THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS-GIVE AND TAKE.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 13, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS-GIVE AND TAKE.

Much had changed since The Dynamic Superiors had released their debut album Pure Pleasure in 1975. Ashford and Simpson, who’d wrote and produced their first two albums Pleasure and The Dynamic Superiors, had been replaced for their third album You Name It. Replacing them were various songwriters and producers, that included Hal Davis, Michael Sutton and the songwriting and production team of Marilyn McLeod and Paw Sawyer. For The Dynamic Superiors fourth album, You Name It, there would be further changes. To produce Give and Take, The Dynamic Superiors’ fourth album Brian Holland of the legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting and production team was hired as producer, with Eddie Holland named executive producer. Motown Records hoped that with Brian and Eddie Holland onboard, they could help The Dynamic Superiors build on their previous success. Part of this plan would be marketing Give and Take, which will be rereleased by SoulMusic Records on 14th May 2012 as a disco album. Would this work, and would it see The Dynamic Superiors fourth album Give and Take build on the success of previous singles and albums?

With Brian Holland hired to produce Give and Take, he wouldn’t just produce the album, but would cowrite four tracks on the album with various songwriting partners. These four tracks weren’t the only track Brian cowrote on Give and Take. A nine minute epic version of Nowhere To Run, which Brian cowrote with Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland was one of the album’s highlights. The old Martha and The Vandellas’ classic was given a makeover, transformed into something very different and very special on Give and Take. Another cover version was All In Love Is Fair, written by Stevie Wonder. Together with two other tracks, these eight tracks would be recorded at three different studios.

Recording of Give and Take took place at Wally Heider Recording Number 3, Whitney Recording Studios and Conway Recorders and Studio Masters. Accompanying The Dynamic Superiors were a band that included guitarist Ray Parker Jr., drummer James Gadson and bassist Henry Davis and Scott Edwards. Sylvester Rivers played keyboards, Bobbye Hall Porter congas and Gary Coleman percussion. Together, they provided a musical backdrop for The Dynamic Superiors. With the eight songs on Give and Take recorded, the album was set for release in 1977. Would it build on the success of previous Dynamic Superiors’ albums?

Sadly, when The Dynamic Superiors’ fourth album Give and Take was released, it was released during a month when David Ruffin, Thelma Houston and Jerry Butler, released albums. With this trio of Motown big-hitters releasing albums, maybe Give and Take was slightly overlooked by the label’s promotion and marketing teams. When Nowhere To Run was released as a single, proving really popular in clubs. So popular was the single, that in the UK, Give and Take was released as Nowhere To Run. Only one other single was released from Give and Take, You’re What I Need. This would prove to be the last single The Dynamic Superiors released for Motown. After this, The Dynamic Superiors left Motown, having released four albums. The last of these was Give and Take, which I’ll now tell you about.

Opening Give and Take is Happy Song, a slow ballad where just percussion and drums combine. Strings shiver as the piano enters and horns rasp. Gradually, the song reveals its beauty and charms. Then, when Tony Washington’s vocal enters, it’s heartfelt and impassioned, with the rest of the group adding emotive, soaring harmonies, while lush strings cascade. Meanwhile, the arrangement grows in drama and beauty, as Tony’s vocal soars powerfully, laying bare his soar on what’s an incredibly beautiful, dramatic ballad.

After the previous slow track, The Dynamic Superiors kick loose, on a faster, uptempo and joyous track. Give It All Up, written by Brian and Edward Holland with Jamie Bradford, is the first of the dance-floor friendly tracks. It bursts into life from the opening bars. A combination of percussion and rhythm section signal the entrance of the vocal. Here, Tony’s and the rest of the group indulge in some clever vocal interplay. They seem to feed off each other, each seemingly encourages the other to greater heights. Meanwhile delicious tight, soaring harmonies augment a lead vocal delivered with power and passion. Behind them,  wah-wah guitars, a percussion, swirling strings and the rhythm section combine soul, disco and funk. Together, with The Dynamic Superiors, they create an irresistible sounding track, with some of the most impassioned vocals on Give and Take.

Martha and The Vandellas released the original version of Nowhere To Run, but they never envisaged the track could ever sound like The Dynamic Superiors version. Here, with producer Brian Holland’s help, they create a nine minute Magnus Opus. Pounding drums, congas, percussion precede brief bursts of vocal. Gradually, the rhythm section, piano, blazing horns are all unleashed, with Brian Holland teasing the listener. Eventually, the powerful and impassioned vocal enters. Behind them, the arrangement has more in common with The Temptations and Sly and The Family Stone. The vocal is still soulful, while the arrangement is funk laden. Keyboards, percussion, rasping horns, bursts of backing vocals drift in and out of the arrangement, while the rhythm section drives the track along. For nine minutes, The Dynamic Superiors breath new life and energy into an old song. Their reference points are The Temptations’ psychedelic soul, whilst fusing elements of funk, soul and even disco. Thrown into the musical melting pot, the result is a dance-floor classic. 

