line up x (1967)

- Clarence Collins -- baritone

- Anthony Gourdine -- lead vocals

- Sammy Strain -- first tenor

- Ernie Wright -- second tenor

- Blood Brothers (George Kerr)

- Johnny Britt

- The Chesters (Anthony Gourdine)

- The Chips (Sam Strain)

- The Duponts (Anthony Gourdine)

- The Impacts (Sam Strain)

- The Imperials (Anthony Gourdine, George Kerr, Sam Strain, 

  Kenny Seymour and Bobby Wade)

- Kerr (George Kerr)

- George Kerr (solo efforts)

- Little Anthony (Anthony Gourdine, Sam Strain)

- The O'Jays (Sam Strain)

- The Serenaders (George Kerr)

- The Temptations (Johnny Britt)

- Bobby Wade (solo efforts)

Genre: soul

Rating: *** stars

Title:  Reflections

Company: Veep

Catalog: VP 13514
Year: 1967

Country/State: Brooklyn, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap; opened; mono pressing

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $20.00

Yes they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2009, but it's sad to see a talented soul group like The Imperials largely forgotten in this day and age.

Pulling a page out of the Motown marketing handbook, the 1967 Teddy Randazzo produced "Reflections" carried a new nameplate - gone were "Little Anthony and the Imperials".  Meet "Anthony and the Imperials".  One suspects lead singer Anthony Gourdine was happy with top billing, but the remaining members - Clarence Collins, Sammy Strain and Ernie Wright were probably less enthusiastic.  Their second album for United Artists' short-lived VEEP subsidiary, once again the majority of material was penned by producer Randazzo and songwriting partners Ritchie Adams and Victoria Pike.  Showcasing Gourdine's unique falsetto, the album was heavy on soul ballads ('If I Remember To Forget', 'Hold On To Someone', 'Yesterday Has Gone' and 'Better Off Without You'). Individually the ballads were all pretty impressive, but by the end of the album, they were simply kind of overwhelming.  At the same time the collection was clearly intended to broaden the group's appeal beyond soul audiences by riding on a variety of popular musical trends. The results were surprisingly enjoyable.  Tapping into the publics' interest in Latin music, 'Keep It Up' was a dazzling slice of jazz Latin dance music. The ballad Baroque-meets-pop 'Don't Tie Me Down' sounded like a mash-up of The Beatles 'Eleanor Rigby' and something Jimmy Webb had written for The Fifth Dimension.  Hardly a slice of sunshine-pop, but the arrangement for the ballad 'Yesterday Has Gone' reflected at least a tinge oft lysergic influence.  And then there was  the breezy and highly commercial 'Trick Or Treat' which reflected a true slice of sunshine-pop.

"Reflections" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Don't Tie Me Down (Ritchie Adams - Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 2:49 rating: **** stars

Showcasing Gourdine's instantly recognizable falsetto, the ballad 'Don't Tie Me Down' featured the quartet framed in a weird Baroque-meets-The Fifth Dimension arrangement.  It's an over-the-top performance that's simply fascinating to hear.  It's It gets even stranger given VEEP released it as a single:

- 1967's 'Don't Tie Me Down' b/w 'Where There's a Will There's a Way to Forget You' (VEEP catalog number V 1255)  # 123 US Billboard pop charts

2.) My Love Is A Rainbow (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 2:40  rating: **** stars

The breezy ballad 'My Love Is A Rainbow' opened up with some unexpected Gregorian-styled vocals. The studio effects made it sound like they were singing at the bottom of a deep lake.  After the cool opening the track morphed into a sweet and highly commercial pop ballad with a strong "ear candy" factor.  The song reappeared as the "B" side to their 'Hold On To Someone' and ''Yesterday Has Gone' 45s.

3.) If I Remember To Forget (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 2:46 rating: *** stars

With a nod to their doo wop roots, 'If I Remember To Forget' was a more conventional soul ballad.  The focus was clearly on Gourdine's overwrought vocals, but the real charm came from the group's lovely backing harmonies.  The song was tapped as the album's third and final single:

- 1967's 'If I Remember To Forget' b/w 'Beautiful People' (Veep catalog number V 1275)

4.) Keep It Up (Ritchie Adams - Teddy Randazzo) - 3:02 rating: **** stars

The jazzy, Latin flavored rocker 'Keep It Up' was powered by some awesome piano, Latin percussion and popping horns.  The "go go go" chants were hysterical and made it clear these guys were capable of handling far more than soul ballads.

5.) Hold On To Someone (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 2:13 rating: *** stars

'Hold On To Someone' was a return to conventional "big" soul ballads.  Gourdine's typically overwrought delivery was an acquired taste, but there was not denying the song had a great hook.  It was tapped as the album's sophomore 45:

- 1967's Hold On To Someone' b/w 'Lost In Love' (Veep catalog number V 1262)

6.) Yesterday Has Gone (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 2:55 rating: *** stars

Another soul ballad, 'Yesterday Had Gone incorporated some interesting rock touches including the ominous lyric ("Don't concern yourself with what's ahead It's too late to live when you are dead ...") and the mild sunshine pop-psychedelic mash-up in the track's middle section.. Nobody was going to mistake these guys for a West Coast psych entity, but it was interesting to hear the influences.   For anyone interested, Terry Rice-Milton and Cupid's Inspiration recorded a nice version of the song later in the year.  To my ears it stuck pretty close to the Anthony and the Imperials version though Rice-Milton had more of a rock voice.

- 1968's 'Yesterday Has Gone' b/w 'My Love Is a Rainbow' (Veep catalog number V 1285)

(side 2)
1.) Trick Or Treat (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) -  2:32 rating: **** stars

Complete with shimmering backing vocals, the breezy 'Trick or Trick' reflected a headlong dive into sunshine-pop.  Very much a timepiece, but fascinating to hear.  
2.) Lost In Love (Paul  Leka - Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 3:03 rating: ** stars

The album's most MOR tune, 'Lost In Love' was bland and forgettable.  The album's first major disappointment.  The song also appeared as the "B" side on their 'Hold On To Someone' 45.

3.) In The Mirrors of Your Mind  (Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) -  2:46 rating: *** stars

The harpsichord propelled mid-temp ballad 'In The Mirrors Of Your Mind' featured a "modern" pop feel and flavor.  Not a great description, but listen to the tune and you'll hear that it sounded like an attempt to brightened and expand their sound.  

4.) I Love You (Bobby Weinstein - Teddy Randazzo) - 2:22  rating: ** stars

The ballad 'I Love You' sounded like something out of their late-'50s catalog.  The harmonies were awesome, but it did sound dated.

5.) Better Off Without You (Ritchie Adams - Teddy Randazzo - Victoria Pike) - 3:08  rating: *** stars

By this point it was hard to not feel "balladed-out".  A heavily orchestrated number, the song was pretty enough, but ...  Geez, not another overwrought slice of heartbreak.

6.) A Thousand Miles Away (James Sheppard - William Miller) - 2:32  rating: ** stars

Penned  by James Sheppard of Shep & the Limelites and recorded in 1957 by The Heartbeats, a remake of 'A Thousand Miles Away' was the only song not penned by Randazzo and company.  The remake was a pleasant slice of doo-wop flavored soul, but it wasn't an improvement over Sheppard's version with the Heartbeats.

 © Scott R. Blackerby