The Dynamics "What A Shame" 1973 US Soul Funk
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A bit sweet soul, a bit funky and a real indie soul classic from the early 70s! The album’s the second from The Dynamics, a group from Detroit, but one who work here with a style that’s much more in the east coast mode of the All Platinum/Stang generation! The production is nice and mellow on the best cuts – fragile, but never sloppy – and the vocals really dominate nicely on the ballads, sliding forward with a really mellow late nite sound! The album does have one stand out funk track, titled “Funkey Key”, but most of the set is relatively mellow and other tracks include “Count Your Chips”, “What A Shame”, and “You’ll Never Find A Man Like Me”….~
Managed by Ted White, Aretha Franklin’s husband (at the time), the Dynamics released a slew of singles and two albums but never achieved any sustained chart action; they’re visually unknown to most, even to those who know their recordings. “What a Shame“, the title track, is arguably their best single, a sweet falsetto sings the woeful tale in a mournful voice usually associated with wakes and funerals. Like everything else on the album, it was written and produced by the now-deceased Ronnie Shannon, an eccentric songwriter from Detroit who gained fame writing hits like “Baby, I Love You” for Aretha. “Woe Is Me” paves the same mournful path, as does “You’ll Never Find a Man Like Me”. Shannon speeds it up on “Shucks I Love You“, a happy-in-love tune carried by an airy falsetto lead. Brass is prominent on “Funky Key“, a groove daddy that probably worked better live; the lead is rough, countering the melodic and smooth backing vocals. The Dynamics had at least three lead singers and used them all. “Count Your Chips” is a slow beauty, typical of sounds emanating from Philly, yet it failed to sell despite a sugary lead vocal. Other notables include “Voyage Thru the Mind” and “Let Me Be Your Friend“ …by Andrew Hamilton…allmusic…~
Tracklist
A1 What A Shame 3:15
A2 She’s For Real (Bless You) 2:30
A3 Let Me Be Your Friend 4:00
A4 You’ll Never Find A Man Like Me 3:10
A5 Woe Is Me 3:00
B1 Voyage Thru The Mind 3:02
B2 You’re The Only One 3:25
B3 Funky Key 3:20
B4 Count Your Chips 3:45
B5 Shucks I Love You 3:00