Black & Blue

by Andrew HamiltonLots of goodies on Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' second LP under the auspices of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)" is tight, as is the questioning "Is There a Place for Me." Lyricist Cary Gilbert collaborates with Gamble & Huff on "I'm Weak for You," a slow drama that Teddy and the crew tear up. The driving force here is the epic "The Love I Lost," a heart-rending tear-jerker that's a tad too long; the "I lost you, sorry I lost you" background chants get mundane toward the end, where 30 seconds of that would have been more than sufficient. The only clunker is a hokey MOR production of "Cabaret." This totally inappropriate disaster will have you skipping the track every time.