THE PERSUADERS-THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 15, 2014 ♦ 10 Comments

THE PERSUADERS-THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.

The Persuaders will always be synonymous with the soul classic, Thin Line Between Love and Hate. It’s the song that brought commercial success and critical acclaim The Persuaders way. The story began in New York, in 1969, when Douglas “Smokey” Scott, Willie Holland, James Barnes and Charles Stodghill formed The Persuaders. Previously, the four Persuaders had been members of other local doo wop groups The Internationals and The Majestics. These groups weren’t going anywhere. Doo wop was dead by 1969. So, with their careers at a crossroads, Douglas, Willie, James and Charles decided to form a new band, The Persuaders. It was the best decision they’d ever made.

Two years later, in 1971, The Persuaders signed to an label that was synonymous with soul label, Atlantic Records. The Persuaders were sent into the studio straight away. They were going to record a song penned by pianist and songwriter Richard Poindexter with his brother Robert and Jackie Members. This was a future soul classic Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

It was released in later in 1971 and transformed the fortunes of four Persuaders. Thin Line reached number fifteen in the US Billboard 100 and number one in the US R&B charts. This resulted in Thin Line Between Love and Hate being certified gold. Commercial success and critical acclaim came The Persuaders way. To build on the success of Thin Line Between Love and Hate, The Persuaders were sent back into the studio to record their debut album. This was Thin Line Between Love and Hate, which was recently released by Rhino, as part of their Japanese Soul and R&B series.

For Thin Line Between Love and Hate, the songwriting partnership of Richard Poindexter his brother Robert and Jackie Members got to work. They penned seven of the tracks, Thin Line Between Love And Hate, Let’s Get Down Together, Blood Brothers, You Musta Put Something In Your Love, Thanks For Loving Me, If This Is What You Call Love (I Don’t Want No Part Of It) and Mr. Sunshine. Richard, Robert and Jackie also penned Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out) and Thigh Spy. The track that closed For Thin Line Between Love and Hate was Can’t Go No Further And Do No Better, which Richard and Robert cowrote with Howard Sledge. These ten tracks became Thin Line Between Love and Hate which was recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York.

When recording began at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, Richard and Robert Poindexter had been chosen to producer Thin Line Between Love and Hate. The arrangers were Richard Poindexter and Arif Mardin, who arranged the strings. Young, Gifted and Bad provided the rhythm section, Paul Young vibes and Richard Poindexter played piano. Once recording of Thin Line Between Love and Hate was finished, it was released later in 1971.

On the release of Thin Line Between Love and Hate in 1971, it reached number 141 in the US Billboard 200 and number thirty-five in the US R&B charts. The singles fared well. Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out) then reached umber sixty-four in the US Billboard 100 and number twenty-one in the US R&B charts. If  This Is What You Call Love (I Don’t Want No Part Of It) reached number twenty-seven in the US R&B charts. The Persuaders were now one of the most successful soul groups of their early seventies. They’d come a long way since they formed in 1969. Thin Line Between Love and Hate which I’ll tell you about, is their greatest album.

Opening Thin Line Between Love and Hate is the title-track. A slow, wistful piano is panned left and right, setting the scene for Douglas “Smokey” Scott’s emotive, fearful vocal as he sings about domestic abuse. He sings about domestic abuse from the man’s point of view, He’s been beaten and is bloodied. Douglas vocal is full of sadness, disbelief and hurt. Harmonies sweep in. Later, so do lush strings. Mostly, it’s just the piano and rhythm section. The bass matches the piano every step of the way, setting the scene for a soul-baring vocal. It’s akin to a confessional. Beautiful and oozing hurt and emotion, it’s a soul classic dealing with a difficult and despicable crime, domestic abuse.

Vibes and cooing harmonies open Let’s Get Down Together as Douglas delivers a vocal that’s heartfelt and needy. Harmonies soar above the arrangement. It consists of just piano and the rhythm section. This allows Douglas’ vocal to take centre-stage as he delivers a seductive vocal. There’s a nod to Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack, while The Persuaders revisit their doo wop past on this heartachingly beautiful ballad.

Blood Brothers is a song about racial togetherness and tolerance. The rhythm section join vibes and The Persuaders harmonies. Then Douglas unleashes a powerhouse of a vocal. Using controlled power, he pleads for unity, describing everyone as “Blood Brothers” regardless of their skin colour. Later, a soaring falsetto soars above the arrangement. Horns rasp and growl, strings sweep and vibes punctuate the arrangement. The pounding bass sits way down in the mix as The Persuaders deliver their impassioned plea for racial unity and understanding.

The rhythm section and piano drive the arrangement to You Musta Put Something In Your Love along. However, from the get-go, it’s obvious that this track isn’t working. Douglas’ delivers an impassioned grizzled vamp. He’s accompanied by urgent harmonies and a jaunty piano which seems unnecessary. As a result, the song comes across as lightweight.

Dramatic and soulful describes the introduction to Thanks For Loving Me. Stabs of piano and vibes combine with sweeping, dramatic vocal. Douglas’ vocal is heartfelt and emotive. He’s sings the lyrics like he means every word. Harmonies sweep in, adding to the drama and soulfulness. Strings add add to the songs beauty. However, the addition of the vibes seem unnecessary and result in the arrangement taking on a somewhat generic sound. This doesn’t detract from the beauty of ballad. Later, an airy falsetto soars above the arrangement and proves the perfect foil to Douglas vocal. Stabs of horns add the finishing to this glorious heartfelt ballad.

