Best Of The Sapphires

Album Review

Exactly what the title says it is, containing all of the singles and B-sides of consequence, as well as key tracks off of the group's one album for Swan. The sound is excellent throughout, and the track selection is extraordinary — the Sapphires, who were two guys and a girl with sometime backup singers, sang about as sweetly as any Motown group of the era, and had a sound that, if a little stripped-down, was just as sophisticated. Their early records, up through "I Found Out Too Late," have an early-'60s girl-group sound, while their records beginning with "I"ve Got Mine, You Better Get Yours" suddenly start sounding like Motown productions, except that this group was more soulful than the Supremes and fully capable of crossing swords with Martha & the Vandellas. They could also sound like a really soulful version of the Ronettes, but Motown was the most clear and consistent influence by 1964 — "Baby You've Got Me" is practically their answer to the Temptations' "Get Ready," while "Hearts Are Made to Be Broken" is more sweetly romantic, showing off the more familiar side of the group's sound. And "Slow Fizz" is one of the greatest dance numbers never to find a national audience. Wherever Carol Jackson is, one hopes she has a copy of this CD. (British import)