Edwin Starr & Blinky: Just We Two - 1969

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Much-underrated female vocalist Blinky Williams joined equally strong-voiced Edwin Starr on a great hidden gem of a Motown album. Incidentally, Blinky was known so because of her poor eyesight. 

The album begins with a beautifully bassy rendition of Brenda Holloway's/Blood, Sweat & Tears' You've Made Me Feel So Very Happy with both singers giving it their soulful all. Two such strong singers were always going to do well with this one, weren't they?

The pair get soulfully stuck in to the mid-pace chunky I'm So Thankful. Their gospel-grown voices just give something extra to all the songs they tackle. 

The two are magnificent once again on a superbly vivacious gospel number in Oh How Happy that just shines with sheer joy. The two complement each other perfectly. It lifts me higher whenever I hear it and I invariably start clapping along. Praise the Lord! If you can search out the stereo version, do so, it's wonderful (the original single was in mono). Sanctified in fact. Indeed, all this album is in stereo, something I always give thanks for. Check out that string break near the end of the song too. Heavenly. By the way, the song was written by Berry Gordy, the Holloway sisters Brenda and Patrice and Frank Wilson. 

The Everly Brothers' Let It Be Me is covered solidly enough, but I always prefer it when Motown artists do their own material. 

I'm Glad You Belong To Me is more like it - proper, fatback Motown funk. This is a genuine deep cut from the funky vaults. The backing is great and there's lots of "good Gods", "sho' 'nuffs" and "y'alls" to please any Edwin Starr fan. 

I'll Understand is a late-night Isaac Hayes ballad and is backed by some beautifully heavy bass, a bass that suits the strong tones of the singers' voices. We'll Find A Way is a big Edwin-style stomper with another deep bassline and a bit of a Northern Soul beat to it. Man, that bass just rumbles gloriously!

Sweet Joy Of Life sees Blinky taking the initial lead on a song of dignified, hymnal beauty. Edwin joins in most convincingly too. Can't We Be Strangers Again is a solid slow ballad, originally done by the Lewis Sisters. Also from the sisters was the decidedly more uptempo and wonderfully vibrant I See A Rainbow. If you love Motown bass, you'll love this. I'm not sure if it is Motown house band The Funk Brothers on this, but it sure sounds as if it might be. Great stuff. (I've just found out that it was indeed the Funks)

Ooo Baby Baby is a winsome cover of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' lush 1965 hit, with Edwin supplying a respectable falsetto. That was unexpected! For once Edwin isn't doing a stomper. Now, I love those, but I guess it's nice to hear him diversifying a bit. Blinky's voice is beautiful on it as well. She was so damn underrated. In fact, they both were. Unfortunately, Blinky didn't do much more after this. What a shame. 

Good album.

Secondary, 2 of 3

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