Genre: soul
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: I Had To Fall In Love
Company: A&M
Catalog: SP 4676
Year: 1978
Country/State: Belzoni, Mississippi
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: original inner lyric sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5004
Price: $20.00
Yes, I'll readily admit to having a thang for Jean Terrell ... In addition to having a killer voice (I'd rather hear her than the shrill Diana Ross any day), the woman simply exudes a sense of class and dignity.
Given her talent, its simply unfortunate that Terrell's best known as Diana Ross' late-1960s replacement in The Supremes. (Her other notoriety stemmed from the fact heavyweight boxer Ernie Terrell was her brother - she even recorded a couple of mid-1960s 45s with him.)
Released five years after she quit The Supremes, 1978's "I Had To Fall In Love" found Terrell signed to A&M Records. Produced by the Philadelphia-based Bobby Martin and backed by an all star cast of studio pros, the album's simply a lost soul classic. Showcasing Terrell's crisp and versatile soprano the set was far more versatile than one would have expected for an ex-Supreme solo effort (certainly when compared to Ross' solo catalog). Tracks like 'Don't Stop Reaching for the Top' and 'Rising Cost of Love' kicked the album off on a surprisingly funky note, while 'No One Like My Baby' and the pretty ballad 'Change Up' were wonderful radio-friendly pop. Even better was the should've-been-a-massive hit 'You've Been So Good To Me'. In fact the only real disappointment was the lightweight Gallagher and Lyle penned title track (which sounded like a Carly Simon outtake). Elsewhere A&M tapped the set for two instantly obscure singles:
- 'Don't Stop Reaching for the Top' b/w 'No Limit' (A&M catalog number AM-2039).
- 'I Had To Fall In Love' b/w 'Rising Cost of Love' (A&M catalog number AM-2064)
Sadly, driven in part by her religious convictions (Terrell was a devout Jehovah's Witness), her relationship with A&M quickly fell apart. She didn't record again until the mid-1980s.
"I Had To
Fall In Love" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Don't Stop Reaching for the Top (James Davis - Jeffrey Osborne) - 4:13
2.) No One Like My Baby (Fred Bliffert) - 3:45
3.) Rising Cost of Love (Bobby Martin - en Ron Hawks - Zane Grey) - 3:24
4.) Change Up (Len Ron Hawks - Zane Grey) - 5:00
(side
2)
1.) How Can You (Live without Love) (Len Ron Hawks - Zane
Grey) - 3:21
2.) I Had To Fall In Love (Benny Gallagher - Graham Lyle) - 4:16
3.) That's the Way Love Grows (Frank McDonald - Chris Rae - Gerry Shury) - 3:30
4.) You've Been So Good To Me (Len Ron Hawks - Zane Grey) - 4:23
5.) No Limit (Len Ron Hawks - Zane Grey) - 3:19
J