Ron Banks
(of
the Dramatics
) produced
Five Special
, a five-man group featuring his younger brother
Bryan
. The two groups are vastly different;
is more laid-back and
jazzy
than
.
sings in a light, wafer-thin falsetto that's pretty to hear but lacks bite and fire.
Special Edition
is like a Chinese meal; you enjoy it while it's playing, but it fails to satisfy, and you're starving for sounds again in an hour. That said,
"Jam,"
"Heaven You Are to Me,"
"Do Something Special for Your Lady,"
and
"Why Not Be Mine for a While"
are all arresting concoctions, good late-night music that would have been more compelling with
on lead. The group's deep bass singer and expressive tenor are excellent and should have been featured more. ~ Andrew Hamilton