Truly scrumptious

There are few things in the world I like better than the sound of group harmony soul. It's a black music tradition going back to doo-wop, hitting a peak in the 70s with acts like The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Chi-Lites, and carrying on through to... er, Boyz II Men I suppose. Oh well, I guess it's hit a bit of dead end these days. Lucky for me, the wonderful folks at Kent Records released In Perfect Harmony: Sweet Soul Group 1968-77 last year which features two dozen obscure but beautiful vocal symphonies. If this sort of stuff rocks your world then it's a pretty essential purchase. If it doesn't, well, I hope you're happy with that lump of black coal where your heart should be, you playa hata. The Temprees were signed to Stax Records but their sweet sound was miles away from the grit Stax was known for. Listening to "Love Can Be So Wonderful" from 1972 is like being dipped in honey thanks to the dreamy falsetto of Jasper Phillips and the smooth, smooth harmonies. There is a Best Of The Temprees available which I haven't heard but might be worth getting just to hear more of Phillips' voice. "If You Were Here, You'd Be Home Now" from 1974 by the wonderfully-named The Philadelphia Story has a deeper and more intense mood than The Temprees but is just as spine-tingling, with soaring harmonies and a heart-wrenching lead vocal by Clifton Curtis. Both of these are records you'll want to share with a member of the opposite sex, if you know what I mean.

[Download]
Love Can Be So Wonderful - The Temprees
If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now - The Philadelphia Story