Major Lance Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um

Bargain Audio CDs & Priceless Collection (series)

Collectables' 2003 budget-line release Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, part of the label's Priceless Collection series, is a brief ten-track sampler that contains one of Major Lance's big hits -- the title track -- and a selection of other material he cut during the '60s. Most of these songs were written (and some produced) by Mayfield and had been hits for the Impressions -- "It's All Right," "Gypsy Woman," "I'm the One Who Loves You," "Gotta Get Away," "That's What Mama Say" -- while the rest are firmly within the sophisticated, easy-rolling Chicago soul groove patented by Mayfield. This makes for an enjoyable listen, but listeners should take note that this is far from a representative Lance retrospective, since it's missing such major hits as "The Monkey Time," "Girls," "Rhythm," and "The Matador," which are all on either Epic/Legacy CD Everybody Loves a Good Time!: The Best of Major Lance or The Very Best of Major Lance, both of which are excellent. However, collectors should take note that this contains a handful of tracks not contained on either of those discs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine