Originally Posted by
sup_fan
i too really like the recording and think Jean's controlled vocal is marvelous. while i did enjoy her live work, she's often stray heavily from the melody and song with her ad libs and "soul." that certainly showcased her talents but sometimes less is more. Often i really wasn't thrilled with her performances of Stoned Love as she'd completely ditch the melody and just vamp. one of the beauties of SL is the amazing lyric and melody
as for IGIMTM, i think a couple of things happened. just like a plane crash, it's usually never 1 specific thing
1. loss of Cindy - not trying to start a lynda war as i really like her. but the personnel change in the spring of 72 really hurt the girls IMO. they'd made a strong showing with FJ but then the wind was let out of their sails. AS crept into the top 40 and YWSSL flopped. so by the time they got to IGIMTM the steam was gone
2. motown's move to LA - i think this also contributed to problems. their HQ staff was tied up with the move and so probably totally distracted
3. Lady Sings - we all know berry was focused on this and not music
4. Pippin - it's a good show. but it's not an amazing show. yes it won some Tony's but it never really had the "oomph" of other big Broadway productions. You had had Hair just a few years before, then Jesus Christ Superstar. Also Company was huge. so i think Pippin just didn't quite penetrate the collective US conscience. Also the show didn't debut on broadway until late Oct 73. so the single was probably a little premature. perhaps if the single was released closer to when the Tony's were held and/or announced, since it was nominated for several, it would have done a bit better
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