In 1970 the company issued ‘Give Me Just a Little More Time’ a mid-tempo dancer that hit instantly with pop and soul audiences world wide resulting in a massive hit for the group. In later years the song would see a credible cover by Angela Clemmons which is still played to this day.

The follow-up release ‘You’ve Got Me Dangling on a String’ hit equally as big and became the dance-hall favourite with it’s post sixties Motown feel to it and has to be one of my all-time fave’s. Whilst Clarence Carter had the hit with the song ‘Patches’ in 1971 the ‘Board’ recorded it too and many would argue that theirs is the better version. Next up with another smash 45 in the form of ‘Everything’s Tuesday’  and ‘Pay to the Piper’ another piece of post Motown dance magic and another couple huge hits for the band.

At one point is seemed as if nothing could go wrong for the band and an extensive UK tour followed which saw them at all the top Mecca/Locarno ballroom’s across the country playing to packed houses and it seemed everyone loved them. They were particularly poplar at the US air force bases in the UK. Another single followed with the bluesy ‘Elmo James’ which whilst not selling as well as previous singles still managed to dent the charts and find its way onto DJ’s playlists due to it being very danceable. A much heavier backbeat found its way onto the next single with ‘Chairmen of the Board’ and kept clubbers more than happy.

One of the best songs from this talented outfit has to be ‘I’m On My Way To A Better Place’ with a brilliant vocal performance and arrangement to suit, and whilst not the easiest of songs to dance too, it has you hooked from the first chorus. Those of you who have heard the song ‘Bittersweet’ will surely agree that the instrumental break in the middle of this ballad could, and should, have turned into a single in it’s own right. The uptempo groove that lasts for a minute before dropping back into the second half of the song would have made the ultimate dance track for the label. I’m surprised nobody picked up on it.

The group will go down in the history of seventies soul music as being one of the most successful of that period and squeezed in some ten hit singles in a short period of time. Not many artists can claim that today. You will find them all on this collection.

A collection of songs you will not want to miss and a golden opportunity to replace those well worn 45’s.

Personal rating 10/10
Available on the 16th November 2002