Genre: soul
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Two On One
Company: Motown
Catalog: M7-903R1
Year: 1978
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6363
Price: $8.00
So here you had two of soul's most exquisite voices ... And the funny thing is how little energy they brought to the table on their isolated collaborations. Okay, okay that may be a little harsh. Thelma Houston and Jerry Butler were simply too talented to turn in an album without at least a couple of gems, however I'll tell you upfront 1978's "Two On One" was nowhere near as good as their earlier set of duets - 1977's "Thelma & Jerry". Part of the problem can be traced back to the project itself. A quick look at the liner notes shows these nine track were recorded with no less than six different production teams including Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, and Van McCoy. Stitching together such odds and ends ensured there was no sense of continuity on the project. In fact, even though it was billed as a Houston-Butler collaboration, half of these tracks were really Houston, or Butler solo efforts. Houston handled 'Find a Way' and 'I'm Not Strong Enough (To Love You Again)' by herself while Butler flew solo on 'We Owe It To Ourselves' and 'Never Gonna Get Enough'. So what was worth hearing on his one ? If you gave it a chance the opener 'If It Would Never End' was a song that grew on you. It was easily the best of the four true collaborations. In the 'solo' department 'Chicago Send Her Home' was a funk tune that was actually a good fit for Butler's unique stylings. You weren't about to mistake him for George Clinton, but it made a nice change of pace from Butler's normal penchant for ballads and mid-tempo numbers.
- The opening ballad 'If It Would Never End' started out without much energy, but got better as it went along, eventually breaking out into a disco-tinged groove. Normally I probably would have cringed when the disco segment kicked in, but this one had a great bass line and Butler's somewhat fragile voice actually seemed to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately the song faded out just as it started to pick up some real energy. rating: *** stars
- It only took a second to figure out 'Find a Way' was one of the Van McCoy numbers. An up-tempo, dance number with a insidiously catchy hook, this was a Houston solo outing. She sounded in fine form on the track. rating: *** stars
- Opening up with a silky smooth Chicago groove, 'We Owe It To Ourselves' was one of the nicest things Butler had done in a long time. Co-written by Butler and Willie Hutch, the lyrics may have been a bit on the obvious "it's got us rockin' like a ship on the ocean ..." but there was no denying this one had some commercial potential. rating: *** stars
- Another Houston solo outing, 'I'm Not Strong Enough (To Love You Again)' was one of those big, old school ballads that sounded pretty good, but ten minutes later you were hard pressed to remember. rating: ** stars
- 'Never Gonna Get Enough' sought to showcased Butler as a lightweight disco crooner. Completely forgettable this one was a waste of Butler's talents. rating: ** stars
- 'Don't Pity Me' served as Houston's stab at throwaway disco fodder. Penned by Van McCoy, not even Houston classy voice was enough to save this over-produced slice of dance floor crapola. rating: ** stars
- It you ever wondered if Butler could get funky, then listen to 'Chicago Send Her Home'. The man could indeed handle a true funk song. rating: **** stars
- A painfully sincere and heavily orchestrated ballad, 'You Gave Me Love' was simply too MOR to get any traction. Your grandmother might enjoy it. rating: ** stars
Start with their first album of duets ...
"Two
On One" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) If It Would Never End (Pam Sawyer - M.B. Sutton) - 4:42
2.) Find a Way (Van McCoy - Charles Kipps Jr.) - 3:37
3.) We Owe It To Ourselves (Jerry Butler - Willie Hitch) - 3:53
4.) I'm Not Strong Enough (To Love You Again) (F. Johnson) - 3:24
(side
2)
1.) Never Gonna Get Enough (Leon Ware - Sam Brown III) -
3:31
2.) Don't Pity Me (Van McCoy) - 3:27
3.) Chicago Send Her Home (J. Boyce) - 4:03
4.) You Gave Me Love (E. Willensky) - 4:26