Little Anthony & The Imperials - On A New Street (Avco Records LP, 1973)

Little Anthony & The Imperials
On A New Street
Avco Records LP, 1973


1. I'm Falling In Love With You (3:50)
2. Lazy Susan (2:47)
3. The Loneliest House On The Block (3:54)
4. I Don't Have Time To Worry (3:19)
5. La La La At The End (4:12)
6. That's What Love Is All About (3:37)
7. What Good Am I Without You (3:13)
8. Sonner Or Later (3:01)
9. Loving You Won't Hurt As Much Tomorrow (3:13)
10. Heartaches Never Entered My Mind (3:37)
11. Easier Said Than Done (4:15)

Avco divided this project between two producers, Side A being the Thom Bell side and Side B the Teddy Randazzo side. The Randazzo sides fall short of previous productions. "That's What Love Is All About" is a decent midtempo number, but had no chance of competing with the O'Jays, Temptations, Stylistics, Dramatics, and others. "Sooner or Later"'s doo-wop leanings makes it sounds awfully dated. "Heartaches Never Entered My Mind" is the best of the Randazzo songs; Anthony sings with genuine emotion. "Easier Said Than Done" attempts to rekindle the magic of past Randazzo/Little Anthony & the Imperials collaborations, but falls short. The Bell sides save the LP.

Anthony's reading of "I'm Falling In Love With You" is simply beautiful; the sound is typical Bell, except that he lets the Imperials croon the backing blends without any female supplement. Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "Lazy Susan" and "I Don't Have Time to Worry" reminds you of the Spinners; before the Little Anthony project came along, I'm sure these were on the Spinners to-do list. Both could have used a little less formula, but the latter does provide a vocal workout for Anthony. Blue Magic comes to mind when listening to "The Loneliest House On the Block"; a muted trumpet accents the breaks, and the song is almost as sad as "Sideshow."

Anthony has a nice tone on "La, La, At the End," a quiet stormer that floats along some melodic grooves; the arrangement will have you swaying in your seat, as muted backing vocals chime briefly on the chorus, accented by a babbling trumpet and Anthony's signature lead.