Originally Posted by
johnjeb
Good post!
I like the Reflections album. The problem is that most of the songs, even the Motown originals, border on adult contemporary and easy listening. I referenced my Billboard Chart Books, there were a wide range of albums on the chart at this time. This album did as well as other easy-listening albums during this period. However, not a good showing for the top female group of the era competing with current albums by Dionne and Aretha. Albums by Andy Williams, Bobby Goldsboro and Glen Campbell even did a bit better than Reflections.
I can't imagine most teens who were buying The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, The Monkees, Doors etc., choosing this album based on the one big hit, Reflections. The mediocre charting songs, FCT and IAOOL, along with the covers on Side 2, probably dissuaded casual buyers.
Two songs that shouldn’t have been there are What The World Needs Now Is Love and Love [Makes Me Do Foolish Things], songs from ‘65 and ‘66. I think the Symphony album was successful because 3 of the covers were recent hits that teens loved: Yesterday, Unchained Melody and Lovers’ Concerto. I think those off-set the standards on that album.
Songs from ‘67 and early ‘68 would have been better options. If a Love Theme was intended then there were recent hits such as Never My Love, To Sir with Love, Your Precious Love and All You Need Is Love. Other recent hits like How Can I Be Sure, Groovin’, The Letter, I Say A Little Prayer, Chain Of Fools and The Beat Goes On might have been more appealing to buyers.
In my suburban working class community neither Florence's departure nor the name change was of much interest beyond die-hard fans or eliciting a passing comment. Love Child and Someday demonstrated that with the right song the group, whatever its name, could hit the mark.
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