*** The Whatnauts ***
***AMAZINGLY SOULFUL!***
*** VERY RARE SOUL ALBUM'S ***
*** VERY RARE SOUL ALBUM'S ***
A Baltimore vocal group whose heartache tunes were admired
by the ’70s soul hardcore, though they didn’t usually register enough
with the general R&B audience to be hits. Lead vocalist Billy
Herndon teamed with Garrett Jones and Gerald Pinkney for several
memorable singles on Stang, although their best topical cut, “Message
From a Black Man” in 1970, was on A&M. Their best known song was
“I’ll Erase Away Your Pain,” which reached number 14 R&B in 1971.
They also teamed with the Moments for “Girls,” which peaked at number
25.
The Whatnauts - Introducing The Whatnauts (1970)
By Papa Funk
This Baltimore, MD quartet’s skills are displayed on nine of
the 11 selections, all exemplary sweet soul. The members were Garnett
Jones, Billy Herndon, Gerald Pickney and Ray, who disappeared after this
release. Confusion existed because two instrumentals are included:
“Souling With the Whatnauts” and “Dance To the Music.” The former became
popular; it was featured on many ’70s R&B radio programs as theme
or intro music, causing many to think the Whatnauts were an instrumental
group. “Souling” is driven by a deliberate lead guitar, jangling
percussion, and a gruff, baritone sax that honks out the beat the entire
track. Sly Stone’s “Dance to the Music” has spirited horns and a
scratching guitar. The Temptations provide the inspiration for “Just
Can’t Leave My Baby” and “Message to a Black Man”; A&I Records
released the latter prior to the group’s signing with Stang Records as
being by the Whatnauts & the Whatnauts Band. Garnett’s falsetto was
the heart of the group; his leads on “Just Can’t Lose Your Love,” the
painful “She’s Gone to Another,” and “I’ll Erase Away Your Pain” are
legendary. “I’ll Erase” became their biggest hit, outdistancing sales
and chart positions of previous efforts “Please Make the World Go Away,”
and “What’s Left to Give.” George Kerr, Sylvia Robinson, and Nate
Edmonds handled productions, while Kerr did the lion’s share of the
writing.
*** The Whatnauts ***
A Baltimore vocal group whose heartache tunes were admired
by the ’70s soul hardcore, though they didn’t usually register enough
with the general R&B audience to be hits. Lead vocalist Billy
Herndon teamed with Garrett Jones and Gerald Pinkney for several
memorable singles on Stang, although their best topical cut, “Message
From a Black Man” in 1970, was on A&M. Their best known song was
“I’ll Erase Away Your Pain,” which reached number 14 R&B in 1971.
They also teamed with the Moments for “Girls,” which peaked at number
25.
While less compelling then their first, this still has
enough good moments to please sweet soul freaks. Garnett Jones, Billy
Herndon, and Gerald Pickney recorded as a trio since Ray (not to be
confused with Harry Ray) departed. “Friends By Day (Lovers by Night)”
has an unusual arrangement and ranks with their best. Cronies Harry Ray,
Al Goodman, and Billy Brown wrote “Alibis and Lies,” and it sounds more
like them than the Whatnauts; either a fast one was pulled or Garnett
is able to mimic Harry Ray to perfection. The uptempo “I Dig Your Act”
is led by Herndon’s gritty tenor.
The Whatnauts - Reaching For The Stars (1971)
By Papa Funk
“You Gave Me True Loving” has the Ponderosa Twins Plus One
written all over it. The performance and track are tight, but the lyrics
and arrangement are too juvenile for the Whatnauts; Garnett sounds like
he’s trying to imitate Mickey Mouse. “World” is a chugger and is
typical of the message songs of the times; at five minutes, 18 seconds,
it’s the longest tune on the album. “My Thing” has to be the most
recorded copyright in the All Platinum/Stang Records catalog, and the
Whatnauts’ version doesn’t sound any different than, or any more
compelling than, versions by Sylvia or the Moments. Despite the
criticism, though, this is a fine release overall.
This album is probably the best ever by this legendary
Baltimore soul group and it’s darn impossible to find on the original
vinyl! Includes the massive breakbeat track “World”, which starts with
great hard drums, then leaps into a nice tight funky soul groove. Sweet
harmonies, heavy soul, and a very raw production vibe make this an
instant classic!
*** The Whatnauts ***
A Baltimore vocal group whose heartache tunes were admired
by the ’70s soul hardcore, though they didn’t usually register enough
with the general R&B audience to be hits. Lead vocalist Billy
Herndon teamed with Garrett Jones and Gerald Pinkney for several
memorable singles on Stang, although their best topical cut, “Message
From a Black Man” in 1970, was on A&M. Their best known song was
“I’ll Erase Away Your Pain,” which reached number 14 R&B in 1971.
They also
teamed with the Moments for “Girls,” which peaked at number
25.
The Whatnauts - Whatnauts On The Rocks (1972)
By Papa Funk
This is the final and least compelling of three Whatnauts
LPs issued by Stang Records. Single releases “Blues Fly Away” and “You
Forgot Too Easy” did nothing to boost the group’s stagnating career. The
trio sounds good on remakes of the Miracles’ “Ooh Baby, Baby” and the
O’Jays’ “I’m So Glad I Found You”; they’re helped on the latter by a
fiery vocal from Linda Jones. The best originals were never released as
singles; both are social commentaries, “Why Can People Be Colors Too?”
and “Only People Can Save the World.”
Heavenly harmony soul! This is the 3rd album by this famous
east coast vocal group – and it’s completely impossible to find in the
original (which makes the reissue even more essential!) The record has a
great mix of heavy soul tracks – like “Only People Can Save The World”
and “Why Can’t People Be Colors Too?” – plus some great mellow ballads,
like “You Forget Too Easy”, “Blues Fly Away”, and “I’m So Glad I Found
You”. The reissue’s got the full original cover, which has the band
sitting on some rocks (real ones), superimposed in a champagne glass!
And as with their other records, the production and a fair bit of the
songwriting was handled by George Kerr, the master of the east coast
harmony sound – so the sound is
***AMAZINGLY SOULFUL!***
" Must Have Before Die "
" VERY,VERY GOOD SOUL ALBUM'S "
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