Nathaniel Mayer. Nolan Strong & the Diablos. The Falcons. The list is endless. Household names they may not be, yet absolute pioneers they shall always remain. The Detroit soul scene in the early ‘60s was ablaze with a firebrand of artists who could only be described as tough as nails. Out of this bubbling stew of musical excitement jumped Gino Washington with a soul-stirring fury that this album’s liner notes describe with accurate perfection: “If the Contours were ready to shake ’em on down then Gino and crew were set to stage a full scale riot.” Due in equal parts to Gino’s over-the-edge singing and songwriting and the blasting backing of the Atlantics, the first half of this CD is a jaw-dropping soul/garage explosion.

The integrated Motor City scene that centered around the Village Theater enabled the black Gino and the white Atlantics to forge a teenage partnership that was not only ahead of its’ time musically, but racially as well. The raucous drumming, honkin’ baritone sax and in particular, leader Jeff Williams’ screaming lead guitar make their records every bit as punk as they are soul. Out of this world indeed.

Just as mind blowing are the remaining seven cuts, the standout being the amazingly bizarre “Puppet On A String”. Too many percussive instruments to mention, crazed guitar sounds and a few things I can’t even put my finger on are coupled with a haunting minor-keyed melody and trance-inducing lyrics, making this tune a strong calling card for those of us fond of saying “they really made records back then”. Incidentally, this is the song that first drew me to Gino and there was certainly gold in them thar hills! Leave it to Norton to bring all that gold together on this masterpiece of an album just in time to tear dancefloors to pieces once again, just as Gino and Jeff reunite to do the same thing live in concert.