Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS***

Get Up & Get Down/Thank You For Your Love/Hot Pants In The Summertime/Watcha See Is Watcha Get/In The Rain/Gimme Some (Good Soul Music)/Fall In Love Lady Love/Mary Don't Cha Wanna

The Dramatics were a Detroit based R & B vocal group who enjoyed some limited US commercial success in the early 1970s but are largely forgotten today. Features the US top ten hits In The Rain and the title track. (US:20)

“This was their most commercially successful release. The Dramatics were as good as, and, in some cases, better than other contemporary soul groups. Their sound is fresh and their performance is competent. It succinctly echoes the sounds of its time, but still sounds as good today, as it did back then.”

“The title song had impeccable and creative arrangements. The group members alternated singing lead on each line. It was an R & B tune, but it looked ahead to the coming disco movement. A fuzz sound on the lead guitar, plus horns and strings all served to make it memorable. Get Up & Get Down was more of the same but the vocal interplay was different and creative.”

“This is a better than average soul album from the early 70s. It's nothing too earth shattering, but it makes for quite an enjoyable listen and is pretty solid all the way through. There really aren't any clunkers on this one, and the best songs are pretty much classics of the genre in their own right. To me what sets this album apart is the production, which is incredibly thick, multi-layered, and yet airy at the same time. It's great stuff, no doubt about it.”

“An excellent slice of Stax R & B. The title track is the real stand-out, but there's a great grinding rhythm all the way through the album.”

“It is very puzzling that The Dramatics are not better known, or revered, among soul fans. Possibly this lack of acclaim is due to the fact that they recorded for a smaller label, as opposed to being on a major such as Motown or Atlantic, and weren't marketed properly. But rest assured; this is absolutely classic soul music, from ballads to funkier numbers, packed with great tunes and soaring harmonies.”

“There is some fine foot stompin' music along with a few ballads to get you in a lovin' kind of mood.’