Genre: soul
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Love Songs & Other Tragedies
Company: Motown
Catalog: M6-819S1
Year: 1974
Country/State: Jackson, Mississippi
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: DJ sticker on cover
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 102
Price: $20.00
I wrote this review and then started wondering if I'd been fair in my comments. Curiously, when I went on line looking to see what other folks had to say about the LP, I couldn't find a single review ... Very strange ! Anyhow, the end result is there's nothing out there for me to bounce my thoughts against.
By the early-1970s, G.C. Cameron had longstanding professional and personnel ties with Motown Records. As a member of The Spinners, he'd recorded quite a bit of material for Motown, but much to the group's growing frustration, Motown management seemed to have little interest in promoting the group. Cameron's personal roots to Motown came as a result of his relationship with Berry Gordy's sister Gwen Gordy. That left Cameron in an awkward position when The Spinners and Motown parted ways. Seemingly under the impression Motown would push him to superstardom as a solo act, Cameron decided to stick with Motown. With his departure The Spinners brought Cameron's cousin Philippe Wynne onboard as a replacement. They promptly signed with Philadelphia International, enjoying massive commercial success throughout the '70s.
Cameron's Motown career started off slowly. Initially signed to MoWest, Cameron's solo debut came out in 1971:
- 'Act Like a Shotgun' b/w 'Act Like a Shotgun' (MoWest catalog number MW 5005F)
That was followed by a series of equally overlooked singles:
- 1972's 'I'm Gonna Get You Part 1' b/w 'I'm Gonna Get You Part 2'' (MoWest catalog number MW 5012F)
- 1972's 'What It Is, What It Is' b/w 'You Are That Special One' (MoWest catalog number MW 5015F)
- 1973's 'Don't Wanna Play Pajama Games' b/w 'Jesus Help Me' (MoWest catalog number MW 5036F)
1974 saw Cameron switched from MoWest to Motown. In creative terms, the company brought in its 'A' team for what was Cameron's long overdue debut LP. Among the behind the scenes talents producing, arranging, and contributing material to 1974's "Love Songs & Other Tragedies" were Marvin Gaye, Willie Hutch, Norman Whitefield and Stevie Wonder. Not only was the support staff impressive, but half of the tracks were first-rate, deserving far wider recognition. At least to my ears Cameron's always had one of Motown's most engaging voices. His delivery was super flexible, allowing him to handle a wide variety of genres, ranging from love man ballads ('If You're Ever Gonna Love Me') to true funk number ('Come Get This Thang'). The main problem with this outing was Motown's decision to try to market Cameron as a love man crooner. Completing the image by dressing him in a black shirt and razor sharp white suit, half of the tracks were slow ballads. Taken in isolation most were quite good, but when heard in a compressed setting, they literally started to blend together. Had Motown shifted the focus to a slightly more dynamic mix, this would have been an early-'70s classic release.
- 'If You Don't Love Me' was a strange, almost bossa-nova-meets funk number which made perfect sense when you discovered Stevie Wonder had penned it. Cameron certain turned in an engaging performance on the song and it was easy to see why Motown tapped it as the lead-off single, but you were left to wonder what the Wonder original would have sounded like. rating: **** stars
- Anyone who doubted Cameron could get funky need only check out the blazing 'Come Get This Thang'. With some mesmerizing hyper speed horns, Cameron's soul-drenched performance made it hard to believe he'd been a member of The Spinners ... Only complaint - the song was too short. rating: **** stars.
- 'A silky smooth mid-tempo ballad, I'm Gonna Give You Respect' was the first track that actually showcased how cool Cameron's voice was. Having Marvin Gaye and Willie Hutch on backing vocals certainly didn't hurt the performance. One of the album's standout performances, this one should have been a major hit for Cameron. rating: **** stars.
- Side one's prettiest performance, 'If You're Ever Gonna Love Me' was a breezy ballad with a sweet melody and one of Cameron's most effortless performances. Another track that had high commercial potential, Motown released it as the second single. rating: *** stars
- The album's first disappointment, 'Let Me Down Easy' wasn't a bad song, but simply lacked the spark the rest of side one exhibited. Cameron's shift into high pitched screech didn't help the song. rating: ** stars
- The second Stevie Wonder contribution, 'All In Love Is Fair' was a pretty enough ballad, but just didn't have that magic ingredient to make it stand apart from the other slow numbers. rating: ** stars
- So the cricket sound effects were an interesting touch, but the decision to slap yet another ballad on the album wasn't a great choice. Add to that the fact Cameron sang this one in a super high falsetto (he sure didn't sound very comfortable), and you had another sub par performance. rating: ** stars
- Thankfully moving back into up-tempo territory 'Your Love Won't Turn Me Loose' was written by longtime buddy Willie Hutch. It also sounded like Hutch shared lead vocals on the track. Easily one of the standout performances on the album, this one had an instantly mesmerizing melody and some truly joyful vocals form Cameron and Hutch. rating: **** stars
- Kicked along by some blistering piano, 'You Forgot To Remember Me' was a bluesy, Gospel-tinged number. Nice, but nothing you haven't heard before. rating: *** stars
- The album closed out with the lone Cameron original - the breezy, easy-to-like 'Tippin'''. Given the caliber of this number you were left to wonder why he wasn't allowed more room for other originals. rating: *** stars
:
As mentioned, the album was tapped for a pair of singles:
- If You Don't Love Me b/w Topics (Motown catalog number M 1311F)
-
If You're Ever Gonna Love Me b/w 'Tippin'' (Motown catalog number M 1347F)
"Love
Songs & Other Tragedies" track listing:
(side 1)
1.)
If You Don't Love Me (Stevie Wonder) - 2:39
2.) Come Get This Thang (Willie Hutch) - 2:36
3.) I'm Gonna Give You Respect (Willie Hutch) - 2:46
4.) If You're Ever Gonna Love Me (Frank Johnson) -
3:40
5.) Let Me Down Easy (Van McCoy - Joe Cobb) - 3:50
(side 2)
1.) All
In Love Is Fair (Stevie Wonder) - 3:25
2.) Riverboat (Don Daniels - Terri McFadden) - 4:20
3.) Your Love Won't Turn Me Loose (Willie Hutch) - 2:26
4.) You Forgot To Remember Me (George Gordy - Larry Brown -
Elgie Stover) - 3:50
5.) Tippin' (G.C. Cameron) - 4:02
