Search - Fascinations :: Out to Getcha!

Fascinating!

David Wayne | Santee, CA United States | 06/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You talk about prolific! Even as he was singing lead for The Impressions, writing most all of their material, and taking them out on tour, Curtis Mayfield had time to provide hits for a whole stable of artists at Okeh records (including Major Lance and Walter Jackson), supply hits to Gene Chandler and Jerry Butler, and start two record labels. His Windy C label featured Mayfield's productions on the Five Stairsteps. The Fascinations were the top act on the Mayfield imprint. Curtis was very aware of the Motown Sound that was so popular during the sixties (his song "Can't Satisfy" was assigned to Holland-Dozier-Holland in settlement of a lawsuit). He gave these ladies a Supremes-like sound. The material is top-notch, and some of these songs (most notably, "Girls Are Out To Get You" and "I'm In Love") have come to be highly regarded by afficionados of Beach Music in The Carolinas, and of Northern Soul in Britain. According to the liner notes, the girls still come together for the occasional UK tour. As a bonus, this CD features bonus tracks by the Mayfield Singers, who featured Leroy Hutson and Donny Hathaway. The Mayfield and Windy C labels didn't last, but Curtis would later establish a Soul Music powerhouse of the seventies: Curtom Records."

Good slice of obscure Soul Music

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like the post-Diana Ross Supremes, the Honey Cone, and the Royalettes among many others, the Fascinations were one of the many girl groups of Soul Music that did not get the attention they deserved (except, in this case, from the British hardcore Soul fans, bless them). Mighty good stuff here, if not outstanding, from Mayfield Records. The title cut "Girls Are Out to Get You" is one of those absolutely perfect records that is impossible to listen to less than twice. Among the standouts are "OK For You" (far more interesting than the title indicates), "I Can't Stay Away From You" (remake of an Impressions tune), the torchy Stax records-ish "Just Another Reason" and the Aretha Frankin-esqe "Hold On."As bonuses, we get the Mayfield singers' "I've Been Trying" (another Impressions remake). Future Soul star Donny Hathaway stands out on this one. The tune "If" is of particular interest to those over 36 who remember the theme for the Marlboro Cigarettes commercial, from which this song is based. Unfortuantely, the Mayfield Singers didn't record very much. We also get some instrumentals to these tunes that would do well for karaoke or talent shows. Overall, a worhty look into the kind of good stuff that so-called "oldies" radio neglects."