1001 Albums Summary

Cloud Nine - starts of the album with a simple but effective lick. Raw, powerful, soulful vocals to a driving tempo. D minor. Grapevine - same soulfulness, more of a motown feel. Even beats, good bassline, call and response vocals as classic hallmarks. C blues. Good falsetto work Runaway Child - More soul / psychadelic, especially the intro. This walks a fine line between soul and motown because you have some call-response elements, but the vibe is overall more soul-like. The crying child in the middle of the song is highly jarring, which is probably what they were going for? I'm also getting the vibe of a jam, like they keep going back to that basic lick and then other instruments are phasing in. Love is a Hurtin' Thing - Stark contrast to the last song. Good horn section and falsetto usage. C MAJOR (as opposed to C blues), sweeping strings. Departure from Funk and Motown, more of soul and honestly maybe even R&B. Lyrics are simple and straightforward -- bass and falsetto voices alternate lyrically to represent the duality of the emotions the singer is feeling. Hey Girl - More upbeat and 60's feeling. Why did She Have to Leave Me - A swinging beat, C major, Four Seasons vibe with the background falsetto vocals. Raspy lead vocals, more dependency on strings, but still has a great bassline. I Need Your Lovin' - Unremarkable. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - Back into funk from motown with the vocals, still has that call and response aspect though. Enjoyable possessory love song, I guess. I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) - Upbeat and hopeful vibe, really fun song and motivating. Would be good in a movie. Keep on Tryin' - good ending song, but otherwise unremarkable.

To shy to say was a great love song with very interesting chord progressions. The whole album can be said to be an ode to piano. Really enjoyable listen.

Great sampling and the songs are well-constructed.