Although
The Fabulous Impressions was a solid enough soul record on its own merits, it's not one of the more notable entries in the
Impressions' catalog. There aren't any big hits, although a couple cuts, "You Always Hurt Me" and "I Can't Stay Away from You," were modest R&B charters. At times it seemed that
Mayfield was trying to follow in Motown's footsteps, as on "You Always Hurt Me" (which isn't far removed from
Smokey Robinson workouts like "Tears of a Clown") and "You Ought to Be in Heaven" (which has a saxophone that sounds like a dead ringer for
Junior Walker).
Mayfield doesn't always take the lead part, which to be honest signifies that it's not going to be one of the stronger tracks. "It's All Over" is the
Impressions' version of a song that had already been a hit for
Walter Jackson, and the cover of
Gene McDaniels' "One Hundred Pounds of Clay" (the only selection not written by
Mayfield) is filler. The above comments might lead you to believe this album is worse than it actually is; it's dependable, enjoyable, quality soul, with "Isle of Sirens" recalling earlier efforts like "Gypsy Woman," and "She Don't Love Me" offering a chunkier and tougher approach than their typical heartfelt optimism. ~ Richie Unterberger