The Temptations – Reunion (1982)
Reunion is a very good Temptations album that could have been great. Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were originally rumored to produce this reunion of Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin with the current crop of Temptations. However, the two sides couldn’t get the deal done. So Motown rationed out the production assignments to in-house producers, Rick James, Smokey Robinson, and others. Seven voices sang on these tracks besides Kendricks and Ruffin; they were: Dennis Edwards, Glen Leonard, Richard Street, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams — a mini-choir. Considering the voices on hand, they should have spread the leads around. Of the seven tracks, Dennis Edwards sings six and David Ruffin one, the very ordinary “You Better Beware,” twritten by money man Barrett Strong. Ruffin’s vocal sounds rough and appears to strain trying to reach some notes. Punk-funker Rick James’ epic “Standing On the Top” production is the most popular track here, with its dead-on beat, blaring horns, and multiple voices; Rick James himself joins the Tempts on this festive song. Kendricks’ bluesy falsetto lines on the fade are like cherries topping a sundae. Relishing the opportunity to produce Dennis Edwards, Smokey writes two beauties for the churchy belter: the introspective, engaging “Backstage” and the understated “More On the Inside,” the second release from this set. Kerry Gordy, one of Berry Gordy sons, co-wrote two in-your-face cold-blooded stompers, the so-true “Money Hards to Get” and the frantic “Lock It In the Pocket,” both excellent and both left for dead on the album. Edwards displays his balladry ability on a stunning rendition of “I’ve Never Been to Me” originally done by Charlene. Not a bad album, but the product doesn’t equal the sum of the voices and producers. Why wasn’t Eddie Kendricks given a lead? Or Richard Street and the Kendricks-sounding Glen Leonard? Fans would have loved to hear the two falsettos featured on a song, or Kendricks and Ruffin co-leading as they did on “You’re My Everything” and the lesser-known but just as brilliant “Born to Love,” from The Temptin’ Temptations. While we’re playin’, a gospel jam would have been a rip-snortin’ inclusion (or conclusion); with seven voices, the results would have been breathtaking. (Andrew Hamilton, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Standing on the Top
2. You Better Beware
3. Lock It in the Pocket
4. I’ve Never Been to Me
5. Backstage
6. More on the Inside
7. Money’s Hard to Get
8. Like a Diamond in the Sky
9. Don’t Hold It In
**Listen**
The Temptations – Reunion (1982)
Julio 27, 2009 a 7:28 pm (Funk, R&B, Soul, Soul Funk)
Delegation – Deuces High (1982)
Julio 27, 2009 a 6:56 pm (Funk, R&B, Soul Funk)
Deuces High (1982)
Ricky Balley founded Delegation in the United Kingdom in 1975, a three-man group who changed members frequently with Balley the only constant. Balley, a native of Jamaica, moved to Britain with his parents as a teen, settling in Birmingham where he formed his first group, the Five Star Cadets. The short-lived group provided invaluable experience and helped Balley when he was putting Delegation (Balley, Len Coley, and Roddy Harris) together. They caught the ears of songwriter/producer Ken Gold who masterminded The Real Thing. Gold got them a deal with State Records, their first release “The Promise Of Love,” in 1976, flopped despite receiving excellent reviews and airplay. A second release “Where Is The Love” found its way onto the charts and the group started crisscrossing Europe gigging constantly. They hit again with “You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong,” but Harris quit, his place taken by Ray Patterson.
The years 1978 and 1979 showed promise, they hit with a remake of Ray Parker’s “Honey I’m Rich,” “Oh Honey,” and released their first LP, The Promise Of Love. More changes occurred when Coley left and was replaced by Bruce Dunbar. They hit a dry spell in England, but in 1979 “Oh Honey” soared to #5 on the R&B chart in the States, and charted Pop. A change of labels found them with Ariola who released Eau De Vie a good seller in Europe. Delegation came out in 1981 and spawned two more hits; a third album Dueces High appeared in 1982.
Personnel continued to change, Dunbar quit and Kathy Bryant joined, becoming Delegation’s first female member. They changed labels, releasing It’s Your Turn, on Epic which stiffed everywhere but France. They release The Mix on Scorpio Records, a segue compilation of five of their biggest hits. The band soldiered on until the early 90’s. Rap artists Coolio and The Ghetto Boys sampled “Oh Honey” which helps keep the Delegation’s name alive. Balley and Gold formed Euro-Jam Records to repackaged Delegation recordings and record up and coming artists. Collectables Records has release Golden Classics Edition, a greatest hits compilation. (Andrew Hamilton, AMG)
Electro soul at its best — a rare early 80s album from Delegation, and one of their best from the period! The album’s produced with lots of great touches on bass and keyboards — in a style that’s certainly more electric than that used on some of the group’s earlier albums, but which also comes off with a high degree of class, and is one of the rare examples where such presentation actually increases the power of the music. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. What Took You So Long
2. I Figure I’M Out Of Your Life
3. If You Were A Song
4. Gonna Bring The House Down
5. Tell Her
6. Dance Like Fred Astaire
7. No Words To Say
8. Would You Like To Start A Song With Me
9. Dance Time U.S.A.
Bonus Track
10. Darnlin I Think About You (The 1990 Mix)
**Listen**
*Gracias a Kunio por el aporte
