Search - The Sweet Inspirations :: Sweet Inspirations

The original (and the best) of late '60s Atlantic soul

Siriam | London United Kingdom | 02/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had just about run my old 1967 Atlantic album of this recording into the ground having bought it on release in the UK and sadly suffering a rather warped copy which thankfully played okay over the years. As their subsequent recordings were all released (some in pairings) I despaired that apart from a few tracks included on a "Greatest Hits" compilation, this their first release would never see the light of day.



That omission has now been rectified and the sound quality is great though with no added extra tracks it comes in pretty short at LP length for a CD ( an issue overcome on their their other releases by pairing releases together). What this CD demonstrates is that this was to be by far the best work of the group, using a great mix of new songs and older songs made famous by others, and in the production hands of Dowds and Wexler the old Atlantic magic being much in evidence, though one suspects budget limits (witness the LP cover and old style DJ liner notes that Atlantic so loved) were in force. Recorded in both NY and Memphis the real killer feature was the lead voice of Cissy Houston backed by three very competent singers in Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell and Estelle Brown who managed a great mix of a gospel sound and Atlantic soul music.



While I bought all their subsequent recordings (including the disappointing Stax recording after Houston had departed) none ever achieved the soulful heights on evidence here. The fact this recording alone based on the Ritchie Unterberger liner note essay landed them a long term gig as Elvis Presley's backing group without any audition needed says it all! Late "60s soul at its best.



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