In and Out of Love

Album: Reflections (1967)
Charted: 13 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. They decided to record the track for this song in Los Angeles rather than at the main studio in Detroit.
  • This song was the last to feature Florence Ballard; like The Supremes previous hit "Reflections," it was released after she was fired from the group for her unprofessional behavior and excessive drinking. One week after Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong, the backup vocals (provided by Ballard and Mary Wilson) for this song were overdubbed by a group of session vocalists called the Andantes.
  • The working title for this song was "Summer Good, Summer Bad." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for all above

Comments: 5

  • Nathan Zane Jones from Fabulous Northernmost New Jersey"In And Out Of Love" was a superb song. It has a certain Kinetic energy that even today, 2020, it still swings. It is, truly joyous, and I privileged to have been on Ed Sullivan when they sang it live. It is one of the very finest Supreme live recordings to sound as good or better live than on record.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 12th 1968, the Supremes played a trio of nuns on the 48th episode of the NBC-TV action series 'Tarzan'...
    At the time they did not have a song on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; one month earlier on December 24th, 1967 "In and Out of Love" was at #24 and that was its last day on the chart...
    But at the time their album 'The Supremes' Greatest Hits' was at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 19th 1967, the Supremes performed "In and Out of Love" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show"...
    At the time the song was at #29 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and fourteen days later it would peak at #9 {for 2 weeks}...
    {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 5th 1967, "In and Out of Love" by Diana Ross & the Supremes entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #65; and 4 weeks later on December 3rd, 1967 it peaked at #9 {for 2 weeks} and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #16 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    The Andantes also performed on the record, this was one of eight Supreme records that they appeared on.
  • Kristin from Bessemer, AlEven though this song made it to #9 on the Hot 100, it barely got above #20 on the R and B charts in 1967.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

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

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?