Do 'The 81' And Other Soul Classics

Candy & the Kisses recorded for several labels in the 1960s. This British compilation properly focuses on the mid-'60s recordings of most interest to collectors, including all of their singles for the Cameo and Scepter labels, as well as three previously unissued tracks. It's not quite accurate to call Candy & the Kisses a one-hit wonder since the one "hit," "The 81," only got to number 51 in the Billboard charts. Still, that was a great track, if highly derivative of Motown girl groups (especially Martha & the Vandellas), and naturally leads off this compilation. As is true with many groups known primarily or only for one song -- and especially so for groups whose one big song is highly derivative -- nothing else on the 18-track disc comes close. That's not to say it's bad, though, with many of the other songs being acceptable girl group-soul-pop mixtures, though none of them have the instant hooks of "The 81." Most of these actually aren't as Motown-ish as "The 81," and have a more noticeable East Coast tinge to the production. Of interest are numerous early compositions by Josephine Armstead, Nick Ashford, and Valerie Simpson, the best of these being "Are You Trying to Get Rid of Me Baby," another tune that frankly might bring to mind Martha & the Vandellas, but their moody side rather than their upbeat one. The oddest duck by far is a cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," which must have been one of the few songs by the band done by an American girl group. ~ Richie Unterberger|

Candy & the Kisses recorded for several labels in the 1960s. This British compilation properly focuses on the mid-'60s recordings of most interest to collectors, including all of their singles for the Cameo and Scepter labels, as well as three previously unissued tracks. It's not quite accurate to call Candy & the Kisses a one-hit wonder since the one "hit," "The 81," only got to number 51 in the Billboard charts. Still, that was a great track, if highly derivative of Motown girl groups (especially Martha & the Vandellas), and naturally leads off this compilation. As is true with many groups known primarily or only for one song -- and especially so for groups whose one big song is highly derivative -- nothing else on the 18-track disc comes close. That's not to say it's bad, though, with many of the other songs being acceptable girl group-soul-pop mixtures, though none of them have the instant hooks of "The 81." Most of these actually aren't as Motown-ish as "The 81," and have a more noticeable East Coast tinge to the production. Of interest are numerous early compositions by Josephine Armstead, Nick Ashford, and Valerie Simpson, the best of these being "Are You Trying to Get Rid of Me Baby," another tune that frankly might bring to mind Martha & the Vandellas, but their moody side rather than their upbeat one. The oddest duck by far is a cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," which must have been one of the few songs by the band done by an American girl group. ~ Richie Unterberger