The Dramatics - 10½

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  • EAN code: 8717438197081

van € 17.99
voor € 15.99




The Dramatics were originally formed in 1962 as The Dynamics but became later known as they change their name to The Dramatics. They scored their first minor hit single, "All Because of You." (No.42 in the Billboard Charts). In 1968 The Dramatics were signed to Stax-Volt Records.

However, the group did not break through until their 1971 single, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," which broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was their first million selling album, which was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971. The members at that time were Ron Banks, William "Wee Gee" Howard, Elbert Wilkins, (unfortunately all died) Willie Ford, Larry Demps and keyboardist James Mack Brown (who died in 2008 at age 58). Shortly after the success of their first album, Howard and Wilkins left the group. They were replaced by L.J.

Reynolds and Leonard "Lenny" Mayes. Through the 1970s, the group appeared on Soul Train and continued to have hits, including the #1 R&B hit, "In the Rain", "Toast to the Fool", "Me and Mrs. Jones" (originally by Billy Paul), "I'm Going By The Stars In Your Eyes" and "Be My Girl." "In the Rain" also sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The Dramatics’ success continued with mainly R&B Top 20 hits during the heyday of disco, cracking the R&B Top Ten just once more with “Welcome Back Home” in 1980. In 1981, Reynolds went solo and the group disbanded after Banks went solo in 1983. The group managed to stay active, reuniting to record new material every three or four years since the early ’80s. They occasionally reunite for concert events.

The Dramatics also were guests on the Snoop Doggy Dogg song, "Doggy Dogg World". The song appeared on Snoop's 1993 debut album, Doggystyle. In 2002 The Dramatics appeared on Snoop Dogg's sixth studio album "Paid tha cost to be tha boss" on the song "Ballin'" produced by Battlecat.

The Dramatics album was released in 1980 and never reissued on CD before. It contains strong soulbased vocal tracks and wonderful harmonies, but also the uptempo tunes are good and have breakout moments that sparkle beautifully. By the time 10 ½ came out, the Dramatics were trying to hold on to their vocal group sound, which can be heard on the title “Music Is The Peoples Choice” that actually starts off like the Baretta theme before going into a 80’s party song with a drum and percussion break in the middle.

The rest sounds like Barry White in arrangement and “Love Is Here” even starts off with a deep baritone talk over. Ballads actually sparkle the best here like “Welcome Back Home”, which was a Top 10 hit for The Dramatics. The best cut is “It Ain’t Rainin’ (On Nobody’s House But Mine)”. These kind of power ballads made the group famous.The production was done by Ron Banks (4 tracks) and L.J. Reynold (4 tracks) and the executive producer was Don Davis.

CD
01. Music is the peoples choice
02. Welcome back home
03. Running’ from my love
04. Love is here
05. I just wanna dance the night away
06. If you feel like you wanna dance, dance
07. It ain’t rainin’ (on nobody’s house but mine)
08. Be with the one you love

PTG Records
PTG 34108
Ean : 8717438197081