TEMPO-MENTALS, "BURNING DESIRE" C/W "DEAREST," EBB 112 (RELEASED 9/1957)

The Tempo-Mentals were, at first, one of many Black vocal groups called The Pyramids. They were from the Los Angeles area, as they worked with Johnny Otis. King Records’ A&R man Ralph Bass was taken by their act in an LA nightclub and produced a contract. Would they record for Federal Records—the Midnighters’ label?

The sextet agreed, and they recorded two songs credited to Johnny Otis; these were issued on Federal in the summer of 1955 and nothing happened with them. That single now commands a value 10 times what today’s disc can ask, in top shape, which my copy is not.

This group made their second 45 for LA’s Ebb label—this time as the Tempo-Mentals. They added a level of “huh?!?” to this follow-up and reworked one of the two sides on the Federal platter, for which they gave themselves full credit as composers. Unless my ears deceive me, The Tempo-Mentals had a female member*, who performed often-wordless polyphonics outside the other vocalists’ harmony singing, with a full dose of reverb to give the distant drumbeat and their massed tones an epic, otherworldly vibe.

“Burning Desire” is a revamp of “Deep in My Heart for You.” The 1955 original can be heard here, and is a helpful comparison to The Tempo-Mentals’ reboot:

https://youtu.be/Gs90RSbQtu0

“Burning Desire” alters the melody of the original song and makes that gender-mysterious solo voice a central feature of the sound. It’s deep-dish 1950s weird, with the theremin-like voice, who also sings in octaves with the others, zooping and darting around this reverb-saturated mono soundscape.

The song is made better for this eccentric alteration, as it turns a routine ballad into a feverish oath of everlasting love. As I listen to this track again, I’m convinced the high voice is a woman’s; she’s heard at 1:35 as she sings the song’s title and if that’s not a female voice, it’s a skillful male minic.

This is lowrider r&b with that crud-enriched sound that LA studios did with such style; I’m sure my G+ copy of the record, which looks like world wars were fought on its surface, contributes to that vibe. (It cleaned up quite well considering its visual appearance!)

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

Cash Box delivers its word-salad review and shares our opinion re "Burning Desire."

On the flip, “Dearest” is a less-inspired effort that eschews much of the musical fireworks of “Burning Desire.” A decent paint-by-numbers r&b ballad, it’s well-performed and atmospheric, but easy to forget as soon as you’ve heard it. “Burning Desire” is this group’s great contribution to the genre of “what in the—?I?”

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

And that’s all they wrote (and sang)!

* It’s feasible that this voice is a male doing an expert falsetto. This performer is responsible for the odd effect of this release, so hats off to them, whomever they were.

Tomorrow: we continue the exotic style of Black vocal group music with a 1963 effort by The Imperials, minus Little Anthony. Session guitarist Vinnie Bell joins producer Richard Barrett to create an exotic neverland on two moody songs, via a Capitol Records single.