Released: July 1966
Three songs here are cream of the crop and belong on anyone’s collection of must-listen 60s pop.
“I Got A Feeling” is the best song on the album… and wasn’t released as an A-side. The song opens with a quick drum hit, Levi Stubbs says “when you’re in my arms darling, when you’re in my arms” and then everyone else (the Four Tops and Andantes) crash the fucking party and just do not let up for the next three minutes.
It has an unstoppable, unflappable energy that chugs along with reckless abandon.
“Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” isn’t quite up to that level but it’s damn close. Co-written by Stevie Wonder it sounds like a dry-run for his later hit “As” from Songs in the Key of Life. Yeah, that means it’s an amazing song too.
The final monster song here is “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over)”. Everything here is good, but that piano riff is the standout. Plus the backing vocalists do a great of job whispering certain lyrics giving the song this tension of paranoia and desperation.
The HDH production team would harness that tension to even greater results on the following album, but the rest of this LP is underwhelming.
“There’s No Love Left” is a good ballad while the Tops’ covers of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “In the Still of the Night” return them to their close harmony jazz vocal origins. They’re enjoyable enough, but not earth shattering.
And sadly they’re the best song from the rest of the LP.
Stay far far away from their cover of the Beatles’ “Michelle”. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
ALBUM GRADE: C
That grade is leaning incredibly heavily on those three monster songs. Absolutely listen to them. If you are also a fan of Motown music, go for “There’s No Love Left”. And if you like vocal jazz (or just group harmonies in general) the two jazz vocal numbers are of interest too.
SONG SCORES
I Got A Feeling: 9.5/10
Brenda: 4/10
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever: 9/10
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over): 9/10
Until You Love Someone: 5/10
There's No Love Left: 6.5/10
Matchmaker, Matchmaker: 6/10
Michelle: 3/10
In the Still of the Night: 6/10
Bluesette: 3/10
Quiet Night of Quiet Stars: 5/10
Then: 4/10