Customer Reviews

First Landing

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The Dynamics' 1969 release "First Landing" is great, but an interesting reminder that the R&B music from 1945 to the synthetic "dark ages of Black music" from 1983 to very recent times was so great, that countless wonderful albums like this were considered mediocre at the time, but brilliant today!

Muscially, these guys are first cousins to the (also underrated) Mad Lads. This combines Northern streetcorner doo-wop with gritty-but-pretty Southern Soul (like the Mad Lads, this was also recorded in Memphis). Their signature tune "Ice Cream Song" is a revelation of all that works well in a Soul record-Wonderful harmony, catchy hooks, rotating leads, superb musicianship, clever lyrics and heartfelt singing (trust me, you've never heard a GOOD GOD A'MIGHTY like this)!

"Since I Lost You" is another standout here. Here, our man gets into a preaching mode midway though to the end of the tune that almost puts James Brown (not the sportscaster) to shame! Other fine sings are "Dum de Dum" (not as bad as the title would imply), "What Would I Do" (which is simply beautiful), and "I want to Thank You."

This is what your oldies stations aren't playing, and there's SO MUCH MORE underrated and unknown classic soul that's not even played on SATELLITE radio that's it's a pity. Thank the British Northern Soul movement for bringing this kind of stuff to the fore and the late Detriot DJ and Supremes' inspiration Frantic Ernie Durham for reviving the "Ice Cream Song" on his radio show in the 90s. Buy this, so that more such Cds are made that

My favorite album of the year, hands down.

From the get-outta-your-chair opener, "I Don't Want Nobody To Lead Me On" to the sweel soul ballad of "Ice Cream Song" to the killer closer "Muder in the First Degree," The Dynamics bring the best of Detroit & Memphis 60's soul to the table. It is an honest mystery why this wasn't bigger in '69. A must-have for fans of Northern soul, 60's R&B, Detroit music, & supreme grooves.