The Dramatics Live

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Though it wasn't released until 1988, The Dramatics' <i>Live</i> captures the beloved Detroit-born, Memphis-bred soul group in the prime of their career. The album blends two Los Angeles dates: a 1972 appearance at the Summit club and a 1973 show at the Whisky a Go Go. It’s hard to say which tracks come from which venue, but what's certain is that the crowds went crazy for The Dramatics. Anyone who assumes the group’s brand of lush vocal soul couldn’t translate in a sweaty little club needs to witness these versions of “Get Up and Get Down” and “What You See Is What You Get.” It’s equally amazing to hear the group dig into The Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself” and Bobby Womack’s “That’s the Way I Feel About Cha”: soon-to-be-classics that were brand new at the time of these performances. Those choices shows The Dramatics’ savvy, but in the end all that really matters is their show-stopping version of “In the Rain”—complete with thunderclap sound effects—which sends the female audience members into audible fits of ecstasy.

via Apple Music