Search - Royalettes :: It's Gonna Take a Miracle

Amazing......

Larry Jones | San Francisco ,Ca | 09/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hadn't heard the Royalettes original of "It's Gonna Take A Miracle"(R&B#28 Pop#41,1965) in some time ( My late grandmother had the original LP) and when I got the CD I was astonished on how little the various cover versions have deviated from the original. In Comparison other hits from that era that would be turned into later hits like "Hey There Lonely Boy(Girl)" and "Don't Make Me Over," Nobody strayed too far with their reprises of "Miracle" and I think Sheila Ross' vocal style was Denice Williams' vocal inspiration not only for her top 10 cover (1982) but her entire singing career. The song's a standard..and everyone I play the original for agrees it's the best.

And that's just the first track. I'm suprised that the Royalettes did fizzle out with commercial sucess so soon, but then again Uptown Soul artists..as I believe the Royalettes to be , did not have long prosperous careers..unless you went the Dionne Warwick route and fully embraced the adult contemporary leanings in your older recordings. The only other substanial national hit was "I Want to Meet Him" (R&B#26 Pop#72, 1965). I think this song was a blueprint for The Temptations "It's Just My Imagination" with the full blooded symphonic arrangement. just my opinion....

Surely "How Can You Face Me" was possibly too sophisticated and to powerful a statement by female artists to really make headway as a single. "Only When Your Lonely" is gorgeous with call & response vocals over a delicous arrangement. It and "You Bring Me Down" a variation on Little Anthony & The Imperials back to back hits "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad" must have fought for topside status and both lost out.

I recommend this CD..despite the steep costs...it's wonderful and influential music. I'm buying the next one on Cd "Elegant Sounds" to hear how their sound progressed. Shelia Ross' vocal seemed to mature a lot on "It's Better Not To Know" and " I Don't want to be the One""