Customer Reviews

Toby

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1974's 'Toby" found The Chi-Lites undergoing a major personnel change with longtime bass singer Credal Jones dropping out in an effort to deal with a drug problem. The liner notes showed the group down to a trio consisting of
Robert Lester, Eugene Record, and Marshal Thompson (nice 'fros there guys), but Stanley Anderson was brought in on a trial basis as an un-credited replacement for Jones. Produced by Record who once again wrote, or co-wrote the majority of the ten tracks, the album marked a return to prime Chi-Lites form. That meant plenty of Record's instantly recognizable falsetto on a beautiful collection that was heavily geared to ballads. 'Course if you were buying a Chi-Lites album you already knew what to expect. Other highlights included the Curtis Mayfield-styled slice of social criticism 'There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At the Conference Table) ' and the up-tempo number 'I Like To Live the Love (That I Sing About)'.

- Ah, Eugene Record's 'Toby'. I remember hearing this one of top-40 radio and trying to figure out if it was a song about a dead girlfriend, or a dead dog - I've always leaned towards the latter. A patented Record performance - beautiful melody with those gorgeous Chi-Lites harmonies chirping over a heartbreaking lyric. Easy to see why Brunswick tapped it as one of three singles. rating: **** stars
- The mid-tempo 'You Got To Be The One' was one of Record's breeziest and most lighthearted ballads. Always loved the background tambourine and it's one of the songs where you can actually hear newcomer Anderson on the bass backing parts. Another song tapped as a single which should have been an even bigger hit. rating: **** stars
- A big, plodding, and over-orchestrated ballad, 'The Sound of Lonely' was simply too MOR to make much of an impression. rating: ** stars
- The opening vamp made it impossible to recognize this as the song Roberta Flack enjoyed a massive hit with. It wasn't until about 30 seconds into the performance that Record took over and the instantly recognizable melody kicked in. Musically their version wasn't all that different from Flack's hit; a little fancier and the group harmonies were to-die-for gorgeous. The nod still goes to Flack's version, but only by a heartbeat. rating: **** stars
- On the surface a song with a title like 'There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At the Conference Table) ' wouldn't seem to have much going for it ... way too campy. The funny thing is that Record had a way to make it work without being cloying. Curtis Mayfield would have been proud. rating: **** stars
- Side two's 'That's How Long' was one of those songs that I wanted to like, but just couldn't get into - part of it may have been the cheesy intro vamp, or the fact the song just never developed into anything really memorable. I will admit the shared lead vocal arrangement was nice. rating: ** stars
- 'Happiness Is Your Middle Name' was one of those breezy numbers than Record seem to effortlessly churn out. Imminently hummable, though perhaps a bit too cute for radio airplay. One of my favorite songs on the album - love the simply synthesizer pattern in the background. rating: **** stars
- A pretty, but unmemorable ballad, if you'd heard 'I Lied' in isolation it probably would have made more of an impression, but on this album it was really little more than filler. rating: ** stars
- One of three covers and one of the few tracks that didn't showcased Record on lead vocals (I think Thompson has the duty), 'I Like To Live the Love (That I Sing About)' was one of the best up-tempo numbers they ever recorded. Actually a little more R&B oriented than their normal catalog with a funny nod to B.B. King in the intro. rating: *** stars
- 'Gettin' On Outta' Town' was probably the most pop-oriented track on the album. Very commercial and well suited for radio it would have made a nice single. rating: **** stars

As mentioned, Brunswick released three singles off the album:

- 1974's 'There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At the Conference Table)' (Parts 1 and 2) (Brunswick catalog number 55512) # 63 pop; # 8 R&B
- 1974's 'You Got To Be the One' b/w 'Happiness Is Your Middle Name' (Brunswick catalog number 55514) # 83 pop; # 15 pop
- 1974's 'Toby' b/w 'That's How Long' (Brunswick catalog number 55515) 'A' side # 78 pop; # 7 R&B, 'B; side # 94 pop

Not nearly as inventive as their earlier albums, this was still prime Chi-Lites material and well worth looking for. In spite of the successful singles, the collection only managed to hit # 181 on the album charts.

"Toby" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Toby (Eugene Record - Marshall Arrington) - 3:44
2.) You Got To Be The One (Eugene Record - Marshall Arrington) - 3:54
3.) The Sound of Lonely (Eugene Record - Stan McKenney) - 5:01
4.) The First Time (I Ever Saw Your Face) (Chesley McCaul) - 5:26
5.) There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At the Conference Table) (Eugene Record) - 5:12

(side 2)
1.) That's How Long (Archie Powell - Tom Boyd) - 5:03
2.) Happiness Is Your Middle Name (Eugene Record) - 3:33
3.) I Lied (Eugene Record) - 5:40
4.) I Like To Live the Love (That I Sing About) (Dave Crawford - Charles Mann) - 4:00
5.) Gettin' On Outta' Town (Eugene Record - Susan Drayton) - 2:50

I first heard this album back in the 70's in Papua New Guinea. Loved it then - particularly the extraordinary vocals. Had to buy it on CD to add to my collection - took a couple of decades but I finally did it in 2009. My favourite tracks are :
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

These songs are so smooth and melodic. I rank this as one of their top three recordings. Definitely worth having in your archives if you are a big fan of soul music that is. Hopefully it will become available back in print for purchase soon. One fine album I must say.

This 1974 studio album,are the Chilites at their best;they had the ability(in this album at least) to take the listener, to any lover dreamworld imaginable - whether together,with that special someone,or just alone,in a atmosphere of serenity, thinking about that special someone..that's happiness.The vocals,are all majestic,and the melodies,are heavenly.