When You’re What I Need opens, instantly, you realize that this is a very special song. You’re not disappointed. Piano, bursts of braying horns, quivering, shimmering strings and the rhythm section combine, creating one of the best arrangements on Give and Take. Tony Washington’s vocal is just as good. He delivers the lyrics powerfully, combining a heartfelt, passion with a neediness. While the rest of the group add harmonies luscious strings and blazing horns combine. Later, the track changes, with the rhythm section and percussion taking charge and the vocal changing hands. After returning to the previous sound, The Dynamic Superiors continue tease and tantalize for the rest of the track, combining soul and funk, with beauty and passion peerlessly.

All In Love Is Fair was written by Stevie Wonder and covered by Barbara Mason on her 1974 album Lady Love. Here, The Dynamic Superiors deliver the sing beautifully. The arrangement is slow, spacious and full of emotion. Percussion, piano and an understated rhythm section combine with Tony’s emotive, heartfelt vocal. Swathes of lush strings enter, adding to the beauty of the arrangement. Tony meanwhile, delivers a vocal that’s earnest and sincere, and by far, one of his best on Give and Take. The result is one of the most beautiful songs of The Dynamic Superiors Motown career.

Following such a great song as the previous one isn’t easy, but All You Can Do With Love is a very good attempt. It’s an uptempo, uplifting song, which sweeps you along in its wake. Tony’s falsetto vocal is accompanied by piano, cascading strings, bursts of rasping horns and percussion. The rhythm section provide the songs joyous heartbeat, while the rest of the group add punchy, dramatic backing vocals. When all this is combined by producer Brian Holland, the rest is a joyous, hugely catchy slice of good-time soul that’s quite irresistible.

Although The Dynamic Superiors decide to drop the tempo slightly on Here Comes That Feeling Again, there’s no let up in the quality. Swathes of lush strings, rhythm section, bursts of guitars and percussion combine, before Tony’s tender vocal enters. As the arrangement floats along, strings and percussion are key to its sound. Meanwhile,  the rest of the group add punchy backing vocals, augmenting Tony’s sincere, heartfelt and joyous vocal. Later, a sultry saxophone floats above, his vocal joining the graceful, floaty strings and adding what’s the finishing touch to  this joyful, beautiful love song.

Closing not just Give and Take, but The Dynamic Superiors’ Motown career is Once Is Not Enough, a track that fuses funk and soul seamlessly. When the track opens with the rhythm section, guitars and blazing horns combining with the vocal, the sound is very definitely funky. Then when Tony takes over the vocal, the track becomes more soulful. From there, the song veers between funk and soul, but this works well. It seems The Dynamic Superiors are determined to leave Motown on a high. With strings cascading, while the rhythm section, wah-wah guitars and horns produce a funky backdrop for the impassioned, powerful vocals of The Dynamic Superiors. Too quickly, this sizzling fusion of funk and soul is over, with The Dynamic Superiors four album career at Motown over. At least they signed off their fourth album Give and Take on a high.

After releasing four albums since 1975, The Dynamic Superiors drew time on their career at Motown with Give and Take. For a farewell to Motown, Give and Take was a fitting end to their time at this great label. The album was full of some great music, with Nowhere To Run the best known of the eight tracks. However, there’s much more to Give and Take than just one song. Quite the opposite. Ballads like Happy Song, You’re What I Need, All In Love Is Fair and Here Comes That Feeling Again prove this perfectly. These four songs, plus Give It All Up and All You Can Do With Love which are two of the quicker, dance-floor friendly tracks demonstrate that there’s much more to Give and Take than Nowhere To Run. Truly, Give and Take features some wonderful music, music which is among the best of The Dynamic Superiors’ career. Although they were able to deliver ballads and dance-floor friendly tracks, for me, The Dynamic Superiors are at their best when singing ballads. Tony Washington flourishes on ballads, his falsetto voice full of emotion and passion. On Give and Take, there are both ballads and dance tracks, both with the same quality of vocals and some fantastic arrangements by Brian Holland. He played a big part in making Give and Take the best album of The Dynamic Superiors Motown career. For anyone yet to discover the music of The Dynamic Superiors, then both You Name It their third album and Give and Take will be rereleased by SoulMusic Records on 14th May 2012. These are the perfect introduction to the music of The Dynamic Superiors and some stunningly, soulful music. Standout Tracks: Happy Song, You’re What I Need, All In Love Is Fair and Here Comes That Feeling Again.

THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS-GIVE AND TAKE.