The Houston vocal group's final LP for Atlantic Records is 28 minutes of merriment. Their next two appeared on Philadelphia International. This finale continued the good vibes established on their two previous Atlantic albums. Producers/writers Kenny Gamble and
Leon Huff employ the same lighthearted production on the Drells as they did the Intruders. The joyous title track isn't about gang-banging, but a dancing confrontation that Gamble & Huff spice with a convoluted but infectious break. The cutesy, compelling "My Balloon Is Going Up" warms your heart for no apparent reason; it's just a good, happy sound. Speaking of the Intruders, "Girl You're Too Young," a Gamble, Archie Bell, and Thom Bell song, has the "Cowboys to Girls" guys written all over it; "Here I Go Again," another R&B hit, is more formulaic. "Houston, Texas" pays homage to
Archie Bell & the Drells' hometown, but they didn't write it -- non-Texans Gamble,
Huff, and Bobby Martin did. Others deserving a shout-out include Archie Bell's "Mama Didn't Teach Me That Way," Mikki Farrow and Mervin and Melvin Steals' "Green Power," and the Steals' tutorial "Go for What You Know." As Mystro and Lyric, the Steals later wrote their biggest record, "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," for the Spinners. ~ Andrew Hamilton