Dr. Love

AMG Review of Dr. Love

Rob Theakston
All Music Guide

The adage of never judging a book by its cover once again rings true with Dr. Love. In this case, the cover could easily be eyed with suspicion; modern-looking graphics suggest that this could be a new offering from a timeless band, overly chorused and polished to the finest degree that studio technology could afford. Nothing could be further from the truth. This actually collects cuts from the first phase of the Whispers' career in the mid- to late '60s, prior to their commercial success as one of disco-soul's most revered groups. The Whispers are influenced here by the Memphis and Detroit sounds, while adding a bit of hard-rocking guitar that neither city would raise in the music mix until much later. Dr. Love is not essential listening by any means, but those looking for a dose of wonderful soul would be well served by giving this a spin.