THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS-YOU NAME IT.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 6, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS-YOU NAME IT.

Although The Dynamic Superiors were formed in 1963, it wasn’t until 1975 that they signed to Motown Records. It was for Motown, that The Dynamic Superiors released four of their five albums.  For their first two 1975 albums The Dynamic Superiors and Rare Pleasure, Ashford and Simpson produced these albums. These two albums had resulted in four hit singles for The Dynamic Superiors. Shoe Shoe Shine and Leave It Alone were released from their debut album The Dynamic Superiors, while Change Me and Deception were taken from Rare Pleasure. By their third album, 1976s You Name It, which will be rereleased by SoulMusic Records on 14th May 2012, a host of top producers and songwriters were hired to replace Ashford and Simpson. They were tasked with keeping The Dynamic Superiors’ musical profile high and replicate their previous success. These, high-profile producers included producers Brian Holland of Holland, Dozier and Holland and Hal Davis, who previously, had worked with The Jackson 5 and Thelma Houston. Songwriters working on the album included the songwriting teams of Art Posey and Josef Powell plus Marilyn McLeod and Paw Sawyer. With this multitalented team behind them, would The Dynamic Superiors’ third album You Name It prove as successful as their two previous albums?

There were a number of changes for recording of The Dynamic Superiors third album. The first and biggest change, was the decision to replace Ashford and Simpson as producers and songwriters. Another change was recording the album in Los Angeles. Recording would take place at Motown Recording Studios in Hollywood. Rather than have one producer or production team, a number of producers were used. This ranged from Hal Davis who produced three tracks to Michael and Don Daniels who produced one apiece. Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer cowrote three tracks which they also co-produced. Art Posey and Josef Powell cowrote two of the other tracks on You Name It. Similarly, a number of arrangers were used on the album with Art Wright arranging four tracks, while Gene Page and Mel Bolton arranged three tracks. With this multitalented team of arrangers, producers and songwriters all contributing towards You Name It, The Dynamic Superiors and their band laid down the eight tracks. You Take It also pointed to a change in musical direction for the group. The music was a progressive combination of soul and dance-floor friendly tracks, perfectly suited to musical tastes. So with new producers, songwriters and a newer, more progressive sound, would this prove to be commercially successful?

The five members of The Dynamic Superiors George Spann, George Wesley Peterback Jr., Michael McCalpin Maurice and Tony Washington readied themselves for the release of You Name It in October 1976. The album wasn’t a commercial success, failing to enter the US Charts. Only one single was released from the album, I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love). Like You Name It, the single wasn’t a commercial success. There was one small crumb of comfort, with The Dynamic Superiors signing for the William Maurice Agency. This saw them touring with The Chi-Lites, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. After thirteen years, The Dynamic Superiors music was reaching a much wider live audience. This included the songs on You Name It, which I’ll now tell you about.

Opening You Name It is Stay Away, arranged by Art Wright and produced by Hal Davis. It’s a track that literally bursts into life, with the rhythm section driving the track along, while rasping horns and cascading strings accompany Tony Washington’s soaring lead vocal. Behind him, the rest of The Dynamic superiors add equally soulful, soaring harmonies. Tony vamps his way through the track, with the interplay between the rest of the group adding to the dynamics of the track. Later, flourishes of piano join a myriad of percussion, horns, strings and rhythm section that accompany the group. Together with a tempo of 133 beats per minute this is a joyous explosion of dance-floor friendly music, with the larger than life Tony Washington key to the track’s success and sound.

After the breakneck tempo of the opening track, the tempo drops on one of the highlights of You Name It, Looking Away. The track features one of Tony’s best vocals. It’s heartfelt and impassioned, while harmonies augment his vocal. Here, the arrangement has a lush sound, with strings sweeping and swirling, while the rhythm section and bursts of blazing horns dramatically punctuate the arrangement. A punchy bass line meanders along the arrangement, while Tony’s vocal is emotion personified as the rest of The Dynamic Superiors contribute some of the most soulful and impassioned vocals on this beautiful and emotive track.

Many Many Changes is the first of three tracks that Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer cowrote and produced. When the track opens, Tony’s vocal is dramatic and seductive, while the arrangement is fuller and dramatic. Swathes of dramatic music unfold in waves, with the rhythm section, layers of lush strings and rock-tinged guitars. Later, Tony’s vocal is tinged with sadness and betrayal, while blazing horns add to the drama of this betrayal and heartache. Meanwhile strings cascade, reflect Tony’s sadness, caused by his cheating partner. Here, his vocal takes centre-stage, with the rest of the group contributing just occasional backing vocals. This is perfect for the track, with Tony getting across the betrayal, hurt and sadness of the song’s lyrics dramatically and realistically.

