AGONY AND ECSTASY

IN 1967 THE MOTTO WAS NO PAIN NO GAIN. GIVE IT YOUR ALL, GIVE IT ALL YOUVE GOT AND YOULL GET ALL IN RETURN. ALL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE PUTTING THEMSELVES INTO THEIR MUSIC AND WORK 110% . THE FURIOUS FIVE HAD A STROKE OF MAGIC THAT WAS TOO HOT TO THE HUMAN TOUCH. THEIR BAND DIRECTOR, CORNELIUS GRANT HAD 3 CUTS ON THIS ONE. HE WAS PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND STRETCHING THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE. CORNELIUS GRANT WROTE 3/SONGS- "I KNOW IM LOSING YOU / AINT NO SUN SINCE YOU BEEN GONE/AND YOURE MY EVERYTHING. HIS MUSICAL ABILITY HELPED THEM TO SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS AND DRIVE THEM INTO NEW #1 HITS. THE GIFTS/TALENTS WERE FLOWING ABUNDANTLY. YOU HAD TO BE THERE TO EXPERIENCE IT.

BEST OF THE BEST

Okay, I'll be brief. This is one of the finest,
most fun, beautiful, soaring achievements to ever
come out of Motown. The Temptations had released
several wonderful LPs and singles before "With
A Lot O Soul", but this is the pinnacle of the
David Ruffin years. David, Eddie Kendricks and
Paul Williams all top themselves here, with soul
music so fantastic you'll smile and cry at once.
Stop reading, go buy this now!!

Just About Perfect

I was there in 1967, 13 years old, when this one came out in the summer, originally as "Gordy 922." Better than most Supremes LP's (or Motown albums in general) in that it fathered four hit singles.

"I Know I'm Losing You" and "All I Need" preceded the LP in Nov. 66 & Apr. 67, respectively. "You're My Everything" more or less came out as a 45 simultaneously with album. Then in September, the album was mined for "It's You That I Need" backed with "Don't Send Me Away." Four touchstone Temptations singles, but as far I'm concerned there's at least two more 45s that should have been scooped out of this one, and read "In album: Temptations With A Lot O' Soul" on their labels.

"Save My Love For A Rainy Day," is a study in delayed gratification, but not the least bit sad. Playing confident and determined, Eddie Kendricks assures his lady love, who's in love with someone else for the time being, that he gonna stick close by. He knows the guy she thinks she loves is a scoundrel, will reveal himself soon enough, and Eddie's gonna be right there with the true love that will rescue her. The wonderful background vocals ("drip-drop, save, baby") are essentially Eddie's cheering section. It's his most optimistic delivery of song since "The Way You Do the Things You Do."

"Just Once Last Look," led off the second side of the original LP, and is an ideal showcase for a masterful David Ruffin delivery. More importantly, it is the only work by The Temptations released within the 60's where they worked with Holland, Dozier, Holland. The lyrics are sad, but the up-tempo pitch leaves the impression that broken-hearted David won't stay down for long. The only thing to be sad about here is that the famed, genius producers and this legendary group didn't have more occasions to work together.

Thanks in part to this seminal Temptations release, I believe 1967 will eventually come to mean in record history what 1939 meant to movies. It's also the year the spotlight she long deserved, found and has never left Aretha Franklin thanks to the "I Never Loved A Man" & "Aretha Arrives" LP's. The Supremes put out a 2-disc "Greatest Hits" making 10 of their immortal #1 hits new again. In the rock arena, there was the landmark first Doors album, Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow," and, of course, "Sgt. Pepper." Hell, even the Monkees were having a great year. I'm glad I wasn't born too late.