A journey in music that began back in 1952, Gladys Knight & the Pips are R&B and Soul’s most distinguished singing groups. Originally simply going under the name The Pips, changing their name in 1961 to the one everyone knows, they achieved their first hit single with “Every Beat of My Heart.” The start of continued success, they would go on to have more than two dozen Top 10 R&B hits with standout favorites, including 1970’s “If I Were Your Woman,” along with 1973’s “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Factors that led to their 1996 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: there might only be a select few that realize how prolific Gladys Knight & the Pips were over a twenty-year period between their 1962 debut album Letter Full of Tears and their final album, 1987’s All Our Love. Releasing over twenty studio albums in that time, all were chalked full of impassioned vocal performances by Gladys Knight, and one of the most stunning was for 1973’s Neither One of Us.
The ninth overall studio album, Neither One of Us, was one of four albums released by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1973! Simply unheard of nowadays, in 1974, they released three albums, leading to two more in 1975. Each yielded a level of success, but none was more successful than Neither One of Us, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top LPs chart (the Billboard 200 today). Also hitting number one on Soul Charts, right smack in the middle of the group’s peak years, the album featured two hitmaking singles, “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” and “Daddy Could Swear, I Declare.”
Both are beautiful examples of Knight’s unique vocal stylings; they should not overshadow other heartfelt recordings of “It’s Gotta Be That Way,” “This Child Needs Its Father,” and “Who Is She (And What Is She to You)?” Furthermore, you cannot pass by the rendition of “For Once in My Life” (often associated with Stevie Wonder’s 1968 version), which simply draws you in. In fact, each and every performance by Knight on Neither One of Us feels like an emotional roll coaster of heartbreak and real human sorrow like no other.
Truly a Soul album for the ages, now in 2024, music fans of all types have a chance to own Neither One of Us on a reissued vinyl. A great option if your original 1973 edition is worn and faded or if you never picked it up on CD, Neither One of US is perfect for Sunday afternoon listening on your home stereo system. Taking this advice, the new limited edition vinyl arrives on December 13, 2024, through Elemental Music as part of their 2024 The Motown Sound Collection.
One of the label’s final vinyl releases of the year, this single LP set includes the original album pressed to 140-gram wax, which is done with precision because the sound is rich and potent. In addition, the original front and back cover art are included.
Overall, those who appreciate the intricacy of the human voice and the emotion of someone singing their heart out need to look closer at Gladys Knight & the Pips, and especially Neither One of Us. The perfect Christmas gift for you or a Soul music lover, Cryptic Rock gives this new limited edition release 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment