One of rare 1960s studio albums by volcanic R&B group (a quartet at that time) that had spent a decade travelling, sweating and performing without any notable commercial success. Its difficult to actually pinpoint what was wrong with them, because they surely sang like a dream - perhaps it was that 1960s music scene was so rich with talents or girls simply didn't have right promotion but judging from this album they were surely head and shoulders above competition. And even at the age when girl-groups like "The Supremes" and "The Shirelles" released hit after hit, it has to be noted that Patty and her girls actually sang zillion times better, more passionate and explosive than anybody around. In terms of sheer vocal power, only Cissy Houston and her "Sweet Inspiration" could perhaps match them (well,perhaps Darlene Love also counts here). So finally it was probably about luck and lack of strong original material, because Patty's girls were singing way too many covers.
When it comes to singing, Patty is a grandmother of any today's over-souling "Divas", her strong, expressive and fierce voice sounds like a force of nature ready to part the sea. She stands firmly somewhere between gospel and doo-wop and if it's not for that preacher's daughter from Detroit, Patty could have been undisputed crowded Queen of Soul herself. Aretha-connection is not accidental, since this album was released on "Atlantic" where producers failed to bring the group into Franklin's gritty direction - they were content to leave girls singing ballads, covers and their usual crowd-pleasing vocal acrobatics. Perhaps it was all too sweet or unexceptional for public who have seen way too many girl-groups back than. So Patty and her girls did "Always Something There To Remind Me", "Take Me For A Little While", "That's How Heartaches Are Made", "Danny Boy" and Dinah Washington's "Where Are You?" and than they were dropped from their Atlantic contract.
It would take a new manager and a completely different music & visual approach in the next decade until the group finds real success but it has to be noted that Patty herself accepted these changes very reluctantly and according to her autobiography always preferred this early sound. Nothing wrong with the music or singing here, its a 1960s pop as interpreted by exceptionally soulful voices.
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