Motown fans will love this superlative collection.
It's interesting to note that, of the twelve album tracks we know so
well, two are NOT Holland & Dozier productions. I knew that Berry
Gordy himself had produced IT'S GONNA BE HARD TIMES but had no idea
that Norman Whitfield produced NO TIME FOR TEARS - a favourite track
of mine.
With the likes of Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and
Shorty Long composing the previously unreleased material, you don't
even have to hear them to know that the Elgins recorded some very
special songs.
Saundra Edwards has just confirmed my opinion that she was one of the
very best female vocalists Motown ever recorded. The wonderful
Clarence Paul produced three jazzy tracks, I STILL LOVE YOU, ALL FOR
JUST LOVIN' YOU and LET'S GIVE LOVE ANOTHER CHANCE - where Saundra
really shines. She sings a song convincingly, so that you believe every word.
Dean & Weatherspoon's THAT'S THE NIGHT THE LOVE DIED, it says in the
notes, was destined for Jimmy Ruffin, and sounds a little like one of his
released tracks. I just
wish Dean & Weatherspoon had recorded more with the Elgins!
The Stevie Wonder song THANK YOU LOVE has long been one of my
favourites and Saundra makes it her own - absolutely wonderful!
It's great to hear more of Johnny Dawson's lead vocals. he's a fab
singer and he really shines on the cover versions of non-Motown songs
and is perfect on the two Shorty Long produced tracks. Both songs are
expertly handled and treated differently enough to Shorty's originals
to make them great recordings in their own right.
Loving Saundra so much, I've always kind of dreaded having to comment
on Yvonne's stint as lead singer with the Elgins. Of course, I get my
wish here, as Dean & Weatherspoon wrote and/or produced Yvonne's
three tracks. I can imagine these as Velvelettes songs - so it's
interesting to see that LOVE WHERE ARE YOU HIDING was intended for
that group. Well, two of Yvonne's songs are the ones that the
Northern Soul fraternity will be going ape over but, for me, Yvonne
shines best on the third track, the afore-mentioned LOVE WHERE ARE
YOU HIDING, but all three tracks are impressive and a welcome
addition to the Elgins Motown Anthology.
It's amazing to see that each of the Downbeats (Robert Fleming,
Johnny Dawson, Cleotha Miller and Tommy Salisbury) had a hand in
composing some of the material on the second disc of the Elgins
Motown Anthology. It sounds like at least two of the guys sang lead,
so this was a pretty talented and versatile group.
I love the early R&B flavoured Motown recordings and the Downbeats
come up trumps with some real gems. The swinging DON'T YOU KNOW I
LOVE YOU BABY sounds like a classic Marv Johnson type of song, and I
FEEL SO FINE is in the same vein. There are hints of the Contours and
Smokey's Miracles in some of the other recordings too. What a shame
that the rumoured Downbeats album never materialised, as the group
was that good, that it may have led to a long career for the guys.
THEY SAY YOU DON'T CARE is a step nearer the classic Motown sound and
is a polished affair. Of course the previously unleashed YOU SAY YOU
LOVE ME and DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT should have been
gigantic hits and the finger-snapping latter song ought to be a dance-
floor anthem by now.
The power of Saundra's early solo sides is remarkable. Her take on
Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells' ALL I GOT compares favourably with that
classic. It's the sheer gutsiness of her singing on BOO HOO (YOU GOT
ME CRYIN' OVER YOU) and FIRST TRY AT LOVE that must have ear-marked
her as a force of nature and a talent to be nurtured. I dread to
think how young she must have been then, for she sounds like a
seasoned soul singer. Incredible!
Having the 45 mono versions of the Elgins tracks is a most welcome
bonus and a perfect end to, perhaps, my favourtie Motown two-fer.
Seeing an abundance of Elgins photographs is a treat too. I
especially like the four photos taken at the same session, with
Saundra holding a microphone, and looking demure in her pink frock,
and the guys looking young and smart in matching suits.
Thanks to everyone involved in getting these excellent recordings out
to the fans.