Genre: soul
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: We Still Ain't Got No Band
Company: MCA
Catalog: MCA-326
Year: 1973
Country/State: New York
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring and edge wear
Available: 2
GEMM catalog ID: 4570
Price: $25.00
Cost: $66.00
If someone had asked me whether I'd be into an acappella album I would have just laughed and said no way. So much for being opened minded ... Well, The Persuasions set me straight!
Co-produced by Eric Malamud and Jerry Lawson, 1973's "We Still Ain't Got No Band" marked the group's debut for MCA. Musically the set wasn't a major change in musical direction, though the usual mix of pop and soul numbers was expanded to include a couple of R&B tracks (Jimmy Reed's 'Baby, What You Want Me To Do (You Got Me Running)' and Jimmy Hughes 'Steal Away'. For the uninitiated it may be a little strange hearing an album without instrumentation, but once you get over that initial hurdle this set sounds pretty darn impressive. Lead singers Jerry Lawson and Joseph Russell have got the chops need to hold their own with the best of the soul crowd. Doubt that statement then check out the way they tear up Curtis Mayfield's 'You Must Believe Me'.
"We Still Ain't Got No Band" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Good Old Acappella (L. Carter - O. Nevada) - 2:43
2.) Chapel of Love (Jeff Barry - Ellie Greenwich - Phil Spector) - 3:44
3.) Baby, What You Want Me To Do (You Got Me Running)/Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed) - 2:18
4.) You Must Believe Me (Curtis Mayfield) - 3:18
5.) Any More (Don Robey ) - 2:50
(side 2)
1.) Love You Most of All (Sam Cooke) - 1:56
2.) Steal Away (Jimmy Hughes) - 2:43
3.) Send Me Some Lovin' (Leo Price - John Marascalco) - 3:00
4.) Dance with Me (E. Glick - L. Lebish - G. Treadwell - I. Nathan) - 3:01
5.) Idol with the Golden Head (J. Leiber - M. Stoller) - 2:28
Lawson has an interesting website at: www.jerrylawson.biz