Anyone hearing this album could be forgiven for mistaking it for a
Three Dog Night release -- in fact, not just one of the latter group's albums, but an album from their prime period, circa 1969-1972. S.S. Fools was a
Three Dog Night offshoot group spawned by the rhythm section of Floyd Sneed and Joe Schermie with guitarist Michael Allsup. But they weren't lacking in the voice department, what with
Bobby Kimball on lead vocals. And the results are impressive, to say the least -- "Desert Dancin'" could easily pass for one of the better cuts off of
Suitable for Framing or
It Ain't Easy, and lead singer
Bobby Kimball helps his own cause significantly with the supremely moody and soulful original "Tearbanks." "Baby's Calling Me Home" even finds room for a guitar solo and some fine organ flourishes amid the vocal acrobatics. The whole album, produced by longtime
TDN producer Richard Podolor, is beautifully crafted and has a richness and emotional depth that had come to elude the earlier, better known band on their mid-'70s records. Side two wasn't quite as strong as side one, but the whole record is still enjoyable listening, even three decades later. The only pity is that S.S. Fools didn't last and never followed this record up. ~ Bruce Eder