The Dramatics Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

1972 album Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

Composed By Tony Hestor

This is known as the best Temptations rip ever. Although saying so is to minimize the group and producer, but it's the truth. As this was released, the Dramatics were an anomaly, a Detroit act signed to music's preeminent Southern label. This was recorded in Detroit and was produced and written by Tony Hester. The potent production and execution of this makes this track stand out among the best R&B/ pop songs of the early '70s. The beginning was fine if not a little anonymous, singers trading lines like the Temptations did for their Norman Whitfield productions. Then comes that other voice that shouted, "And baby/I'm for real/I'm as real, as real can get." Enough said. The singer who did that famous line was William "Wee Gee" Howard who sounded so much like David Ruffin it probably stunned the genuine article. Throughout this track the Dramatics attain the energy and drama of the best R&B with Howard flawlessly wailing, potentially endangering his vocal chords with his unbelievable precision. The group immediately made a name for themselves and later proved a harder-edged alternative to the often "too nice" Temptations. This also seemed to be a bright beginning for Howard who was much more than a Ruffin ringer, but he left the group by 1973, L.J. Reynolds replacing him. In 1972, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" zoomed up the R&B charts going all the way to number three; the pop audience liked this as well as it cracked the Top Ten. This is the personification of instant classic and was the first big hit from an often underrated group.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The Dramatics
• Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get