Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds - Love-Itis

 I cannot even imagine how many original records the J. Geils Band has sold for the bands that they have covered, but this is another one for me! Known for their amazing choice of cover songs, the Geils Band has made people aware of so many incredible acts (here's a list of their covers) and I am always grateful to discover another new-to-me act! 

I had no idea that Love-Itis" was even a cover up until a week or so ago, when I found out that besides the original and the Geils version, even the fabulous Sonics have recorded it! For Harvey Scales, it was simply the B-side of the Seven Sounds biggest number, "Get Down", which reached number 32 in 1967 (these two songs are, appropriately, the first two on the comp). This CD shows that he had plenty of other great material, as well, with sweet, soulful ballads mixed with upbeat funk and sweaty dance numbers.

"Get Down" is a super-fun, soulful, funky dance number with excellent machine gun drum breaks - just try keepin' still while this plays! - followed by the title track, which is somewhat slower and more groovin' that the Geils version, kinda hintin' more at Otis Redding, especially in the horns - certainly nothing wrong with that! Pure upbeat James Brown-styled funk in "Broadway Freeze", the drums really drive "I Can't Cry No More", making it a defiant call rather than a weeper, "Too Good To Be True" is kind of a Jr. Walker swinger, there's some hints of gospel in "Love Is a Gas", they finally slow things down for a sweet ballad in "Don't You Ever Let It End", back to the bouncin' beat for the Booker T and the MG's-ish instro "The Sound of Soul", "Welcome Home" is a slower, sad soul ballad (sort of a "Have You Seen Her" feel that somehow morphs into upbeat funk for the last few bars as the woman finally comes back) and "Trackdown" is  another steady groover.

In the dance craze number, "The Yolk" (odd concept, yes), Harvey borrows a bit from Sly and the Family Stone as well as James Brown, which naturally continues in "The Funky Yolk", which has some fine sax wailin' and sex-beat rhythms. "Get Down 1970" is pure high-energy, danceable funk, this continues in the kinda goofy "Funky Football", "Bump Your Thang" is a bit silly, as well, but good fun, "Trying to Survive" is somewhat more message-based (it is aptly compared to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in the liners) with a hep groove, "Groove On Sexy Lady" is, naturally, more lighthearted, "Rock the World" isn't quite as captivating but still pretty darn cool, "Follow the Disco Crowd" is too disco-oriented for my taste, but the finale, "Love Thief" brings back enough funk to make it a keeper.

Harvey had a terrific voice and the band was stellar, with the horn section and the drums really driving the songs. They kinda became known for songs describing a dance craze, which limited the lyrical content, but regardless, the sound generally kept a fine, soulful, deep funk to it all. Nice stuff!