Dramatically Yours
Artist: The Dramatics
Community Score: 10.00

One of their finest albums. The Dramatics had solidified their sound and personnel in the early '70s. L.J. Reynolds was now doing the leads, with Ron Banks' feathery falsetto and Willie Ford's booming baritone perfectly positioned at the top and bottom of the arrangements, and Reynolds and Lenny Mayes right in the center. Although they didn't... Read More

Spirit in the Dark
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Community Score: 5.00

Spirit in the Dark was one of Aretha Franklin's more overlooked albums from her Atlantic prime, despite the inclusion of a couple hit singles (the title track and "Don't Play That Song"). The disc includes five of her own compositions (the most she ever recorded for a single album) and her usual eclectic choice of cover material. On this record,... Read More

Young, Gifted and Black
Artist: Aretha Franklin

It's nearly impossible to single out any of Aretha Franklin's early '70s albums for Atlantic as being her best, particularly given the breadth of her output during this era. In terms of albums rather than singles, it's probably her strongest era, and if you count live albums like Amazing Grace, choosing a standout or a favorite record isn't any... Read More

New and Improved
Artist: The Spinners
Community Score: 10.00

The Spinners were on a roll; after years of neglect at the hands of Motown, their ship just kept coming in, and in, and in with Atlantic Records. New and Improved is an absolute classic, yet it gets less run than some of their other LPs. Everything from the romanticism of "Smile We Have Each Other," a real tearjerker, to the self-assured, driven... Read More

'Justments
Artist: Bill Withers
Community Score: 9.00
Round 2
Artist: The Stylistics
Community Score: 9.00

This was the Stylistics' sophomore album and it spawned three Billboard R&B Top Ten singles: "I'm Stone in Love With You," "Break Up to Make Up," and "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)." The first two even cracked the Top Ten on the pop charts. Furthermore, there is much here to savor. The vocal quintet's version of the Carole... Read More

Mighty Love
Artist: The Spinners
Community Score: 4.00

Riding high off of a Grammy nod as Producer of the Year for his work on the Spinners 1973 eponymous album, Philly soul mastermind Thom Bell infused their next collection Mighty Love (1974) with the similar mix of lushly scored slow jams and stylish mid-tempo R&B entries. Although the group had been around since the mid-'50s, by the time the... Read More

Rags to Rufus
Artist: Rufus & Chaka Khan
Community Score: 8.00

In many respects the group seems to be feeling their way through this. Luckily, Rags to Rufus does feature some can't-miss propositions. The great rock and funk mix of "You've Got the Love" all but sums up what Chaka Khan was going to be doing for the long haul. The biggest hit here, "Tell Me Something Good," is a rare instance of an artist like... Read More

Rufusized
Artist: Rufus
Community Score: 8.00

In the early '70s, Rufus was one of the most popular and interesting bands in R&B and rock. Of course, the reason was Chaka Khan, who possessed an amazing voice that was well versed in rock and jazz every bit as much as R&B. Their debut went nowhere, Rags to Rufus offered two instant classics, and Rufusized displayed their skill as album... Read More

Spread the Word
Artist: The Persuasions

Soulful a cappella renditions of traditional gospel and pop gospel songs. ~ Opal Louis Nations, All Music Guide Read More

ABC
Artist: The Jackson 5
Community Score: 6.00

Not even six months after the Jackson 5 -- Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, and Tito -- issued their debut long-player, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 (1969), the vocal quintet returned with ABC (1970), arguably the brothers' most solid effort of the early '70s. The Jacksons' collective (and respective) talents, coupled with exemplary... Read More

Anthology
Artist: The Four Tops

A bountiful three-record collection later issued on two CDs, the Four Tops' Anthology presented, in chronological order, every notable song from the group's tenure at Motown, from their 1964 breakout hit "Baby I Need Your Loving" all the way to 1972's "A Simple Game." (The compact disc also tacked on two songs from the '80s: "I Just Can't Walk... Read More

At His Best
Artist: Eddie Kendricks

While Eddie Kendrick (or Kendricks) never made as much impact on his own as he did with The Temptations, he still made some fine singles as a solo artist on Motown. These are included on this anthology, and while three or four great tunes usually aren't enough to merit an anthology, Motown has issued them by artists who had even fewer. "Keep on... Read More