Doris Troy: “Another Look” (2024) CD Review

Doris Troy, known as “Mama Soul,” had a huge hit in the early 1960s with “Just One Look,” which she wrote with Gregory Carroll. In the late 1960s, she was signed to Apple Records and released a self-titled album on that label in 1970, that record featuring songs she wrote with George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Stephen Stills. Pretty cool stuff. As the seventies progressed, Doris Troy’s sound changed, as she incorporated elements of disco into her music. Another Look is a collection of songs recorded in that period, including one that was previously unreleased. The album includes liner notes by David Nathan, who co-wrote one of the songs in this collection and produced sessions with Doris Troy. He also co-produced this compilation.

The disc opens with “Can’t Hold On,” a song that was released as a single in 1977. “There ain’t no need to worry,” Doris Troy sings early in this one. That’s the message we get from disco music in general, isn’t it? And so it’s perhaps the perfect music to enjoy when we need a break from the re-run of this country’s horror show. While there may in fact be need to worry, it turns out that worrying does nothing to solve the problems. So instead let’s dance! It’s an enjoyable song, with a soulful vocal performance. This disc also contains the 12” version of “Can’t Hold On,” which was also released in 1977. This version is significantly longer and includes a short drum solo, which I love. There is also some really good guitar work in the second half, helping to make this the better version, at least to my ears.

“Another Look,” the collection’s title track, is interesting, for it began in the early 1960s as “Just One Look,” and is here given a fresh sound and a new (and fitting) title. This one is a good deal of fun, with a delicious, funky bass line. At the end the backing vocalists repeat, “Just one look/That’s all it took,” reminding us of the earlier version. This was released as the flip side to “Can’t Hold On.” The 12” version of this song is also included. It’s a minute longer, giving us a little more time to get into that groove. “Another Look” is followed by a cover of The Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes.” I am not an Eagles fan, but you can forget all about the Eagles while listening to this rendition, which features a soulful vocal performance, along with some good backing vocal work. This version even gets a little funky toward the end, and is so much better than the original. It was released as a single in 1976. This collection also includes the longer version of “Lyin’ Eyes,” which is approximately five minutes.

“Give God Glory,” which was the flip side to “Lyin’ Eyes,” is a totally fun gospel number, featuring more delicious bass work. This one comes on strong and at a good clip, the kind of music that might have made a believer of me had it been played at the church I went to when I was a child. It’s followed by “You Got Me Baby,” a disco number designed to get you out on the floor, shaking whatever it is you have. Suddenly, a couple minutes in, we get a saxophone lead, adding another delightful layer to this track. And at more than six minutes, the track is long enough for you to get a decent workout on that dance floor. According to the disc’s liner notes, this track wasn’t released until 2018, which is crazy! There is some sexy vocal work toward the end. The disc also contains what is referred to as the short version of “You Got Me Baby,” which was previously unreleased. This version also has the sax part, and though it is called the short version, it is still five and a half minutes long, not much shorter than the other version.

Recorded at the same time as “You Got Me Baby” was a cover of “It’s All In The Game,” a song that had been a hit for Tommy Edwards in 1958. Doris Troy’s rendition is quite a bit different, particularly in the beat and pace. This track wasn’t released until 2020, and then only digitally. The musicians stretch out on this one too, turning in a version that is six and a half minutes. That’s followed by “What’cha Gonna Do About It,” a song that Doris Troy wrote and originally recorded in 1963. Some funky bass starts this 1980 version off right. On this track, Doris backed by the group Mystic Merlin. As the song progresses, it develops a gentle reggae rhythm. This version was not released until 2018. Also included here is the 2018 remix, which was released in 2020, though only digitally. The reggae thing doesn’t really happen in this version. “Smilin’” is another fun one. Doris Troy wrote it with Vy Higginsen, who joins her on vocals, and the two have a playful thing happening that is delightful. That song segues smoothly into “Let Me Make Love To You.” This is one of my favorite tracks. It was originally included on a 2011 compilation.

CD Track List

1. Can’t Hold On
2. Another Look
3. Lyin’ Eyes (Short Version)
4. Give God Glory
5. You Got Me Baby (1979 Disco Version)
6. It’s All In The Game (1979 Disco Version)
7. What’cha Gonna Do About It (1980 Version)
8. Smilin’/Let Me Make Love To You
9. Lyin’ Eyes (Long Version)
10. Can’t Hold On (12” Version)
11. Another Look (12” Version)
12. You Got Me Baby (Short Version)
13. What’cha Gonna Do (2018 Nefer Music Remix)

Another Look was released on March 15, 2024 through Omnivore Recordings.