Quote Originally Posted by Bluebrock View Post
I am not at all convinced that Mary had a great solo album in her at this stage. In my opinion her voice lacked that special something that a successful solo career needed.
I have to disagree here Bluebrock. Like Diana when her time came, I think there came a time when Mary's talent outgrew a need for the group and that time was pretty much when Mary left. I do agree that her voice didn't have that certain something that set her sound apart from her contemporaries like Diana, Aretha, Gladys, Natalie, Donna, Dionne, all of whom you knew instantly the moment the ladies opened their mouths. But Mary had a way with a slow song that given the right song, the right lyrics, the right producer, and of course a serious promotional backing, she could have come out of the gate with hits. There is nothing similar in the voices of the two, but I think Mary could have easily done a lot of the stuff Phyllis Hyman was doing at the time.