Post by w***@yahoo.comI'll agree that "Selfish One" has flaws (mostly in song
structure) but I think it's actually better than a lot of Mary Wells'
"Best of," notably "Laughing Boy" and "You Lost tjhe Sweetest Boy."
No way, in either case. But especially for one side of a 2-sided hit,
Holland-Dozier-Holland's "You've Lost The Sweetest Boy", which kicks
some ass. Not an apt comparison either, as this is more a rave-up
than a ballad, so it's almost apples and oranges, but YLTSB is better
as a raver than SO is as a ballad. Selfish One, for example, holds no
water next to "Two Lovers", loved enough to be oldie-ized in Philly.
That's a clearly better song. Laughing Boy is good, too. Maybe
Selfish One is better than that, but that's one her weaker singles,
although it wasn't weak, only in relation to Wells' strongest stuff was
it weaker.
Post by w***@yahoo.comAlso, imitation Motown can often be great: I think Tina Britt's "The
Real Thing" actually hold up better than "Heat Wave," which it copied.
Then there's "The 81"...
The 81 by Candy & The Kisses is really the equivalent of "In My Lonely
Room" (put both on for a listen comparison) , and though a rip-off,
it's a very good rip-off, better in its
imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery than "Selfish One" attempts
to ride the stylistic coat-tails of "My Guy". And while both "In My
Lonely Room" and "The 81" (a HUGE record in Philly) a great records,
they are not in the same league as the awesome Heat Wave, probably the
most played Soul oldie in Philly this side of "Respect" or "I Can't
Help Myself", and kind of a theme for area dances - then, everywhere -
and now, wherever Soul oldies are played (Bob Pantono, Jerry Blavat,
WDAS appearances, etc.). Never heard of Tina Britt or her record.
-Larry Ingersoll
