We Got Love Power
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This is a compilation of all the Sandpebbles 'Calla' recordings between 1967 and 1969. As one would expect from a group produced by Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams during this period they perform in a very mature soul idiom. The whole album draws heavily on call and response techniques but with heavy experimentation on counter singing. Instead of the backing group singing replies they often sing against the lead and this sometimes results in a lack of clarity, particularly when a female is trying to pit her voice against the more powerful male vocals. The Sandpebbles most successful recording was undoubtedly 'Love Power' and many tracks on the album use either the same backing track or a close re-working of it. There is also an exceptionally large use of bells throughout. Although 28 tracks are listed this is misleading because six of them are radio jingles which take a few bars from 'Love Power' to advertise different radio stations. Strangely enough it is the similarities between so many of the tracks which give contrast to its more unusual offerings. 'The Love People', 'Flower Power' and possibly 'Psychedelic Technicolor Dream' are aimed at hippies though it is not clear on the latter whether the 'colour' stems from love or illegal substances. The 'Garden of Eden', which longs for a return to more innocent times, might also be considered in a similar vein. It reviles the fact that pure love is considered dirty and morally unsound in a modern climate. Possibly the most bizarre songs on this compilation are 'Soul Mountain' and 'Soul Keeps Rolling Along'. The former portrays 'Soul Mountain' as a kind of alternative heaven where people will find happiness whist the latter sets the music up as a source of inner strength. Typical of its defiant lyrics are 'Bombs and guns can't stop it'. Clearly the Sandpebbles, on both these numbers are setting soul music up as a powerful weapon in the civil rights movement and in creating an emblem of identity for Black Americans. My favourite tracks are unquestionably 'Love Power' and 'Psychedelic Technicolor Dream' but 'Up and Down' and the heavily sexual 'You Turn Me On' are also very pleasant tunes. This is a strange album with a lot of similarities between many of the songs but which also contains much that is unusual. When this happens the differences are so radical its startling. Track Listing:- Love Power Radio Jingle #1 Love Power Forget It If You Didn't Hear Me The First Time (I'll Say It Again) (I've Got To) Do It To It The Love Man Let It Be Me Never My Love The Love People Flower Power I've Got To Do What I Believe Who Knows What Will Be Tomorrow Love Power Radio Jingle #2 Psychedelic Technicolor Dream Because Up and Down Love Power Radio Jingle #3 You Turn Me On Soul Mountain The Garden of Eden Love Power Radio Jingle #4 Home Sweet Home Come On People Co-ordination Love Power Radio Jingle #5 We Can Change It Soul Keeps Rolling Along Love Power Radio Jingle #6
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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