“You Can’t Hurry Love” (Holland-Dozier-Holland) – The Supremes: Motown label, # 1 Billboard Hot 100, # 1 Billboard R&B – 1966. Inducted 2022.
“You Can’t Hurry Love” was the twelfth consecutive charting single for the Supremes that was written and produced by the team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland. It was also the seventh # 1 single that the H-D-H team had provides the Supremes in an incredible two-year period of unprecedented success for the Motown trio.
The song was partly based on the 1950s gospel song “(You Can’t Hurry God) He’s Right On Time,” and it showcases the developing sound of the Supremes, who were progressing from their earlier teen-pop songs into recordings that addressed more mature themes.
“You Can’t Hurry Love” was also featured on “The Supremes A’ Go-Go” album, the group’s first # 1 LP in 1966. The Supremes were big favorites on The Ed Sullivan Show. The girls appeared 17 times on the program, and they performed “You Can’t Hurry Love” on Sunday, September 25, 1966. Considered one of the Supremes’ most distinctive songs, “You Can’t Hurry Love” was honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.