How does an a cappella legend sound? Judging by Rockapella's "Motown & More," more sweet, tight, soulful and rockin' than ever! Having grown up 50 miles from the Motor City, this reviewer was weaned on the Motown sound, which dominated the top 40 airwaves with wonderful artists like the Temptations, the Supremes, the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder. So here come the hits on "Motown & More," and they are to the original tunes like little Michael Jackson was to himself on "Thriller." Tight Vocal Percussion replaces drum sets, of course, but Scott Leonard's arrangements of standards like "Brick House," "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," "(Stop) The Love You Save," "My Cherie Amour," "Dancing In The Street," "Use Ta Be My Girl," "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "Just My Imagination" (which segues smoothly into a sample of John Lennon's 'Imagine'), is the "& More" here! Let's be frank, Scott, Jeff, George, John & Steven could sing rings around most of the early Motown vocalists, and we're hearing exactly how amazing so-called "covers" can be, when re-invented by one of our favorite, and still one of the premier a cappella bands in the world, Rockapella. We loved this album from start to finish, especially because we have loved Motown ever since we were big enough to reach the faux-chrome radio knob on our '64 Comet. Great stuff! |
