G C Cameron Very Best Of The Motorcity Recordings CD

G.C. Cameron's career never got on track. After a scintillating start with the Spinners ("It's a Shame"), he neglected to follow them to Atlantic Records. A vocal chameleon, he's at his best impersonating others; just take five records by Cameron by five producers and you'll think you were listening to five different singers. When Smokey Robinson produced him ("Don't Wanna Play Pajama Games"), everyone thought it was Robinson singing and someone had printed his name on the label instead. On "We'll Have It Made" (produced by Stevie Wonder), he mimics Dennis Edwards. The Very Best of the Motorcity Recordings is a compilation of 16 latter-day recordings from Cameron, half of the tracks co-written by the singer himself with producer Ian Levine. "Right of Way" is a midtempo love song propelled by his strong tenor, while "Come Back to Me" is a yearning ballad and "Good Times Up Ahead" rocks with a solid Northern groove. But "Straight in the Eye" has a hokey, klutzy beat. His falsetto glows on the Temptations' "Just My Imagination" and "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" showcases his rough tenor, and he sounds better than the Spinners on "I'll Be Around." A remake of "It's a Shame" highlights his vocal dexterity. He mimics Marvin Gaye on "You're All I Need to Get By," a duet with Martha Reeves. This isn't the best of Cameron by any means -- the tracks lack Motown's punch but Cameron's vocal gymnastics keep you listening. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Personnel: G.C. Cameron (vocals).