LP Review: Sugar N' Spice
Released: 1969
LP Charts: nada
PRELUDE OF ANNOYANCE
However Sugar n’ Spice turns out, let me once again chide Motown for leaving some damn good material off a regular studio album. In the second half of 1968, after the release of Ridin’ High, the Vandellas recorded two great singles.
“Sweet Darlin’” (#45 R&B, #80 pop) — 7.5/10
“I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin’” (#24 R&B, #42 pop) — 9/10
As you can see, neither song was a tremendous hit, but they were tremendous songs. “Sweet Darlin’” was written and produced by Richard Morris. I admit it tries to copy the cleverness of “Honey Chile” a bit too much (even the titles mimic one another) and breaks no new ground, but it is expertly performed Motown R&B.
Meanwhile, “I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin’” shoulda been a smash. Built around a catchy piano riff, this song is a true Motown group effort. Martha Reeves handles the lead vocals, the Andantes tackle the backing vocals, and Syreeta Wright sings the chorus.
Okay acknowledging those two songs being left off the LP, we can get to the LP, which is kind of a mess.
As demonstrated by “I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin’” it was getting harder and harder to tell who was actually singing on Martha and the Vandellas songs. And Sugar n’ Spice exemplified that.
Rosalind Ashford and Louis Reeves were technically the Vandellas during the recording of this album, but they sang on just two songs on Sugar n’ Spice: “Loneliness is a Lonely Feelin’” and “I Hope That You Have Better Luck Than I Did”. And by the time the album was released, Ashford was jettisoned from the group in favor of Sandra Tilley, a former member of the Velvelettes. Meanwhile, the Andantes sang backup on nine songs on this album. Muddying the waters further, husband-and-wife team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson sang backup on two songs as well.
The only clarity was who the lead vocalist (Martha Reeves) was. Everybody else was in flux.
Most alarming of all though was Martha Reeves’s voice. This is when her once tenacious delivery was beginning to shake and quiver. She wasn’t biting into songs the way she had a couple years earlier. Her voice still isn’t bad, but the decreased power of her vocals is discernible.
In short, she’s not the same vocalist who shouted, “Every guy grab a girl, everywhere around the world!” on “Dancing in the Street”. No way she coulda pulled that off now.
Lonely at the Top
“I Love the Man” is the one song on this album I would unreservedly call good. It rises like the morning sun shimmering over the ocean thanks to its gorgeous string arrangement. Although Reeves can’t power through a song the way she used to, this song calls for a lighter touch and she delivers well enough. However, I do think that Diana Ross of the Supremes or Wanda Rogers of the Marvelettes were better suited for this material. Also, the bass player (James Jamerson, I assume) is doing some understated work underneath the strings and percussion.
Some Decent Fare
“Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)” (#44 R&B, #102 pop) has some more background vocals from Syreeta, if you listen close. Anyhoo, it is a shuffle beat, late 60s R&B ballad pointing the way toward light disco and smooth soul of the 1970s.
“Shoe Leather Expressway” is an elastic track with some silly lyrics. But you could tell that from the title. “I’m A Winner” is competent uptempo pop-soul from the irrepressible Ashford & Simpson. Shit, Motown dug deep in the vaults and dragged out “I Can't Get Along Without You” and “I Hope That You Have Better Luck Than I Did”. It had to be deep vault digs cuz they were both written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and those dudes been gone from Motown for nearly three years at this point.
“Loneliness Is a Lonely Feelin’” feels like it should work better than it does. But something is missing from the dance song. I can’t put my finger on it. I still like it though.
Meh
“You’re the Loser Now” is a sparse ballad exposing Reeves’s lowered vocal power. There’s an attempted high note on “Soul Appeal” at about the 1:30 mark that makes you wince. Damn, Martha. “It Ain’t Like That” is another Ashford & Simpson track and this time Valerie Simpson is practically singing co-lead with Reeves. It’s an interesting track, but not amazing or anything. “Heartless” is neither up nor down. Straight down the middle Motown R&B.
Bad
“What Now My Love” sucks. That is all.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
Since Motown sadly left off two distinctive singles from this album, we’re largely left with an unremarkable recording.
Song Scores
Taking My Love (And Leaving Me): 6.5/10
Shoe Leather Expressway: 6.5/10
You're the Loser Now: 5/10
I'm a Winner: 6/10
What Now My Love: 3/10
Soul Appeal: 5/10
Loneliness is a Lonely Feelin’: 6/10
I Love the Man: 7/10
It Ain’t Like That: 5.5/10
I Can't Get Along Without You: 6/10
Heartless: 5/10
I Hope That You Have Better Luck Than I Did: 5/10