Reaching for the Stars

While less compelling then their first, this still has enough good moments to please sweet soul freaks. Garnett Jones, Billy Herndon, and Gerald Pickney recorded as a trio since Ray (not to be confused with Harry Ray) departed. "Friends By Day (Lovers by Night)" has an unusual arrangement and ranks with their best. Cronies Harry Ray, Al Goodman, and Billy Brown wrote "Alibis and Lies," and it sounds more like them than the Whatnauts; either a fast one was pulled or Garnett is able to mimic Harry Ray to perfection. The uptempo "I Dig Your Act" is led by Herndon's gritty tenor. "You Gave Me True Loving" has the Ponderosa Twins Plus One written all over it. The performance and track are tight, but the lyrics and arrangement are too juvenile for the Whatnauts; Garnett sounds like he's trying to imitate Mickey Mouse. "World" is a chugger and is typical of the message songs of the times; at five minutes, 18 seconds, it's the longest tune on the album. "My Thing" has to be the most recorded copyright in the All Platinum/Stang Records catalog, and the Whatnauts' version doesn't sound any different than, or any more compelling than, versions by Sylvia or the Moments. Despite the criticism, though, this is a fine release overall.