Ecstasy, Passion & Pain Ecstasy Passion & Pain CD

This 1999 reissue contains three bonus tracks not included on the original release.

This remastered version of the self-titled 1974 album by disco pioneers Ecstasy, Passion, and Pain features six extra songs, including two mixes of the non-LP single "Touch and Go."

Ecstasy, Passion & Pain is a more fitting description of lead singer Barbara Roy's voice than the group as a whole. Roy's tough, gritty vocals might seem better suited to the earthy recordings of labels such as Stax or Hi, but she fits right in with Bobby Martin's Philly soul settings on the R&B hits "Ask Me," "I Wouldn't Give You Up," and "Good Things Don't Last Forever," the last of which was co-written by Bunny Sigler and Norman Harris. The input of such Philly soul veterans elevates the best of Roy's compositions to the level of second-tier Gamble & Huff imitations, although those legendary producers never worked with a talent like Roy when they applied their Midas touch to female groups like the Three Degrees and the Jones Girls. Unfortunately, Martin's orchestrated impersonations are not as successful on the group's ballads, partly because Roy's commanding presence is less effective on slower, more restrained material. Ironically, the most enjoyable song, the swirling "I'll Do Anything for You," was relegated to the B-side of a later single, although it could easily become a hit for any shrewd girl group who rediscovers it. The CD reissue includes the group's later singles "One Beautiful Day" and "Touch and Go," thus helping to counter the inconsistency of the original debut release. Despite admirable contributions from other group members and outside sources, Roy is definitely the main reason to check out Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, which remains the best documentation of her abilities as a singer and songwriter. ~ Vince Ripol

Mid-70s disco soul from the group made up of members Barbara Roy (nee Gaskins), Althea 'Cookie' Smith, Alan Tizer, Billy Gardner and Joseph Williams Jr. This 1974 album was produced by Philly soul arranger/songwriter Bobby Martin and contains the bonus tracks 'Touch And Go' (7 inch version), 'There's So Much Love All Around Me', 'Dance The Night Away', 'One Beautiful Day', 'Passion' and 'Touch And Go' (12 inch version). EMI. 2005.

CD contains 6 bonus tracks.

Recorded at Sigma Sound Studio, Philadelphia, Pennysylvannia. Originally released on Roulette Records. Includes liner notes by David Nathan.

Ecstasy, Passion & Pain: Barbara Roy, Jimmy Clark (vocals, guitar); Ronald Foster (vocals, keyboards); Althea Smith (vocals, drums); Joseph Williams Jr. (bass); Carl Jordan (percussion).

Producer: Bobby Martin.

Reissue producer: Dave Nives.

Additional personnel: Bobby Martin (conductor); Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers (guitar); Don Renaldo (strings, horns); Len Pakula, Ron Kersey (keyboards); Vince Montana (vibraphone); Ronnie Baker (bass); Earl "Bad" Young (drums); Larry Washington (percussion); Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton (background vocals).