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Whatnauts – Message from a Black Man

Released on 27 May 2003

"Baltimore’s finest soft soul sellers first hit the US charts in 1970 with their cover of the Temptations’ 'Message From A Black Man’. Over the next few years, they issued three superb albums, all included here, alongside their hit collaboration with the Moments ('Girls’) and a bunch of recently discovered out-takes. Relive the golden years of symphonic soul with some of the best exponents of the genre"

This is a repackaged collection and includes all three of their album releases togthere with Girls (recorded with the Moments) and Help is on the Way a club hit from 1982, and a selection of unreleased demo tracks.

Now this package contains some very excellent material and follows various styles so it succeeds in holding your attention. There are some great deep and sweet soul ballads, some funky harder sides and some social commentary and awareness.

Garnet Jones lead on the ballad I just can't lose your love is simply wonderful. Some of the soul ballads are deep soul perfection and as often as not come from the pen of the geat George Kerr. In terms of 'deepness' the tracks are much more compelling and painful than the moments, such as on What's Life to give. Fall in love all over is a mellow groover.

George Kerr also capable of a funky get down, such as that on Can't leave my baby, with distant strings and prominent take it turns lead. I'll erase away your pain is a great and plaintive ballad and was one of the groups beter sellers by all accounts, you don't see stuff like that in the charts these days! On the upbeat side there is a stomping version of Dance to the Music.

Message from a black man is moody, spoken for effect, and great vocals and lyrics. Reminiscent of some of the conscious and upfront things going on at the time, hints of the Temptations (or at least a Norman Whitfield type production) in there. On the same vein is Why can't people be colors too and a great 5 minute slab of funk in World..

Some of the ballads are truly excellent with the tenor/ falsetto leads as clear as crytal, You forgot to easy, for example. I'm so glad I found you is uptempo perfection, pounding beat, great vocals (Linda Jones) in a Northern Soul kind of way. Of the uptempo material there is also their version of the O'Jays I dig your act.

Not so much written or produced by Sylvia Robinson, but one such thing is, and in a predictable Moments pastiche, is My thing.

Help is on the way was a big club hit in 1982 and it is included here in it's full 7 minute plus version. More soulful and less disco than moany tracks of that era, and still wworty of plays today.

Closing with a handful of unknown cuts but they are equally up to standard, again a great lead on Genuine for example

Give a Damn credited as unknown is the same as the Internationals on D'ar, a subsidiary of All Platinum. Were the Internationals the Whatnauts or vice versa perhaps. Just passing is also a fine funk tune.

A brilliant collection indeed.

Track Listing:

2-CD SET DISC 1 I Just Can't Lose Your Love Tweedly Dum-Dum She's Gone To Another What's Life To Give (After Giving It All) Fall In Love All Over Just Can't Leave My Baby I'll Erase Away Your Pain Please Make The Love Go Away Souling With The Whatnauts Dance To The Music Message From A Black Man You Forgot Too Easy Heads Up Hurry Up And Wait I'm So Glad I Found You Only People Can Save The World Blues Fly Away Why Can't People Be Colours Too? Ooh Baby Baby DISC 2 Try Me (And I'll Show You) Friends By Day (Lovers By Night) Alibis And Lies I Dig Your Act You Gave Me True Loving World We Will Always Be Together My Thing Let Me Be That Special One Girls (Part 1) - with The Moments Girls (French version) - with The Moments Help Is On The Way Genuine Give A Damn Why Can't We Be Together Just Passing Strolling Gotta Be A Love (Somewhere)

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