The rhythm section, searing guitars and vibes combine to create the backdrop for The Persuaders’ punchy harmonies on Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out). Douglas’ vocal is full of sadness and frustration. He’s not going to watch his relationship fall apart. His vocal ls a needy and mixture of power, passion and emotion. Punchy and cooing harmonies are the perfect accompaniment to Douglas’ lead vocal. So are a jazz-tinged guitar and lush swirling strings. The only debatable inclusion is the vibes to a track that’s an outpouring of hurt and heartbreak.

Briefly, If This Is What You Call Love (I Don’t Want No Part Of It) reminds me of the title-track. That’s down to the piano that opens the track. It’s joined by the rhythm section and vibes. This results in another generic arrangement. The tempo is slow, adding to the drama and emotion of Douglas’ vocal. It’s one of his best. This seems to spur the rest of The Persuaders to greater heights. Their harmonies soar above the meandering arrangement and join the strings. All the time the bass is setting the tempo, as Douglas’ delivers what’s a best described as an outpouring of hurt. Quite simply, this is one of his best vocals. 

As Mr. Sunshine unfolds, you wonder what direction the song is heading? Hesitant describes the introduction. Vibes are panned left while the funky rhythm section eventually create a summery vibe. It’s a track that seems reticent about revealing its secrets. That’s until The Persuaders take centre-stage. Douglas’ impassioned airy vocal is accompanied by soaring, cooing harmonies, rolls of drums and later, strings. The vibes are used to add to the summery vibe as The Persuaders deliver a summery slice of soulful music. 

Thigh Spy is a fusion of funk and soul that’s reminiscent of Sam and Day. A driving, funky rhythm section and piano set the scene for The Persuaders as they vamp their way through the track. There’s even a nod to The Temptations on a track that’s funky, soulful and full of hooks.

Closing Thin Line Between Love And Hate is Can’t Go No Further And Do No Better. Bursts of drums are joined by a prowling bass and omnipresent vibes. As usual, the vibes are panned left where they compete with the bass. Together, the create a slow backdrop for a needy, soul searching vocal from Douglas. Meanwhile, a jazz-tinged guitar, vibes and bass create a hypnotic backdrop. Douglas’ vocal is full of despair as he realises that “I Can’t Go No Further And Do No Better.” He sounds devastated. So much so, that it’s as if the rest of The Persuaders are empathising with his plight, as Douglas breathes life, meaning and emotion into the lyrics.

Having began their career by releasing a soul classic, Thin Line Between Love And Hate, The Persuaders set the bar high. Thin Line reached number fifteen in the US Billboard 100 and number one in the US R&B charts. This resulted in Thin Line Between Love and Hate being certified gold. Commercial success and critical acclaim came The Persuaders way. Next came the biggest challenge of their career, releasing their debut album, Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

Thin Line Between Love and Hate is a good album, but not a classic. The reason for this is obvious. Some of the arrangements have a generic sound. This isn’t unusual in soul music. Motown especially, and sometimes Hi Records and Philadelphia International Records’ releases have a generic sound. That’s the case here. A case in point are the vibes. They’re omnipresent, regardless of whether the song requires vibes. Occasionally, the vibes overpower the rest of the arrangement. During Thin Line Between Love and Hate, the tempo doesn’t vary much. The album could’ve done with some quicker tracks, where The Persuaders were allowed to stretch their legs and show is another side to their music. Similarly, the bass is used in the same way. I can’t fault the playing, just the way the player is used. After a while, some of the arrangements become predictable. This is a great shame and does’t do justice to The Persuaders. The same can be said of one of the tracks on Thin Line Between Love and Hate,

This is You Musta Put Something In Your Love, It’s a really disappointing lightweight track. Despite The Persuaders’ best efforts, the track just doesn’t work. Another track that works, but only just, is Mr. Sunshine. Here, the problem is the hesitant introduction. When it eventually unfolds, things improve and a summery soulful sound takes shape. That’s down to The Persuaders. Maybe with a different producer these tracks would be very different? Having said that, there’s much to commend Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

Obviously, Thin Line Between Love and Hate is a soul classic. Let’s Get Down Together is a heartachingly beautiful ballad and Blood Brothers is an impassioned plea for racial unity and understanding. Thanks For Loving Me is a beautiful, heartfelt ballad. Thigh Spy is funky, soulful and full of hooks. Can’t Go No Further And Do No Better is a stunning ballad and the perfect way to close Thin Line Between Love and Hate. Add to this Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out and Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out) and Thin Line Between Love and Hate and Thin Line Between Love and Hate is just a couple of songs short of being a great album. 

Despite this, Thin Line Between Love and Hate was the most successful album of The Persuaders’ five album career. Their career has lasted five decades and numerous changes in lineup. During this period, The Persuaders only released a quintet of albums. However, for many people, The Persuaders’ debut album Thin Line Between Love and Hate, was their finest album. For me, Thin Line Between Love and Hate is two tracks short of being a great album. However, it does feature The Persuaders’ timeless soul classic Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

THE PERSUADERS-THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.