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Cliff Perkins has been in the music business for a very long time, and like many veterans he’s witnessed industry changes on the macro and micro levels. On the macro level, Perkins – the silky smooth falsetto lead vocalist of quartet Soul Generation – saw his mature, classy brand of ballad singing fall out of favor due to changes in musical tastes and the culture at large. On the micro level, Soul Generation has undergone several lineup changes over the years that transformed the outfit from an all male quartet to the current version of the group that features two men and two women (one of whom is Cliff’s daughter, Crystal Perkins). This is the lineup on Soul Generation’s newest album, Ooh Baby.
Despite the changes in Soul Generation, there are also constants: the subject matter – love and relationships -- and the tight harmonies and lush orchestrations that were commonplace during Soul Generation’s hit making days in the 1970s.
Cliff Perkins has been in the music business for a very long time, and like many veterans he’s witnessed industry changes on the macro and micro levels. On the macro level, Perkins – the silky smooth falsetto lead vocalist of quartet Soul Generation – saw his mature, classy brand of ballad singing fall out of favor due to changes in musical tastes and the culture at large. On the micro level, Soul Generation has undergone several lineup changes over the years that transformed the outfit from an all male quartet to the current version of the group that features two men and two women (one of whom is Cliff’s daughter, Crystal Perkins). This is the lineup on Soul Generation’s newest album, Ooh Baby.
Despite the changes in Soul Generation, there are also constants: the subject matter – love and relationships -- and the tight harmonies and lush orchestrations that were commonplace during Soul Generation’s hit making days in the 1970s.
Anyone who danced close and slow to the music of Soul Generation or any of their contemporaries in the 1970s will find a lot of like about Ooh Baby. First, there is Perkins’ falsetto, which doesn’t seem to have aged at all. Perkins’ instrument comes through clear as a bell on tunes such as the title track. “My Love Is Real,” a cut that finds Perkins and Donald Taylor imploring their ladies to ignore the negative talk of their jealous friends, is just one of the tracks that showcases the vocal diversity of the lead singers featured on Ooh Baby.
The presence of female vocalists gives Soul Generation a different sound than the group showcased during its halcyon days. That comes through clearly when Veda LaRue steps to the mic on “Your Way” and “Show Your Love.” The former features a contemporary R&B arrangement with throwback lyrics that come from the standpoint of a wife who overhears her husband making plans with his lover. LaRue is at her best here as she displays the vocal qualities associated with a skilled singer – clear enunciation, solid phrasing and the ability to add emotion to her performance without oversinging. Perkins follows the LaRue version with his take on the same tune on a cut ironically titled “In Your Way 2013.” The Perkins version sports the lush musical arrangement and backing harmonies that will take listeners back to the 1970s.
And speaking of that 1970s feel, that vibe is best captured on the track “Heaven Only Knows.” The old quiet storm feel comes through in the honey coated backing harmonies, the lush arrangements and Perkins’ soaring falsetto. It is the best track on a record teeming with solid numbers.
From a political and economic standpoint, the 1970s was an era much like the time we currently occupy. Then as now, citizens faced economic uncertainties, unpopular wars and political gridlock. Soul fans often looked to their music to bring an element of love and romance into our lives, and the artists made songs that were nothing short of musical Calgon – those jams took us away. That’s where the similarities between the 1970s and the 2010s end because much of modern music is devoid of romance. I think we need that romance now more than ever, and, on Ooh Baby, Soul Generation shows it can provides listeners with a high quality, romantic musical respite. Recommended.
By Howard Dukes