Sales didn't reflect it, but this is probably
Curtis Mayfield's best production, and
Lance's best album: every track is a winner. "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um," "Hey Little Girl," and "The Monkey Time" were major busters for
Major Lance; all had a mock cha-cha beat. And the unheralded tracks are just as good:
Lance's "Gypsy Woman" is as haunting as
the Impressions' original; "Think Nothing About It" is endearing and marvelously simplistic, one of
Mayfield's best compositions (
Gene Chandler recorded it later). If Okeh had released "That's What Mama Say" as a single, it would have done some damage (both
the Impressions and
Walter Jackson recorded the tender mama-done-told-me song, and although
Jackson's version scored an R&B hit, it lacks the bite of
Lance's version). "You'll Want Me Back" is serene and beautiful; it was also done by
the Impressions, but
Lance's rendition stirs the pot.
Lance had a more dynamic voice than
Mayfield, his childhood friend -- it was heavier and had more teeth than
Mayfield's light tenor -- yet
Mayfield had more all-around skills and became far more successful. The Impressions sing background on most of the tracks, and you can hear the rainbowing of voices with
Lance's cutting through and dominating like a dictator. Take "Little Young Lover," a good song by
the Impressions, but a candidate for hitsville when
Lance does it. He does an excellent job on "It's All Right," "I'm the One Who Loves You," and "Gotta Right to Cry"; the latter sounds like a group recording with
Lance leading, and
the Impressions --
Mayfield (first tenor),
Fred Cash (baritone), and
Sam Gooden (tenor) -- trying to win a harmony contest. One listen to this LP, and you'll be a
Major Lance (and
Curtis Mayfield) fan for life.