The Independents - Chuck, Helen, Eric, Maurice (1973/2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

The Independents' sophomore album 1973's "Chuck, Helen, Eric, Maurice" featured a personnel change - original member Marvin Yancy replaced by Eric Thomas. While Yancy dropped out of active performing, he continued his working relationship with the group, but this time around in the role of songwriter and producer. Co-produced by Jackson and Yancy, the album seemingly sought to find a balance between past successes and some new directions. While the heavy reliance on ballads certainly served the group well on the debut album (wracking up a series of radio hits), Jackson and Yancy were smart enough to avoid falling into an aural trap with this album. There were still plenty of old school ballads showcasing Chuck Jackson's lead vocals (though Curry was notably absent throughout the set). 'The First Time We Met' and the breezy 'Lucky Fellow' were first rate ballads, easily as good as anything on the debut Less impressive were the single 'It's All Over' and the closer 'Sara Lee'. That said, this time around the highlights came in the form of the group's atypical offerings; among them the bluesy The Same Old Way'' and the up tempo numbers 'No Wind, No Rain' and 'Show Me How'.

Tracklist:

01. It's All Over
02. No Wind, No Rain
03. The Same Old Way
04. I Found Love on a Rainy Day
05. The First Time We Met
06. In the Valley of My World
07. One Woman Do Right Man
08. Show Me How
09. Lucky Fellow
10. Sara Lee



All thanks go to the original releaser