This is one of your reviewers favorite albums, ever. Pretty strong opinion, but when this was released it was effectively the only a cappella music available with the exception of local East Coast groups. Their first album was actually produced by Frank Zappa, but this second one is one of the three on Capitol Records that established The Persuasions as the premiere a cappella group in the world. The voices are rich and vibrant. The music chosen established their repertoire of rhythm and blues, soul and gospel. They became adept at creating such spirited covers of Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and The Temptations that it is almost impossible for anyone to sing "Persuasion's" songs and not sound wrong somehow. The original album cover, now reprinted on the CD, is a picture of the group on the basketball court where they first met and began singing together. |