The Artistics - Get My Hands On Some Lovin' (1967) [Japanese Reissue 2005]

This debut by Chicago's Artistics is one of their best. Marvin Smith, Jesse Bolian, Larry Johnson, and Aaron Floyd's harmonies sparkled over the rudimentary rhythm tracks punctuated by stabbing horns. The songs are endearing; "Patty Cake" has cute lyrics ("Patty cake, patty cake baker man/Bake me a sweetie pie/I don't care what nobody say, I'm gonna love her anyway"). They outdo Marvin Gaye on one of the Master's early releases, "Got to Get My Hands On Some Lovin'." The guys' most successful Okeh release, Barrett Strong's "This Heart of Mine," has a similar feel to the Spinners' "I'll Always Love You." There's a charm associated with this release that is absent on their later stuff on Brunswick.