As the 70s came to a close, a quintet from Detroit arose with a dramatic orchestral sound, fantastic harmonies and one of the all-time great falsetto lead singers. That group was Enchantment, and with producer Michael Stokes, they created a trio of memorable albums on the Roadshow label that have only grown in stature over the years.
During their Imperial Period, Enchantment shot to the top of the R&B charts with sweeping ballads like “Gloria,” “Sunshine,” and “It’s You that I Need.” But many of their greatest cuts didn’t get the shine they deserved until years later. And when soul man Anthony David and songstress Algebra topped the charts in 2011 with “4Evermore,” they paid tribute to one of the all-time great Enchantment album cuts.
“Forever More” is a languid five minute ballad that opens with Johnny Trudell’s orchestra creating an ethereal backdrop for lead singer E. J. Johnson’s expressive vocals. Listeners get pulled in quickly and the performance keeps them rapt until the final note.
“Forever More” is our latest SoulTracks Looks Back feature. Check out this brilliant performance below and then dig back into your collection for some more Enchantment.
By Chris Rizik