The Love We Have, the Love We Had

by Andrew Hamilton Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager's voices weave together seamlessly on this fine exhibition of male/female duet singing. The warblers climbed the charts with "Ain't Understanding Mellow" (number three R&B); they nearly cast the spell again accompanied by Chicago's best musicians, eight songs from Butler's Songwriting Workshop, and two killers from Motown. In the spotlight are the pair's rendition of "The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)," popularized by the Dells; an update of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "If This Love Was Mine"; "As the Seasons Change"; "Can't Understand It"; and "How Long Will It Last." And they rock hard on Holland, Dozier, and Holland's "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me for a Little While)." While nothing's as mesmerizing as "Ain't Understanding Mellow," this set begs for CD exposure, along with other Butler/Eager tracks.