LP Review: Watchout!
Released: 1966
LP Charts: #14 R&B, #116 Pop
Welp, this was the final Vandellas album with significant input from Holland-Dozier-Holland and William “Mickey” Stevenson as Motown was on the precipice of exiting its Golden Age.
Watchout! is steadier than their previous effort, Dance Party, but doesn’t attain the twin highs of “Nowhere to Run” and “Dancing in the Street”. It does have one high, though…
JIMMY MACK!
Yes, a sterling, perfect girl group pop song is what we got in “Jimmy Mack” (#1 R&B, #10 pop). And we had it for a looooong time. The song was recorded back in 1964, but not released as a single until 1967! One of the more fun (and stupid) Motown commercial decisions. Apparently, Berry Gordy didn’t like that “Jimmy Mack” sounded too much like a Supremes song.
Well, yeah, it did because “Jimmy Mack” and Supremes hits like “Baby Love” were written and produced by H-D-H. Anyways, “Jimmy Mack” slaps and slaps hard. It’s a simple floor stomper, but man is it so damn catchy.
Okay, so “Jimmy Mack” is easily the best song here, but H-D-H had one more hit for the Vandellas in “I’m Ready For Love” (#2 R&B, #9 pop). It’s a good song, but nowhere near the realm of “Heat Wave” and such. Plus it plainly copies the groove of “You Can’t Hurry Love”. So, when you’re hearing this good song, you get reminded of a perfect song and thus want to listen to the perfection.
The other three songs I find extremely good are the dance poppin’ “One Way Out” (another H-D-H production), the moody ballad “No More Tearstained Make Up” (a clever track from Smokey Robinson), and the melodramatic ballad “What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love” (a final contribution of Mickey Stevenson with Sylvia Moy).
There’s some lackluster tunes, too. Written by Smokey Robinson, “Let This Day Be” is mellow to a fault. Ominously, it also has the Andantes supplementing the Vandellas on backing vocals. The Andantes were awesome, but when Motown brought them in to sing with or instead of the actual vocal group that was always a bad sign for the titular group.
“Keep It Up” is also mellow, but does a better job of not having you fall asleep.
“Happiness Is Guaranteed” has some early Motown fuzz guitar foreshadowing the deluge of psychedelic soul a couple years later. “I’ll Follow You” is a fun uptempo track from Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua that features the Spinners on backing vocals.
On “No More Tearstained Make Up”, Smokey Robinson redeems himself from his previous atrocity. The song is a light, finger-snappin’ lullaby reminiscent of Robinson’s contemporary production with the Marvelettes.
A Tale of Two Melodramas
Wanna see the difference between a successful dramatic ballad and an underwhelming one? Well, Martha and the Vandellas give you an example of each sequentially.
“Go Ahead And Laugh” tries to tug at your heartstrings and relies too much on Martha Reeves’s vocals to provide the drama. The Vandellas just slightly coo in the background and the band sounds bored.
MEANWHILE, “What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love” opens with the girls sassily singing “since you been gone I been cryin’, all night long” with a mean looping bass that is soon augmented with shimmering strings and temperamental brass. On this song you can feel the desperation with the combined efforts of all involved.
After the perfectly average “Tell Me I'll Never Be Alone” the album concludes with the contemplative “He Doesn't Love Her Anymore”.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Same grade as I gave Dance Party, but this album as I mentioned up top is steadier from start to finish. A good addition to the collection if you’re a diehard Vandellas or mid-60s Motown fan. For generalists, it’s worth a listen all the way through, but thereafter, pick out the tracks I rate a 7 or better for your future listening.
Song Scores
I’m Ready for Love: 7/10
One Way Out: 7.5/10
Jimmy Mack: 10/10
Let This Day Be: 4/10
Keep It Up: 5/10
Happiness Is Guaranteed: 6/10
I'll Follow You: 7/10
No More Tearstained Make Up: 7.5/10
Go Ahead And Laugh: 4/10
What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love: 7.5/10
Tell Me I'll Never Be Alone: 5/10
He Doesn't Love Her Anymore: 7.5/10