Search - Eddie Kendricks :: The Thin Man: The Motown Solo Albums, Vol. 2

Thank you, Motown...

The Fancy One | Westchester County, NY | 04/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...for finally giving this man the RESPECT he so richly deserved. You did this up right! THE THIN MAN: THE MOTOWN SOLO ALBUMS, VOL. 2 completes the entire Eddie Kendricks' Motown catalog that was initially released in 2005. For those of us who have been long time EJK lovers and new fans alike who have been clamoring for more of his music other than greatest hits collections, this was a dream come true. To hear this in its remastered glory is a treat for the ears!



This digitally remastered three CD collection picks up where KEEP ON TRUCKIN': THE MOTOWN SOLO ALBUMS, VOL. 1 left off. It features the remainder of Eddie's Tamla material: BOOGIE DOWN (1974), THE HIT MAN (1975), HE'S A FRIEND, GOIN' UP IN SMOKE (both 1976), SLICK (1977) and eight "new" cuts that have been in the vaults for years. Plus the photos, individual LP info and the liner notes are packaged very well, so as you're listening, you'll be sure to be looking through that booklet.



BOOGIE DOWN, in my opinion, is probably the best of all the Kendrick LPs recorded on Motown, with PEOPLE...HOLD ON (featured in VOL. 1 and my personal favorite) a very close second. With tight lyrics, consistently beautiful and romantic melodies - and not to mention hot dance jams, this is the album that defines the easy-going style of the former Temptations' lead vocalist. He effortlessly goes from crooning warm and heartfelt ballads (the gorgeous bossa nova-like rhythms of "Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need" - painful lyrics that tell of a man afraid of commitment...the tale of a lost love who craves fame in "Honey Brown", the gentle Caribbean beat that supports "You Are The Melody Of My Life", and the 1950s pop ballad style of "Girl Of My Dreams") to laying down his silky falsetto tenor on fun, deliciously infectious disco/funk tracks ("The Thin Man", "Son of Sagittarius", "Boogie Down"). Frank Wilson, who had produced all of the Kendrick Motown albums except for three, certainly knew how to utilize the best in the late singer. If you had not had a taste of Eddie's work other than "Keep On Truckin'", then this is a CD worth hearing.



THE HIT MAN is one of Eddie's less stellar efforts on Motown, but the songs which were the hits from this album ("Happy", "Get The Cream Off The Top"), plus the album opener, the throbbing "If Anyone Can", the Earth, Wind & Fire-styled "Fortune Teller", the soothing "Skippin' Work Today" and the pop ballad "You Loved Me Then" more than makes up for whatever else is lacking.



HE'S A FRIEND is excellent, from beginning to end - not a bad cut in the bunch. The pairing of Eddie with the Philly Sound was truly a match made in Heaven, and apparently I was not the only one who felt this way - they went back and hooked up again for the follow up, GOIN' UP IN SMOKE. Although most of GOIN' UP IN SMOKE sounds like outtakes from the HE'S A FRIEND sessions, it is still pretty solid.



The SLICK LP, Eddie's final for the label was released in 1977 - but was actually recorded two years before and was put in the vault. Apparently the people at Motown didn't feel like this album was in the same league as the ones produced by Frank Wilson, who had left the label by then (SLICK was produced by Leonard Caston, Wilson's partner) and put it on the shelf. In its wake, the "Philly connection" was made. However, the highlight of this album is the seductive ballad, "Intimate Friends", which was yet AGAIN sampled - this time most recently by Alicia Keys in 2005 for her song "Unbreakable" that was on her UNPLUGGED CD. Being biased, I have to say that I would rather listen to the Kendricks' original.



For me, a Kendrick completist, the best part of this collection are the eight never-before-released tracks, which were all recorded between 1971 and 1975, my favorite being "That's All Behind You". This set is a bit pricey but well worth the purchase, one you will not regret putting money down for."

The Last 3 Eddie Kendricks Motown Albums, Yes, Yes, Yes!

rollo | usa | 01/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there are any Temptations fans who appreciated the tenor voice of Eddie Kendricks and continued to enjoy Kendricks solo endeavors, then this collection is for you. His last 3 albums for Motown make up the bulk of this collection. This is the second volume of the complete Kendricks on Motown, carefully remastered in 24 bit. Great musical performances, nice liner notes and packaging. Only 5000 or so will be printed."

Eddie Kendricks - The Thin Man - Track listing

Barb | 02/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Disc One:



BOOGIE DOWN



1. The Thin Man

2. Tell Her Love Has Felt the Need

3. Son of Sagittarius

4. Boogie Down

5. Hooked on Your Love

6. Honey Brown

7. You Are the Melody of My Life

8. Trust Your Heart

9. Girl of My Dreams

10. Loving You the Second Time Around



THE HIT MAN



11. If Anyone Can

12. Happy

13. Get the Cream Off the Top

14. Body Talk

15. Fortune Teller

16. Skippin' Work Today

17. You Loved Me Then

18. I've Got to Be



Disc Two:



HE'S A FRIEND



1. He's a Friend

2. A Part of Me

3. I Won't Take No

4. Never Gonna Leave You

5. Get It While It's Hot

6. Chains

7. The Sweeter You Treat Her

8. It's Not What You Got

9. On My Way Home

10. All of My Love



GOIN' UP IN SMOKE



11. Goin' Up in Smoke

12. The Newness Is Gone

13. Sweet Tenderoni

14. Born Again

15. Don't You Want Light

16. Music Man

17. Thanks for the Memories

18. To You From Me

19. Don't Put off Till Tomorrow

20. Skeleton in Your Closet



Disc Three:



SLICK



1. Something Shady (Is Going On)

2. Baby

3. I Want to Live (My Life With You)

4. You Got It

5. Intimate Friends

6. Diamond Girl

7. Then Came You

8. I'll Have to Let You Go

9. California Woman



BONUS TRACKS: MOTOWN LOST & FOUND (previously unreleased)



10. Let Now Be Now, Let Love Be Love

11. I Need You More Now Than Ever

12. That's All Behind You

13. Go On with Your Bad Self

14. Johnny Faraway

15. If I Can't Love You Then I Can't Love Me

16. Nothing Is Real

17. I'll Be Your Servant"