Nielsen Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 |access-date=10 May 2011 }} also topping the soul chart for a week.

History

Eddie Holland of the Holland–Dozier–Holland wrote the basis sketch for "Back in My Arms Again."{{cite web|title=Back in My Arms Again|author=Hogan, Ed|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/back-in-my-arms-again-mt0044845744|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2022-02-08}}

"Back in My Arms Again" was the last of five Supremes songs in a row to go number one (the others are "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", and "Stop! In the Name of Love"). The song's middle eight is almost identical to a later Holland-Dozier-Holland hit, The Isley Brothers "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)".

On the album in which this single appeared, More Hits by the Supremes, and on the official single, each member is pictured separately on the front cover, with her signature above it.

The Supremes performed the song on The Mike Douglas Show, a syndicated daytime program, on May 5, 1965, and again on November 3.{{Cite episode|title= November 3, 1965| url= http://www.tv.com/the-mike-douglas-show/november-3-1965/episode/862579/summary.html|series= The Mike Douglas Show| credits= Guest co-host: Zsa Zsa Gabor|network= CBS |station= KYW-TV|location = Cleveland|airdate= 3 November 1965|season= 4| number= 43}} They performed the song nationally on the NBC variety program Hullabaloo!{{Cite episode|title= Show #18|url= http://www.tv.com/show-18--host-frankie-avalon/episode/56936/summary.html|series= Hullabaloo|credits= Host: Frankie Avalon| network= NBC|station= KNBC|location= Burbank, California|airdate= 11 May 1965|season= 1|number= 18}} on Tuesday, May 11, 1965, peaking on the music charts in the following weeks.

Billboard said that "Back in My Arms Again" has "a strong teen lyric and a powerful vocal performance pitted against a hard rock backing in full support."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Singles Reviews|date=April 24, 1964|accessdate=2022-02-08|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=whisper+you+love+me+boy&pg=PA43}} Cash Box described it as "a rollicking, pop-r&b romancer about a lucky lass who gets back with her boyfriend after quite a hiatus."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=May 1, 1965 |page=8 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-05-01.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}} Record World chose it as one of their "Single Picks of the Week," stating that the Supremes are "unbeatable."{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=May 1, 1965|page=1|accessdate=2023-07-21|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/65/RW-1965-05-01.pdf}} Allmusic critic Ed Hogan called the rhythm section provided by the Funk Brothers "tight," the saxophone played by Mike Terry "rollicking" and the vibraphone played by James Gitten "dreamy."

Personnel

Lead vocals by Diana Ross
Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
All instruments by the Funk Brothers{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w0xLAAAAYAAJ|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits|author1=Adam White|author2=Fred Bronson|publisher=Billboard Books|year=1993|isbn=9780823082858}}
Earl Van Dyke – piano
Joe Messina – guitar
James Jamerson – bass
Benny Benjamin – drums
James Gittens – vibraphone
Mike Terry – baritone saxophone

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Chart (1965) !scope="col"\|Peak position
scope="row" {{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|1\|artist=The Supremes\|song=Back in My Arms Again\|chartid=5667}}
scope="row" {{single chart\|Germany\|34\|artist=The Supremes\|song=Stop! In the Name of Love\|songid=24511}}
scope="row" \| New Zealand (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCkEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+1965&pg=PA35\|title=Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD\|magazine=Billboard\|page=12\|date=21 August 1965}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|12
scope="row" {{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|artistid=11282\|40\|artist=Supremes\|song=Back in My Arms Again}}
scope="row" {{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|1\|artist=The Supremes}}
scope="row"\|US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-supremes/chart-history/bsi/\|title=The Supremes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 30, 2021}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
scope="row" \|US Cashbox Top 100{{cite web \|url=https://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19650605.html \|title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles\|work=Cashbox\|date=June 5, 1965\|access-date=31 December 2020}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
scope="row" \|US Cashbox R&B{{cite web \|url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/19650605R.html \|title=The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations\|work=Cashbox\|date=June 5, 1965\|access-date=31 December 2020}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Chart (1965)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row" {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|artist=The Supremes|song=Back in My Arms Again|chartid=5667}}

scope="row" {{single chart|Germany|34|artist=The Supremes|song=Stop! In the Name of Love|songid=24511}}

scope="row" | New Zealand (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCkEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+1965&pg=PA35|title=Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD|magazine=Billboard|page=12|date=21 August 1965}}

| style="text-align:center;"|12

scope="row" {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=11282|40|artist=Supremes|song=Back in My Arms Again}}

scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Supremes}}

scope="row"|US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-supremes/chart-history/bsi/|title=The Supremes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 30, 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

scope="row" |US Cashbox Top 100{{cite web |url=https://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19650605.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles|work=Cashbox|date=June 5, 1965|access-date=31 December 2020}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

scope="row" |US Cashbox R&B{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/19650605R.html |title=The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations|work=Cashbox|date=June 5, 1965|access-date=31 December 2020}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Chart (1965) ! Rank
scope="row"\| Japan Foreign Hits (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+supremes+japan&pg=RA1-PA16\|title=FOREIGN HITS IN JAPAN 1960-1969\|magazine=Billboard\|page=J-32\|date=December 19, 1970\|access-date=2016-09-27}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1965.htm \|title=Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965 \|website=Musicoutfitters.com \|access-date=2016-09-29}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|37
scope="row"\| US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard-1965-International-Record-&-Talent.pdf#page=40 \|title=TOP R&B SINGLES OF 1965 (Ratings are based on chart action from Jan. 30 to Oct. 30.)\|magazine=Billboard\|page=40\|access-date=January 14, 2022\|via=worldradiohistory.com}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|23
scope="row"\| US Cashbox Top 100{{cite web \|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html \|title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1965 \|work=Cashbox Magazine \|access-date=2016-02-02 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005101409/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html \|archive-date=2012-10-05 \|url-status=dead }} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
scope="row"\| US Cashbox R&B{{cite web\|url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/1965YESR.html\|title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1965\|work=Cashbox\|access-date=31 December 2020\|archive-date=16 April 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416085644/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/1965YESR.html\|url-status=dead}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

