was the group's first number one pop album, propelled to that place with help from a chart-topping single ( ) and a marketing ploy that generated an irresistible song lineup. And along with , has held its value better than almost any of the trio's most successful albums (which excludes ) -- in fact, back in the days when vinyl was the only game in town, used copies of this record sold faster and better than any of their other common '60s LPs, and for good reason. Various hits compilations had skimmed the most familiar songs off of , etc., but the very concept behind -- getting the group to cover some of the top hits of other (mostly ) acts -- dictated that every song on this album was familiar in name, and only was culled for any hits packages. There was a lot to recommend it musically, including the trio soaring rendition of and a version of which, even if it was no threat to , still could have been a hit. Similarly, and will always belong to , but , and throw themselves into both (in a less weighty version of the former) with enough spirit to make them work as album cuts; is diverting if less successful, and is worth checking out just to hear step forward. And even the non- covers, like make worthwhile listening, with turning in a surprisingly strong, passionate performance on the latter. A number one album in its time on the pop and R&B charts, also benefited from the fact that there were no pop standards or slow ballads here, just solid R&B dance numbers. ~ Bruce Eder