13 de noviembre de 2007

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.

13 comentarios:

Anónimo dijo...

Grandísimo!

Creo recordar q en la edición española de carnaby, la funda se abría en díptico (me suena una foto sobre un escenario... ??)

Recuerdo que llegué a escanear y postear 2 de mis singles en Soul Source (un hilo que iba sobre "sleeves").

Por cierto, ya no "te incito más" (o sí) en plan "por casualidad no tendrás...?", porque igual te pregunto si tienes el de Harold Melvin & The Wailers Live in Almazorre (este pueblo existe, lo juro!)... e igual LO TIENES!! :-))

Javier Di Granti dijo...

No, ese no lo tengo, pero si este:
THE MANHATANS LIVE IN SIGUENZA (SORIA)
Philly mestizo del bueno!

Dios, estoy emocionado, me acaba de llegar un ultra-LP-rareza de un grupo llamado "The Anvil Band", bajo la tutela de Vincent MOntana Jr. los cuales sacaron su unico album en la filial de Salsoul Records, Free Spirit. Todo joyas intstrumentales con canciones de Joe Bataan, Montana, etc. Aquí os dejo el tracklist:

The Anvil Band - Selftitled
Free Spirit, 1976 LP

A1 - The Tunnel (J. Bataan)
A2 - Let's Dance (J. Bataan)
A3 - Sadie (J. Bataan)
A4 - Continental Square Dance (J. Bataan)
A5 - Begin The Beguine (C. Porter)

B1 - The Man (I. Hayes)
B2 - I Can't Give You Up
B3 - Samba
B4 - I'll Be True
B5 - Nice Vibes (V. Montana)

De momento solo he escuchado la cara A y es BUENISIMO!
El corte LET'S DANCE tiene los mismos arreglos que el DANCE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER de Charo (que a su vez tenia los mismos arreglos de I Can't Fight Your Love de los Modulations).

Por fin mi ha llegado a su fin mi busqueda de una version instrumental de esos magicos arreglos. Yesssss!!

Anónimo dijo...

Ospa! esto tiene pinta de ser bastante rare-Philly...
Yo soy un poco "incurto" en el terreno salsoulero, pues sólo tengo la original de "Sadie (She Smoke)" en el álbum "Mestizo" de Joe...

freewave dijo...

Could you re-up this by chance? It's a rather rare find and it is down... Thanks in advance!!

Raphy dijo...

Please can you repost This Wonderful gem.....Thanks

Ecstaay passion & Pain...The Bomb

Anónimo dijo...

Hello again, although I can't write in spanish, I understand the basics of what you write. Your blog is just great, I have found many real treasures here. Most of them I have never known.

I am very curious about this album also, but I cannot find any link to download it. Maybe it expired.
I would be very grateful if you would re-upload it if you have the time.
Thank you so much, you are doing such great work!!!

Anónimo dijo...

OK, I must be an idiot...
Now I found the link!
But, sadly, it did expire, it is no longer maintained. If you have the time, please consider a re-up?!
Gracias por la musica!

Any middle-aged German Witch in Amerika dijo...

So sad this link is expired now. Any chance you might re-up it once?
I would really appreciate it.

Jiro dijo...

link is dead. re-upload please!

Marcelo Donati dijo...

Please, repost for us!
Thanks!
Por favor, reposte este disco clássico!

Unknown dijo...

Please, repost for us!
Thanks!
Por favor, reposte este disco clássico!

Anónimo dijo...

Nice brief and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.

Anónimo dijo...

Hi
Very nice and intrestingss story.