Although the material on
Douglas' initial outing may seem somewhat routine these days, it's actually quite notable considering it preceded the actual fruition of disco. The perennial "Doctor's Orders" alone would make this a classic, but the quality is far from limited to that track. Earthy dance gems like "A Friend in Need" and "Baby Don't Let This Good Love Die" are a nice cross between the late-'60s sound of Detroit soul and late-'70s dancefloor soul. Meanwhile, the mellow "Take Me (Make Me Lose Control)" and "I Fell in Love With Love" show a calmer side, while still keeping the groove alive.
Douglas has a sophisticated, understated approach that is fully soulful without any dramatic gestures, and she brings a rich vibe to each tune. The only drawback is the presence of somewhat formulaic melodies and lyrics at some points -- an aspect usually overcome by the classy arrangements. On a few tunes, the singer lacks a certain warmth, perhaps because she's trying to play it a little too cool. Overall,
The Carol Douglas Album is an impressive pre-disco effort which helped pave the way for many subsequent albums by dance-driven R&B acts. Unidisc's CD release of the album also includes an extended version of "Doctor's Orders," as well as the singer's '80s cover of
The Three Degrees' "My Simple Heart." ~ Justin M. Kantor