Search - Topics :: All Good Things

Soul/Sweet Soul Collectors...Buy now!

William Blackshear | West Orange, NJ USA | 02/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This New York area soul/sweet soul group (primarily a trio most of the time) tried to keep it going from 1966-1987. The glue and diehard throughout, a good songwriter in his own right (penning Lee Williams & The Cymbals two biggest hits, "I Love You More", and "Peepin' Through The Window"), Ronald McCoy, sang next to 30 different Topics by the time the group finally folded. They recorded a number of songs for various labels while seeking to "make it". The Topics are most remembered by East Coast sweet soul collectors for the 45 "All Good Things Must End" (Heavy Duty Records-1972). A sought after single, then (NY/NJ area) & now (sweet soul collectors everywhere). Our ink may run out while attempting to list the so many members, and the various labels their singles were released on, so we'll pass on that. Brothers III Records released an album (1974) titled "All Good Things". To say a mint copy of the lp commands astronomical numbers is an understatement! Nevertheless, and once again to the rescue, the incomparable sweet soul reissue label, Japan's P-Vine company, released a cd in the late 90s, with additional tracks by other Brothers III artists from the era, on it also, titled "The Topics and Friends: All Good Things". For soul/swet soul collectors, collecting all the 45s is now out of the question. Locating one or two, in mint condition, to purchase will require reaching deep. As long as this cd remains accessible, acquisition of this rare music is within reach. Is it worth the risk of not buying now, and as import cd history shows, "here today, gone, tomorrow"? The cost of the cd is a fraction of the value of the 45s. Other ballads are on the cd ("Please Take This Heart Of Mine", "Nothing In This World", to name two) as well as soul tracks. The value of "All Good Things Must End" alone, far outweighs the cost of the cd. A must cd in any sweet soul music collection of depth and rarities. It's buy time!"