Creative Source


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1: (1973-)

- Barbara Berryman -- vocals

- Barbara Lewis -- vocals

- Steve Ranagan -- vocals

- Celeste Rose -- vocals 

- Don Wyatt -- vocals 

   

 

 

- The Colts (Don Wyatt)

- The Elegin (Barbara Lewis)

- The Fortunes (Don Wyatt)

 

 


 

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Creative Source

Company: Sussex

Catalog: SRA-8027

Year: 1974

Country/State: Los Angeles, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: unipack sleeve; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4888

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

 

I've always suspected Creative Source as being Sussex Records' attempt to recreate a mid-1970s version of The 5th Dimension.  Part of that may have something to do with the fact the band's original manager was 5th Dimension vocalist Ron Townsend.

 

Based in Los Angeles, Creative Source came together in 1973.  The original lineup consisted of Barbara Berryman, ex-Elgins Barbara Lewis, Steve Ranagan,  Celeste Rose and former Colts/Fortunes singer Don Wyatt.  With support from Townsend the group attracted the attention of Sussex Records which signed them to a contract.

 

Teamed with producer Mike Stokes (who also contributed a couple of songs to the project), 1974's cleverly-titled "Creative Source" was surprisingly good.  To be perfectly honest, the earlier comparison to The 5th Dimension wasn't 100% accurate, but the group's close knit harmonies and Paul Riser's smooth arrangements bore at least a superficial comparison to the former.  That said, The 5th Dimension have seldom recorded anything as good as the leadoff number 'You Can't Hide Love', nor anything as psych-tinged as 'Who Is He and What Is He To You'.  Creative Source's version of the former simply beat the crap out of the Earth, Wind and Fire original.  Besides, can you imagine The 5th Dimension having the guts to cover Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride'?   From a critical standpoint their biggest problem stemmed from the fact none of the members were writers.  As such they were entirely dependent on outside parties.  The fact over half of the album was first-rate spoke volumes to just how good they were and you were left to wonder what they could have done with a bit of creative independence.

 

"Creative Source" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) You Can't Hide Love   (Skip Scarborough) - 3:32   rating; **** stars

Kicked along by some Dennis Coffey-styled fuzz guitar, 'You Can't Hide Love' sounded like a prime slice of Norman Whitfield psychedelia-meets the 5th Dimension.  Sporting an instantly recognizable melody and some great, silky smooth vocals from female leads Barbara Berryman, Barbara Lewis, and Celeste Rose, the track was one of the album's highlights.  This one should have been a massive hit for the group.  Shame the track wasn't longer.  It was also tapped as the album's sophomore single:

 

 

 

 

 

1973's 'You Can't Hide Live' b/w 'Lovesville' (Sussex catalog number SR-501)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.) Let Me In Your Life   (Bill Withers) - 3:03   rating; *** stars

Penned by Bill Withers (who happened to be signed to Sussex), their heavily orchestrated rendition of 'Let Me In Your Life' was a bit too MOR for my tastes, but was still enjoyable.  Still, it was one of the album's prettier ballads ...   

3.) Lovesville   (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas) - 3:58  rating; *** stars

With a bouncy, upbeat melody, 'Lovesville' had some great male/female shared vocals that underscored the 5th Dimension influences, but then ended with some of the fuzz guitar that made Dennis Coffey and Norman Whitefield songs so cool.   

4.) You're Too Good To Be True   (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas) -3:30   rating; *** stars

'You're Too Good To Be True' bore an uncanny resemblance to a mid-career Jerry Butler tune.  With one of the album's most memorable melodies and some lead guitar tuned to sound like an electric sitar, it was easy to see why it was released as the album's lead-off single.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 1973's 'You're Too Good To Be True' b/w 'Oh Love' (Sussex catalog number SR-508)

5.) Wild Flower   (D. Richardson - D. Edwards) - 4:39  rating; ** stars

Other than the electric sitar solo, 'Wild Flower' was simply too MOR to make much of an impressive.   

 

(side 2)

1.) Magic Carpet Ride   (R. Morene - John Kay) - 3:10   rating; *** stars

This probably wasn't going to make you forget the Steppenwolf original, but you had to give these guys considerable credit for having the guts to cover a hard rock classic like 'Magic Carpet Ride'.  The fact it turned out so good was a real reflection on their talents.  I doubt Steppenwolf could ever have returned the favor recording a Creative Source track with as much enthusiasm.     

2.) Who Is He and What Is He To You   (Bill Withers - S. McKenney) - 11:45   rating; **** stars

Released as the album's second single, their cover of Bill Withers' 'Who Is He and What Is He To You' was given the full Norman Whitfield styled psych treatment, complete with tons of squealing Dennis Coffey-styled fuzz guitar, gurgling mini Moog synthesizers, punchy horns and one of those extended, looping, lysergic fueled arrangements (the album track clocked in at over eleven minutes).  Easily one of the best things they ever did.  Released in an edited mode, the single provided the group with a top-70 hit.    

- 1973's 'Who Is He and What Is He To You' b/w 'Who Is He and What Is He To You (instrumental)' (Sussex catalog number SR-509)

3.) Oh Love   (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas) - 3:24      rating; **** stars

Showcasing the ladies on lead vocals, with a highly commercial arrangement and another sweet melody, the ballad 'Oh Love' has always reminded me of a Thom Bell effort.  That's meant as a compliment since the song would have made a nice choice as a single.   

 

 

Again, the LP was actually far better than my earlier MOR-oriented comments would have you imagine. The magic ingredient was probably lead singer Wyatt whose rugged baritone recalled a youthful Jerry Butler.  Doubt the comparison, then check out the mesmerizing 'You're Too Got To Be True'.   Propelled by the singles, the parent album actually managed to hit # 152 on the pop charts.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Migraton

Company: Sussex

Catalog: SRA-8035

Year: 1974

Country/State: Los Angeles, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor corner wear on sleeve; minor tear on front cover (hard to see)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4320

Price: $15.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Given how good their debut was, I wasn't expecting all that much from Creative Source's sophomore release.  Produced by Mike Stokes, 1974's "Migration" may not have anything as immediately as impressive as You Can't Hide Love', but the overall album is actually more consistent and enjoyable than the debut.  Powered by Steve Ranagan and Don Wyatt's growling vocals, these guys are The 5th Dimension on steroids.  Tracks such as 'I'm Gonna Get There', 'Corozon' (beats Carole King's to shreds) and their sizzling cover of Bill Withers' 'Harlem' are simply great.  The more commercial ballads such as 'I Just Can't See Myself without You' and 'Let Me Be the One' aren't bad either.  Because of the stretched out instrumental fade out, the former's about three minutes too long, but so what.  The only real disappointment here is the disco-influenced 'Got To Keep On Movin''. Amazing this wasn't a massive commercial hit ... 

 

"Migration" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) I'm Gonna Get There  (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas - Don Wyatt) - 2:27

2.) Harlem   (Bill Withers) - 4:57

3.) I Just Can't See Myself without You   (Skip Scarborough) - 7:38

 

(side 2)

1.) Keep On Movin'  (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas - Skip Scarborough) - 2:35

2.) Migration  (Mike Stokes - J. Thomas) - 4:22

3.) Corazon   (Carole King) - 4:41

4.) Let Me Be the One   (Paul Williams - R. Nicholas) - 3:37

 

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