The Dramatics, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get"

Where would the world be without soul? Classic soul, y'all--'60s soul, like the Temptations, Otis Redding, freakin' Martha & The Vandellas...but, even more importantly, '70s soul. Barry Muthafuckin' White. Billy Paul. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. And The Dramatics.

Soul music in the '70s was heavily influenced by funk (which, in turn, owes a whole hell of a lot to soul), and with the combination of heartfelt lyrics, attitude, and jamtastic beats, you've got instant gold. It's a rare thing for music to touch all the levels of human existence at the same time, but the smokin' hot soul of the Polyester Decade managed to strike both the physical, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of life with its timeless sound. There isn't an activity that I can think of which can't be done to '70s soul: makin' the sweet love (naturally), walking down the street wearing a big fuzzy pimp hat on your way to the liquor store, chopping walnuts, kissing babies on the campaign trail, chasing a rabid fox through the woods--it all goes better with some Earth Wind and Fire or some Chi-Lites or some Marvin Gaye. '70s soul is, like, the soundtrack to the Human Experience.

The Dramatics' "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" is a stone cold jam, folks. It's equal parts funk and soul: funk in the gritty guitar licks and the beat, soul in the elevating horn section and creamy vocal harmonies. I particularly love the way in which all the Dramatics get to deliver a line in the first verse: it lets each member of the quintet take a moment in the spotlight before the song really kicks in. Though not The Dramatics' first recorded song, 1971's "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was their first hit--and it was a monster hit! Well, why not? I mean, listen to that perfect orchestration, those energized vocals delivering those universal lyrics? Listen to those effin' horns, people! Listen to those harmonies!

You know what this song makes me want to do? Bust out a wing-collar shirts and an orangish/reddish pleather jacket and some bellbottom polyester slacks (black and white checkers will do just fine). Get dressed to the nines and go cruisin' in a 1973 Cadillac Eldorado painted to match my jacket. Because the song's just pimp like dat...but just as smooth as it is funky. With a breakthrough hit like "Whatcha See," it's no surprise that The Dramatics went on to become one of the most popular soul quintets of the decade.