The Sisters Love

The Sisters Love are best known to Blaxploitation connoisseurs for their fleeting appearance in the 1972 classic "The Mack.” But as Give Me Your Love attests, this ’70s era female soul quartet that never released an album were more than just ear candy at the Players Ball. Produced by a who’s who of soul royalty including the late Willie Hutch, Gloria "Tainted Love” Jones, and Leon Ware among others, the 16 singles included on this set are quite simply, pure dynamite. Kicking off with the Curtis Mayfield-penned title track (aka the "tub love” joint from Super Fly) that marries a booty-quaking bass line and percussion to the fierce sexuality of the sisters’ soulful harmonies, this collection is a guide to the styles and sub-genres that defined soul in the ’70s in a female context. Whether they were telepathic or simply just ahead of their time, the Sisters Love anticipated a lot of music to come. There’s the tough gutbucket funk of "You’ve Got to Make Your Choice” and "Now Is the Time,” which recall the assertiveness of Lynn Collins and Patti LaBelle respectively. "My Love Is Yours" is sweet, funky, soul redolent of Honey Cone. The proto-disco of "I’m Learning to Trust My Man” could have been a lost out-take from any one of First Choice’s late ’70s albums for Salsoul Records. The only criticism one could have in a case like this is to ask why weren’t the Sisters Love given the chance to make an album? Give Me Your Love is an essential addition to any soul or funk fan’s collection.