By mid-1965 the Supremes had a run of hits built on the stomping beat and looping chorus Holland-Dozier-Holland introduced with Where Did Our Love Go. When Nothing But Heartaches stalled at No. 11, Berry Gordy declared that Motown would release only top 10 material, and only songs certain to reach No. 1 for the Supremes. The writers admitted their records had begun to sound alike, so they shelved Mother Dear, a finished single in the old style, and wrote I Hear a Symphony, a more complex song that keeps stepping up in key.
The track was recorded in Studio A on September 22 and from September 28 to 30, 1965, with Diana Ross on lead, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson on backing vocals, and the Funk Brothers, including baritone saxophonist Mike Terry. Released on October 6, 1965, with Who Could Ever Doubt My Love on the B-side, it became the Supremes' sixth U.S. No. 1, holding the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in November. It also topped Cash Box and Record World and reached No. 1 in Canada, opening a new run of chart-toppers.
In a 1968 interview Ross called it one of her favorite songs to perform, even though its rising key was hard on her voice.
The single was certified for one million U.S. sales, with a reported two million sold worldwide.
A trade review predicted the song would produce a symphony of profit for Motown.
In November 1965 the Supremes performed it on The Mike Douglas Show, co-hosted that week by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
It led to four straight No. 1 hits: You Can't Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin' On, Love Is Here and Now You're Gone and The Happening.
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