Enchantment didn’t have many hits. They didn’t have many albums. But they did have some hits and some albums. Enough to justify me doing a quick recap of their career and slap together a playlist of their music.
The ensemble formed in Detroit in the late 1960s. Consisting of five high school friends (Emanuel “EJ” Johnson; Joe “Jobie” Thomas; Bobby Green; Edgar “Mickey” Clanton; and David Banks) Enchantment didn’t get a recording deal until the mid-1970s.
Their self-titled debut album was a pretty good success. It yielded two top 5 R&B singles with one even cracking the pop top 40. Those hits (“Gloria” and “Sunshine”) weren’t the only good things to be found on the debut LP and its well worth a full listen.
On the ascent, Enchantment’s 1978 sophomore album (Once Upon A Dream) was even better delivering the group their one and only R&B chart-topping single (“It’s You That I Need”).
At this point, the group’s calling card was spectacular ballads that grabbed your ear on the radio backed by funky mid-tempo jams to fill out the LPs. It was a damn good formula.
However, after just two albums, things began falling apart. Quickly.
Their 1979 album (Journey to the Land Of...Enchantment) was merely okay artistically, but totally flopped commercially. The 1980s were dreadful. Enchantment released three albums in the first half of that decade. They all stunk and produced no hits.
So the playlist I set up for this group heavily leans on the first two albums, has a decent chunk from their third LP, and not much from the the final albums.
It’s a great listen if you love 70s soul, cuz those first two albums are soooooo good.
PLAYLIST on Tidal
ALBUM REVIEWS
Enchantment: B
Once Upon A Dream: B+
Journey to the Land Of...Enchantment: C
Soft Lights, Sweet Music: D+
Enchanted Lady: D
Utopia: D