Imagine Detroit in the early ‘70s. Riots had broken out in 1967 and left the city in economic disarray. The first oil crisis was about to kick the auto industry in its ass. Even their beloved Motown, the label that named itself after the city, picked up and moved to LA. It was confirmation the town, that not only defined African-American pop music but bridged racial barriers and brought it to the wider public, had ceded its influence to the sweaty, funky South and urbane Philly soul.
It's this mix of sounds you hear on Detroit Emeralds' sophomore LP, You Want It, You Got It. Originally from Little Rock, the Emeralds carried over some of that southern grit while smoothing it out with those elegant strings Phily bands were finding such success with. Most of the tracks chug along on top of a steady, round, bass plunk. Detroit Emeralds are essentially a groove oriented group, so the songs on You Want It, You Got It basically fall into the up-tempo or the slow-groove category. They generally find more success with the former, best represented by the proto-disco churners "Feel the Need in Me" and the title track. But the Emeralds were a vocal trio and their breathy harmonies and interplay found its outlet on slower numbers, such as the dreamlike "I'll Never Sail The Sea Again," or the gadunkadunk funk of "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)," which became sample fodder for the likes of De La Soul and Eazy-E back in the day.
There are plenty of under-repped soul groups out there, and Detroit Emeralds are just further proof that, for a period in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, any band with a solid rhythm section and a couple good horn charts could latch onto an infectious groove. Unassuming on initial listens, You Want It, You Got It rewards repeated whirls thanks to its subliminal hooks. Varied and easy-going, Detroit Emeralds offer a set of songs that track souls shifting focus without necessarily staking a claim to a particularly individualistic sound.
1. You Want It, You Got It
2. There's A Love For Me Somewhere
3. I'll Never Sail The Sea Again
4. Take My Love
5. Feel The Need In Me
6. I've Got To Move
7. Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
8. I Bet You Get The One You Love
9. Till You Decide To Come Home
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