Before the Street Lights Come On is one of these tracks where you’re trying to second-guess a curveball. The strings that open the track give no clue as to the direction of the track. Neither do the pounding drums, nor the half-spoken vocal. You’re still wondering when The Dynamic Superiors unite to deliver some of the tightest harmonies on the album. With shimmering, dancing strings, braying horns and the rhythm section combining,Tony sings the lead, while the rest of the group add peerless harmonies. 

The only single released from you Name It was I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love). This is another of the tracks aimed firmly at the dance-floor and within a few bars, you’ll realise just why this track was chosen as a single. Immediately, you’re hooked by the track, with its combination of cascading, lush strings, pounding drums, rasping horns and backing vocals that open the track. Then when the lead vocal enters, things get even better. It’s sassy, delivered with a swing and a smile, while the rest of the group add backing vocals. Meanwhile, strings dance, horns rasp and the rhythm section drive the track along. Then Tony and the group feed off each other, each encouraging the other to greater heights of soulfulness. By the send of the track you’ve been smitten by this hook-laden, dance-floor delight. 

Supersensousation (Try Some Love) is a mid-tempo bedroom ballad that’s four minutes of sensuality. Tony’s lead vocal is one part emotion to one part passion, as the rest of the group deliver soaring, dramatic harmonies. This they do against an arrangement that reflects the emotion and drama in the vocal. Strings shimmer, sweep and swirl, blazing horns drift in and out as the rhythm section build the drama up, continuing to do so throughout the track. For four minutes The Dynamic Superiors and their band deliver a bedroom ballad par excellence. Don’t just take my word, hear it and I’m sure you’ll agree. 

If I Could Meet You glides elegantly into being, the arrangement spacious and laid-back. Strings quiver, horns rasp and breathy backing vocals enter, before Tony’s slow, dramatic lead vocal enters. Quickly, the lead vocal changes hands, while guitars, slow, sweeping strings and the rhythm section combine to produce a slow spacey and romantic backdrop. Meanwhile, The Dynamic Superiors produce some beautiful, subtle vocals perfect for the arrangement. Again the songwriting and production team of Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer surpass themselves, producing one of the most beautiful, romantic songs on You Name It.

Closing You Name It is I Can’t Afford To be Poor, the third track that Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer cowrote and produced. Unlike their two other contributions, this isn’t a romantic song. Instead, the track has a slightly more funky sound, although primarily the track is soulful. Against a backdrop of the rhythm section, keyboards and sweeping, swirling strings, The Dynamic Superiors add their vocals. They combine variously power, passion and drama, as the band add dramatic waves of funk and soul. This allows the group to display another, quite different side to their music, showing there’s much more to The Dynamic Superiors than soul and dance-floor friendly tracks.

Although The Dynamic Superiors’ third album You Name It may not have been the commercial success that the group had hoped, it certainly was nothing to do with the music. On You Name It, The Dynamic Superiors progressed their music, moving their music onto a combination of soul and dance-floor friendly tracks. Tony Washington the four other members of the group rose to the challenge, delivering music that was hugely soulful, including Looking Away, Many Many Change, Supersensousation (Try Some Love) and If I Could Meet You. The dance-floor friendly tracks are Stay Away and Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love). Of these two tracks, the single Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love) is quite simply, the highlight of You Name It. While Ashford and Simpson had been replaced as songwriters and producers, the various replacements rose to the challenge, but failed to move The Dynamic Superiors to the next level. Maybe part of the problem was that back in 1976, disco was at the height of its popularity, and like many other artists, The Dynamic Superiors music wasn’t “fashionable.” Even their dance tracks weren’t what fans of disco would expect from a dance track. However, although The Dynamic Superiors music wasn’t “fashionable, it certainly didn’t lack in quality. Quite the opposite. The eight tracks on You Name It, which along with Give and Take, their fourth album, will be rereleased by SoulMusic Records on 14th May 2012 are of the highest quality and will appeal to anyone who loves soul or R&B. So why not take a trip back to the seventies and let The Dynamic Superiors entertain you with their soulful sounds on the hidden gem of an album. Standout Tracks: Stay Away, Looking Away, I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love) and Supersensousation (Try Some Love).