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- Danny Woods -- vocals

- Chairmen of the Board

Genre: soul

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Aires

Company: Invictus

Catalog: ST 9808
Year: 1972

Country/State: S

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened); punch hole top right corner

Available: 2

Catalog ID: 2291

Price: $50.00

I've been a big fan Danny Woods since his days with the criminally overlooked Chairmen of the Board ...  

With a catalog stetching back to the mid-'60s, You have to wonder how a talented guy like Woods got overlooked while a slew of less talented guys made it big.   I guess you have to admit life's not fair.

As mentioned, Wood's professional musical career stretches back to the mid-'60s when he was signed by the small Correc-Tone label, followed by a stint with Smash Records.  He released a series of four singles that to my ears sound a bit too close to Joe Tex for his own good, but were still enjoyable.

- 1965's 'You Had Me Fooled' b/w 'My Love Will Never Be The Same' (Correc-Tone catalog number 1050A/B)

- 1967's '90 Days In The Country Jail' b/w 'Sweet Darling Angel' (Smash catalog number S-2106)

- 1968's 'Come On And Dance Pt 2' b/w 'To Be Loved'  (Smash catalog number S-2140)

- 1968's 'Come On And Dance Pt 1' b/w 'I Want To Thank You (For Love and Devotion'  (Smash catalog number S-2159)

In the wake of three Chairmen of the Board albums, in 1972 the group temporarily called it quits.  All three principals (General Johnson, Harrison Kennedy, and Woods), subsequently struck out as solo acts.  Wood's debut came in the form of 1972's "Aries".  Having heard all of their solo albums, its interesting to note that Woods release may be the least known, but to my ears, it was the most consistent and enjoyable collection.   As a non-writer Woods was wholly dependent on material the Holland-Dozier-Holland team and executive producer Ronald Dunbar brought to him.  The thing, is, if you were going to be dependent on outsider writers, you couldn't do better than these guys and this time around they brought their top-shelf material to the show - not one of the seven songs provided by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team was bad.  So how do you pick out the highlights?   Kicked along by what sounded like some Dennis Coffey fuzz guitar, 'Let Me Ride' and 'Try On My Love for Size' should have pleased Chairmen of Soul fans.  'Roller Coaster' and 'Two Can Be As Lonely As One' reflected a bit of classic Motown, while 'Working On a Building of Love' offered up classic Beach Music moves.  The only disappointments here were the "outside" numbers.   A soul-styled cover of Willie Nelson's classic 'Funny How Time Slips Away' left me cold, while trying to turn the traditional 'Danny Boy' into a slice of Beach Music was a failure.  In spite of those isolated missteps, this one was a pleasure to hear.  Hard to believe it escaped without any notice.   

"Aries" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Everybody's Got a Song To Sing   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland - B. Miner) - 4:03   rating: **** stars

Ah,A blend of soul, Gospel, pop, WITH a touch of social activism ...  few could do it as well as Holland-Dozier-Holland.  Add in Woods classic soul voice and it simply didn't get much better than this one.

2.) Let Me Ride   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier) - 2:58   rating: **** stars

Kicked along by what sounded like Dennis Coffey's patented fuzz guitar sound, 'Let Me Ride' had a distinctive rock-ish edge, making it sound very much like something out of The Chairmen of the Board catalog.  Add in a touch of Sly and the Family Stone for good measure.   I'm guessing that's why Invictus tapped it as a single. 

- 1972's 'Let Me Ride' b/w 'It Didn't Take Long' (Invictus catalog number IS-9116)

3.) Roller Coaster  (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - B. Miner) - 3:39   rating: **** stars

The opening acoustic guitar instantly entrapped your ear and when Woods vocal kicked in there was no way to escape.   Wonderful, breezy tune with a parented Holland-Dozier-Holland hook that encapsulated the best of the label's soul-pop moves.     rating: **** stars

4.) Try On My Love for Size  (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier) - 3:34     rating: **** stars

Nice, slightly ominous, mid-tempo ballads with a stinging guitar riff and some great chirping background singers.   Another one that reminded me of his work with The Chairmen of the Board.

5.) It Didn't Take Too Long   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 3:29     rating: **** stars

Built on a cool organ and harpsichord pattern and what sounded like a Coral electric sitar, 'It Didn't Take Too Long' had an urgent, almost strident edge.   One of the album highlights and should have been a single.  

(side 2)
1.) Working On a Building of Love   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 3:55    rating: **** stars

I'm a gigantic beach music fan and along those lines 'Working On a Building of Love' was nothing short of an overlooked classic Shag tune.  Another song that should have been a massive hit for the man.  The tune was actually released as a Japanese 45:

- 1972's 'Working On A Building Of Love' b/w 'Everybody's Got A Song To Sing' (Invictus catalog number IZR-10167)

2.) Funny How Time Slips Away   (Willie Nelson) - 5:12   rating: ** stars

Given a slow, soulful reading, I'll guarantee most folks won't recognize this arrangement of the old Willie Nelson.  That wasn't too say I particularly liked the performance.  Right down to the opening spoken word vamp and the self-reference ("you never know when Danny Woods might be back in town"), Woods seemed to fall back into his best Joe Tex impression for this one.   

3.) Two Can Be As Lonely As One   (Angelo Bond - Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier ) - 3:57    rating: ***** stars

Opening up with some wonderful rumbling bass and a punchy horn arrangement, 'Two Can Be As Lonely As One' sounded like something Norman Whitfield might have brought to The Temptations.   Awesome slice of heartbreak soul.   Another should've been a hit performance.

4.) I've Been Loving You Too Long (Too Stop Now)   (Jerry Butler - Otis Redding) - 7:04    rating: *** stars

I guess you have to admire anyone willing to take a shot at covering a classic like 'I've Been Loving You Too Long (Too Stop Now)'.  The Otis Redding original is so good, that no matter how good your take might be, it just wasn't going to measure up.  And that's the case with Woods' cover - his slightly modified rework was impressive, showcasing the fact he could belt one out, but ultimately it wasn't good enough.   

5.) Danny Boy   (Johnny Bush - traditional) - 5:04   rating: ** stars

Who would have ever though of giving the old traditional song a Beach Music arrangement?   Strange in a not very good lounge act way.   

There's also a non-LP Invictus single:

- 1972's  'Everybody's Tippin'' b/w 'Roller Coaster' (Invictus catalog number Is-9132)

While not in the best of health, as of 2014 Woods was still working on the Beach Music club scene.