The Emotions: "Untouched"

One of those albums that becomes more and more elusive as the years go by; once a forgotten relic from the Stax/Volt empire, now forever sought after for the frequently sampled “Blind Alley.”  This early Emotions material is fantastic—before Maurice White/Charles Stepney/EWF came in and polished up the group’s sound, sacrificing some of their trademark gospel grit in the process—and this LP certainly represents the peak of their Volt tenure.  Isaac Hayes, David Porter and Don Davis produced, and with The Movement and The Bar-Kays in the rhythm section, you know this stuff hits on all cylinders.  There’s the sweet soul of “Take Me Back” and “Tricks Were Made For Kids” (the latter of which sounds like it could have been recorded in Philly and not Memphis), the raucous funk of “Blind Alley” and “Boss Love Maker,” the off-kilter, odd-time “Love Ain’t Easy One-Sided,” and the proto-modern-soul stroll “If You Think It (You May As Well Do It).”  The Emotions’ powerful, churchy vocals hold sway over the surroundings, and work in tandem to drive their positive soul message home.  Though they were still years away from monster hits like “Best Of My Love,” The Emotions were already experts at their craft, even at this early stage.