The Supremes: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell (vocals).

Additional personnel: Lionel Richie, The Temptations (vocals); Nile Rodgers (guitar); Bernard Edwards (bass); Tony Thompson (drums); Johnny Bristol (background vocals).

Producers include: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Frank Wilson, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson.

Compilation producers: Harry Weinger, Andrew Skurow, Jeff Moskow.

Recorded between 1964 & 1981. Includes liner notes by Brian Chin.

Though not as critically revered as label-mates Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, the Supremes were the most popular Motown act of the 1960s. Not only did the group rack up a string of #1 singles, that, in terms of frequency and quality often rivaled that of the Beatles, they were one of the first black combos in America to truly achieve mainstream white acceptance.

In many ways, the Supremes' music represented the Motown sound distilled to its essence; Hitsville USA's throbbing bass, relentlessly danceable drum beats, and ingenious arrangements were never so purely and perfectly geared for maximum pop appeal as on early hits such as "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Stop! In the Name of Love." On later, edgier tracks, like "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "Love Child," the Supremes managed to adapt to the changing times without losing fans. Of course, even the Supremes' massive success couldn't match the superstar status garnered by their lead singer Diana Ross, with her definitive pop-soul classics such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Endless Love." THE #1'S comes as advertised, collecting all of the Diana Ross and the Supremes chart-toppers and delivering them with excellent sound and eye-pleasing packaging.