For Your Precious Love...

Album review

Jerry Butler appears on "For Your Precious Love" and a few other Impression sides before going solo. Other members are Curtis Mayfield, Arthur Brooks, Richard Brooks, Sam Gooden and newly acquired Fred Cash, brought in to replace Butler. Jerry sings "Precious Love" as if he's reciting a prayer, his rich, mature baritone defying his youthfulness. The song's an oddity, it's all verse, has no chorus or hook and the title is not repeated after the first line. Cash was recruited to replace Butler, but Mayfield took over most of the leads, and early efforts, "At the County Fair," "Senorita I Love You" and "That You Love Me," showed a thin, immature voice expressing some lovely songs. A bright and jaunty "Little Young Lovers" had commercial appeal but was never released as a single. The Impressions' backing is subdued and merely echo Mayfield's and Butler's leads on most tracks. This same combo, minus Butler, would later display a more exciting sound on "Gypsy Woman," "Minstrel & Queen" and "I'm the One Who Loves You" before evolving into the hit making, Hall of Fame trio of Curt, Sam & Fred.

© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo