RELEASED 17.5.2012
The Washington DC-based DYNAMIC SUPERIORS had already experienced a good measure of popularity as Motown recording artists thanks to their first three albums - Dynamic Superiors and Pure Pleasure (both released in 1975, produced by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson and reissued as a two-on-one CD by SoulMusic Records in 2010 - SMCR 25003) - and the 1976 LP, You Name It (reissued in 2012 - SMCR 5051). Released in 1977, GIVE & TAKE benefited from the production skills of Brian Holland of the famous Holland-Dozier-Holland team who co-wrote three of the album’s eight tracks as well as being the composer with his renowned partners of the Martha & The Vandellas’ classic, ‘Nowhere To Run,’ given a new lease of life by the Dynamic Superiors on the LP. Running at over nine minutes long, the group’s remake of ‘Nowhere To Run’ received a positive reaction from dance clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. Aware of the pre-release buzz on the track, Motown’s U.K. office decided to rename the album after the cut which was also released as a single in the U.S. Other highlights included a soulful version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘All In Love Is Fair,’ showcasing the vocal skills of pioneering openly gay lead singer Tony Washington and the group’s tight harmonies; and the uptempo dance-flavoured tracks, ‘You’re What I Need’ and ‘All You Can Do With Love.’
1. HAPPY SONG 2. GIVE IT ALL UP 3. NOWHERE TO RUN 4. YOU'RE WHAT I NEED 5. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR 6. ALL YOU CAN DO WITH LOVE 7. HERE COMES THAT FEELING AGAIN 8. ONCE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH BONUS TRACKS 9. NOWHERE TO RUN, PT 1 (US single ‘A’ side) 10. NOWHERE TO RUN, PT 2 (US single ‘A’ side) 11. YOU’RE WHAT I NEED (US Single)