The Detroit quartet’s cancelled Motown album released with 13 bonus tracks, many previously unissued.
Lovers of Detroit soul have long rhapsodised about the Fantastic Four, one of the Motor City’s most admired vocal groups of the 60s and 70s. They originally came to prominence at Ric Tic Records, Motown’s main 60s rival in Detroit. When they came over to Motown while their last Ric Tic hit was scaling the charts, bigger things looked set to follow. Sadly they did not, and after two years in which the quartet recorded at least 30 sides and released just three non-charting 45s, their career at Motown was over. The group did come very close to having an album release on Motown’s Soul imprint to the point where a master tape was sent to the pressing plant before the plug was pulled. kents collection takes that unissued album as its jumping off point, and adds another 13 sides that in most cases have stayed in tape vaults for more than 40 years. The cancelled “How Sweet He Is” album a title that implies Motown were more interested in lead singer “Sweet” James Epps as a solo artist than the whole group, is presented in the intended original running order, with all the tracks that also appeared on 45 appearing here in stereo for the first time. The group worked with some of Motown’s best staff producers of the period. Given the right circumstances, almost everything they recorded could have been hits to match those the company was having with such groups as the Originals, the Undisputed Truth and the Temptations. Unfortunately for the Fantastic Four, it would not be until they moved to Westbound Records that they were able to rekindle the chart flame that had burned through their Ric Tic years. Since Kent began their programme of Motown releases, the Fantastic Four has been among the most requested acts they have been asked to feature. The 25 tracks here more than half of which have never been heard anywhere prior to this CD should delight everyone who has hoped for this package to happen....Detroit Magic!..Fantastic!
AMM
Courtesy Of Oldsoulrebel
The Tasters!
17 comments:
many thanks again oldsoulrebel for another incredible album!
Thanks OldSoulRebel - how sweet this is.
Thanks AMM and OLDSOULREBEL for this fantastic review. The Fantsatic Four is always welcome on my turntable!!
These guys are smooth and I love all their music. Thanks AMM.
Wonderful album... many thanks indeed for the review AMM & OSR
BigD
Thanks AMM and Oldsoulrebel I really do enjoy the voice of sweet James Epps
Oh yes, I already know a few songs that I really dig. Superb review again, thanks a lot dude ☮️🌞✌🏻
The Tracklist is great AMM Thank you
I thought I would have to settle for just one Fantastic Four album. Thanks AMM
many thanks Oldsoulrebel and AMM for this long lost albums with bonuses from Kent
Excellent as always the Kent series many thanks for it!
Great to find this "lost" album on your site! Thanks for review, P.
Thanks-
Thanks oldsoulrebel for this gem
Interesting story thanks for sharing this review
Greta review thanks AMM and Oldsoulrebel for this great set set yet another great band left in the dark to promote others.
Cheers Pedro
thanks Oldsoulrebel and AMM for sharing this
Reb
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