Soul Express CD Review

I have always adored The Temptations.  They are legendary, and the fact that they are still here in 2004, 45 years on (well, Otis Williams anyway) is simply amazing.  Who can look upon many new groups today and believe that they will be releasing their 60th album in 2049?!  No, me neither.  The line up may have changed over the years and musical styles have changed, but we can always depend on the group to deliver us quality, quality and more quality to a greater or lesser degree. 
This time around we are joined by Motown veteran G.C. Cameron and Joe Herndon who really does possess something' special … as we shall see. "Phoenix Rising" back in 1998 really was a KICK ASS CD and the following sets were good, but paled by comparison.  This CD is different.  For me, a devoted fan, it is neither their best set neither is it their most consistent but it has its seriously killer moments and is essential listening.  What really excited me was when I scrolled down the list of producers and saw a certain gentleman called Steve Harvey in on the Production credits.  His work with the likes of Frank McComb, Impromp2, Bridgette McWilliams, Bridgette Bryant etc (and his own, of course!) is second to none and beyond essential.  More from Steve later as I will deal with his ESSENTIAL "Devalicious" compilation. 
Unusually, the fellas excel on this CD with the uptempo material.  This washes the floor with what I can only describe as bland, boring and plodding ballads that do little for me.  The dancers and funkers are SUPERB and Steve Harvey takes the limelight with his inclusions as do Drew Ramsey, JK, Rainfall Entertainment, and Daniel Wetherspoon. 
The nostalgia is there in the opening - the autobiographical "Still Tempting" which deals with the original line up back in 1964 and their trials and tribulations dealing with their dance routines and the fact that after all this time they are still here, still doing the rounds. And, yes, still tempting us with their unique sound. 
I was absolutely ECSTATIC when I heard "'Round Here" - this is CLASSIC Temptations a la Norman Whitfield "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" with strong, gravelly vocals, funky basslines, wah wah guitar and a tune so FUNKY that it hurts.  Only Steve Harvey could have pulled this off for the Temptations - if you love the funky outings from Impromp2 last year and on their superb "Definition Of Love" then you will die for this. 
More up-to-date is "Stay Together" which is more R&B inclined; the happy, clappy beat could be straight from the songbook of Eric Benét or Rahsaan Patterson.  Just great.
  Track 4 was a song I heard on the gents' website… if you do not like this song you have no soul in you at all, it's as easy as that.  Produced by JK this song is a KILLER.  I mentioned Joe Herndon earlier … his monologue at the start of this song almost made me fall off my chair.  This guy has a voice that is so equal to the late, great Melvin Franklin that it is unreal.  This could be Melvin speaking.  rushed straight to their "Bareback" album and played "Easy To Love" - these guys are virtually identical.  Great choice, Otis! This is one of my favourite songs of 2004, and a great effort.  Funky, chunky and powerful. 
The first single release was "Fifty Fifty Love" which was not immediately a track that I liked, but after a few plays I have grown to love it.  Terry Weeks is not my favourite vocalist but he really is suited to this modern retro R&B groove thing.  Odd to hear G. C. Cameron doing his thing on this, though!  If only we had more upfront vocals from this man - but there's always the next CD! 
Joe opens up the gorgeous "Love To The Music" and we are led into a swaying guitar filled gem that wings me way back to the late 70s / early 80s; great vocal arrangement too - innovative and different.  Ron Tyson's sweet falsetto sound is just gorgeous.  Here's another KILLER track … "Mr. Fix It".  Joe Herndon's monologue sets the scene for this precautionary tale about keeping one's lady at the centre of your attention.  Wise words indeed and as for the tune - just brilliant and with Mr. Harvey in the mix and Bobby "Rufus" Watson on guitar what could be better? 
A surprise inclusion is a tune written between Otis Williams and Ali Ollie Woodson.  Mr. Cameron takes the lead on this along with a superb lady called Danesha Simon who sounds to be more of an adult singer than the squeaky young girlies that the companies seem to favour these days.  The song is OK, I wish it was Ali Ollie Woodson singing this.  It lacks something and I think the keyboards make the song sound independent and low budget at the very start - something I do not necessarily equate with the famed group. 
The final cut is better and is what we would have expected on a set from the mid-late 80s period, possibly even "Corner Of My Heart" from 1991 springs to mind.  I cannot recommend this CD enough for the mentioned songs.  Much praise indeed.  And, Otis, if you read this…YES, you guys are still tempting.  Very much.

- Barry Towler