Ecstasy, Passion And Pain - Ecstasy, Passion And Pain (Roulette Records LP, 1974)

Ecstasy, Passion And Pain
Ecstasy, Passion And Pain
Roulette Records LP, 1974

A1 Ask Me (3:20)
A2 Let's Love (4:15)
A3 I Wouldn't Give You Up (2:58)
A4 I'll Take The Blame (5:22)
A5 Try To Believe Me (3:15)
B1 I'll Do Anything For You (3:03)
B2 Don't Burn Your Bridges Behind You (4:20)
B3 Somebody's Loving You (3:18)
B4 Born To Lose You (3:45)
B5 Good Things Don't Last Forever (3:15)

Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mastering by Frankford/Wayne Phila.

Backing Vocals - Barbara Ingram , Carla Benson , Evette Benton
Bass - Joseph Williams, Jr. , Ronnie Baker
Drums - Earl "Bad" Young
Drums, Vocals - Althea Smith
Engineer - Ken Present
Engineer [Assistant] - Jim Gallagher , Mike Hutchinson , Peter Travis
Executive Producer - Fred Bailin
Guitar - Bobby Eli , Norman Harris , Roland Chambers
Guitar, Vocals - Barbara Roy , Jimmy Clark
Keyboards - Len Pakula , Ron Kersey
Keyboards, Vocals - Ronald Foster
Percussion - Carl Jordan , Larry Washington
Photography - Joel Brodsky
Producer, Arranged By, Conductor - Bobby Martin
Strings, Horns - Don Renaldo's Strings & Horns
Vibraphone - Vince Montana




Mid-70s disco soul from the group made up of members Barbara Roy (nee Gaskins), Althea 'Cookie' Smith, Alan Tizer, Billy Gardner and Joseph Williams Jr. This 1974 album was produced by Philly soul arranger/songwriter Bobby Martin and recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

Ecstasy, Passion Pain is a more fitting description of lead singer Barbara Roy's voice than the group as a whole. Roy's tough, gritty vocals might seem better suited to the earthy recordings of labels such as Stax or Hi, but she fits right in with Bobby Martin's Philly soul settings on the RB hits "Ask Me," "I Wouldn't Give You Up," and "Good Things Don't Last Forever," the last of which was co-written by Bunny Sigler and Norman Harris. The input of such Philly soul veterans elevates the best of Roy's compositions to the level of second-tier Gamble Huff imitations, although those legendary producers never worked with a talent like Roy when they applied their Midas touch to female groups like the Three Degrees and the Jones Girls. Unfortunately, Martin's orchestrated impersonations are not as successful on the group's ballads, partly because Roy's commanding presence is less effective on slower, more restrained material. Ironically, the most enjoyable song, the swirling "I'll Do Anything for You," was relegated to the B-side of a later single, although it could easily become a hit for any shrewd girl group who rediscovers it.

Despite admirable contributions from other group members and outside sources, Roy is definitely the main reason to check out Ecstasy, Passion Pain, which remains the best documentation of her abilities as a singer and songwriter.