Chart (1965)

! Rank

scope="row"| Japan Foreign Hits (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+supremes+japan&pg=RA1-PA16|title=FOREIGN HITS IN JAPAN 1960-1969|magazine=Billboard|page=J-32|date=December 19, 1970|access-date=2016-09-27}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1965.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-09-29}}

| style="text-align:center;"|37

scope="row"| US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard-1965-International-Record-&-Talent.pdf#page=40 |title=TOP R&B SINGLES OF 1965 (Ratings are based on chart action from Jan. 30 to Oct. 30.)|magazine=Billboard|page=40|access-date=January 14, 2022|via=worldradiohistory.com}}

| style="text-align:center;"|23

scope="row"| US Cashbox Top 100{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1965 |work=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=2016-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005101409/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html |archive-date=2012-10-05 |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

scope="row"| US Cashbox R&B{{cite web|url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/1965YESR.html|title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1965|work=Cashbox|access-date=31 December 2020|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416085644/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-r/60s_files/1965YESR.html|url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Certifications

{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Supremes|title=Back in My Arms Again|award=|relyear=|certyear=|nocert=yes|id=|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite book|title=American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today |author=Jay Warner |isbn=0634099787 |publisher= Hal Leonard Corporation |date=2006 |access-date= 23 January 2020 |page=458 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mTM_9JTeoMIC&q=supremes+2+million&pg=PA458}}{{cite book|author=Joseph Murrells |title= Million Selling Records from the 1900s to the 1980s: An Illustrated Directory |isbn=9780713438437|publisher= B.T. Batsford |date= 1984 |access-date= 23 January 2020 |page=215 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5iIKAQAAMAAJ&q=Back%20in%20My%20Arms%20Again}}}}

Later versions

"Back in My Arms Again" returned to the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 with a remake by Genya Ravan on a single (taken from the singer's album Urban Desire) which was Ravan's only Hot 100 entry, peaking at #92.Cashbox Vol 40 #12 (5 August 1978) "Singles Reviews" p.18{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/genya-ravan|title = Genya Ravan|magazine = Billboard}}

The song almost made the Hot 100 in 1983 via a remake on Motown's Gordy label by female vocal group High Inergy, whose 1977 debut album Turnin' On had yielded a Top 20 hit in ("You Can't Turn Me Off") and elicited numerous comparisons with the Supremes.Atlanta Voice 10 September 1977 "History Repeats Itself This Time with High Inergy" p.7Los Angeles Times 11 December 1977 "Pop News" by Dennis Hunt pp.107-108Philadelphia Daily News 28 February 1978 "In the Middle of Turning You On" by Mikal Gilmore p.34Detroit Free Press 21 January 1978 "Critic's Choice? Don't Aske Me" by Shirley Eder p.13-AOrlando Sentinel 19 May 1978 "Supreme Future for High Inergy?" by Dean Johnson p.1-B High Inergy remained a one hit wonder despite the release of seven more albums and 27 more singles. In 1983, the group released what would be their last album, Groove Patrol, from which a near note-for-note remake of "Back in My Arms Again" was released as a singleCashbox vol 65 #9 (30 July 1983) "Singles Reviews" p.8 (the group's last) and reached #105 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart (without ranking on the magazine's R&B chart).{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Back+in+My+Arms+Again+by+High+Inergy&id=100279|title = Back in My Arms Again (Song by High Inergy) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts}}

"Back in My Arms Again" has also been remade by the Michael Stanley Band (on Greatest Hints, 1979),{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelstanley.com/THE_70S.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228101532/http://www.michaelstanley.com/THE_70S.html |archive-date=2009-02-28 |title=THE 70S}}Nicolette Larson (as "Back in My Arms" on In the Nick of Time in 1980), by Michael Bolton (on his eponymous 1983 album), by The Forester Sisters (on Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls in 1986), and by Colin James (on the American Boyfriends soundtrack album in 1989).{{cite web|author=William Ruhlmann |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/michael-bolton-1983-mw0000652607 |title=Michael Bolton [1983] - Michael Bolton | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2016-09-28}}

The song was recorded by the all-female American rock group Fanny in early 1973 but their version, produced by Todd Rundgren, remained unreleased until 2002, when it appeared on Rhino Handmade's limited-edition Fanny anthology First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings.{{cite web| url= https://www.discogs.com/release/4483625-Fanny-First-Time-In-A-Long-Time-The-Reprise-Recordings | title=Fanny - First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings | publisher=Discogs.| access-date=3 March 2023}} The outtake was later included on the 2016 reissue of 1973's Mothers Pride. The song was also covered by The Jam live at the 100 Club on 11 September 1977, a version released on the six-CD set Fire and Skill – The Jam Live in 2015.