The group's first album is basically a reflection of their early repertoire and very heavy on the R&B/soul standards. Dominated by covers of
Ike & Tina Turner,
the Coasters,
John Lee Hooker,
Little Walter,
Brenda Holloway, and others, only three of the tunes are original. Two of these are written by
Stevie Winwood, the other by
Spencer Davis;
Winwood's mid-tempo soul number "It Hurts Me So" is easily the best of them.
Winwood is in fine voice and the group is energetic, but this is neither as good as their best work nor nearly as good as the best British R&B albums of the era by competitors like
Them and
the Rolling Stones. Includes their first two British singles, "Dimples" and "I Can't Stand It." ~ Richie Unterberger