The Superbs - The Best of The Superbs (2014)

One R&B hit with Baby, Baby All The Time is a poor return for the twenty five singles the Superbs released on the Doré label between 1964 and 1987. It does not reflect the importance the group had on the west coast soul harmony scene. They are still held in high esteem by soul music lovers, in the US in particular. They had their very own sound that is instantly recognizable, a feature only a handful of soul groups can claim. The mainly Mexican, Los Angeles Low Rider scene looks upon them as demigods.
Their ballad work appeals to soul harmony collectors and though their sound can be very sweet, the subtle early Gene Page arrangements and clever song selection makes the music appealing to all soul fans. Ballad highlights include their hit, along with It Hurts So Much, He Broke A Young Girl's Heart, One Bad Habit and Your Eyes. The mid-tempo ballads include a Latin-influenced The Big Hurt, I Was Blind, Goddess Of Love, Where Or When and the early Better Get Your Own One Buddy.

The group were also capable of fine uptempo performances. Inevitably they had tracks suited to the Northern Soul scene in the mid-60s. Go For What You Know and the magnificent On A Day When It's Raining have the correct beat, while the funkier Wind In My Sails has been picked-up recently by the newer breed of rare soul DJ.

There are two solo tracks by group members and associates Ronnie Cook and Frances Lark with the grouping backing up the leads as usual. An extensive discography is included, though with Doré's random release policy and reworking of titles, it can never be claimed as a definitive document. Interviews with several of the group members tell the long and intricate Superbs' story in detail.

TRACKLIST

1. The Story Book Of Love AKA Take A Lesson From The Teacher
2. Better Get Your Own One Buddy
3. Baby, Baby All The Time {Talking Intro}
4. Sad, Sad Day
5. Only The Lonely - Ronnie Cook (Of The Superbs)
6. My Heart Isn't In It
7. The Big Hurt
8. I Was Blind
9. Hold Back The Dawn - Frances Lark (& The Superbs)
10. Baby's Gone Away
11. I Was Born When You Kissed Me
12. It Hurts So Much
13. Goddess Of Love
14. He Broke A Young Girl's Heart
15. On A Day When It's Raining
16. The Wind Is Blowing
17. Go For What You Know
18. I Wanna Do It With You, Baby
19. One Bad Habit
20. Your Eyes
21. Wind In My Sails
22. Where Or When
23. Dear Abbey - The Superbs Feat. Stephana & Robert
24. Get Ready For Love