Florence Ballard - Alternate Take 1: "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)" video free download

Former member and founder of Motown group The Supremes, Florence Ballard sings the first take of her first solo record with ABC Records - only a year after her firing from The Supremes and departure from Motown.

Florence, billed as Florence 'Flo' Ballard, released a different take of this song as her first single under ABC Records, with a cover of the Little Anthony & The Imperials classic "Goin' Out Of My Head" as its b-side.

Even though The Supremes were and still are the most successful female group in history, racking up 10 US #1 hits while Flo was in the group and getting two more after her dismissal, both the singles she released with ABC failed to garner much attention and didn't show on any major charts due to poor promotion and distribution by ABC - and also because part of the agreement that allowed her to leave Motown Records stated she was not allowed to mention that she was once a Supreme.

The album Flo recorded with ABC under the proposed title "You Don't Have To" was shelved and ABC did not renew her contract, but in 2002 a London based company released her album under the title "The Supreme Florence Ballard" along with 4 tracks that featured her on lead as a Supreme.

Flo has been mentioned in her fellow Supreme Mary Wilson's bestselling books entitled "Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme" and "Supreme Faith: Someday Well Be Together".

Three biographies have been written on her; the first by Randall Wilson called "Florence Ballard: Forever Faithful!" was released in 1999, the second by Florence's own sister Maxine Ballard is called "The True Story of Florence Ballard" was released in 2007 and the 3rd by Peter Benjaminson called "The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard" was released on April 1st 2008 and was based on 8 hours worth of interviews that Peter had and recorded with Flo not long before her untimely passing in 1976.

Here is a list of Flo's solo singles:

1968: "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)" b/w "Goin' Out Of My Head" (ABC Records #45-11074A/B)

1968: "Love Ain't Love" b/w "Forever Faithful" (ABC Records #45-11144A/B)

Video cover art made by me.