The Masqueraders - Unmasked

In March I posted a compilation CD, Confessing, Deep Soul From New Orleans, published by Grapevine, a small UK label. The website had lots of interesting CDs and I chose this CD because of the heartbreaking tearjerker by The Masqueraders I found on Confessing.
This compilation is "The best of The Masqueraders 1965 -1972". Starting out from the highschool, late 50's, the group pretty soon found their definitive line-up and worked hard to achieve success. They failed, despite all the rehearsing and effort but not for lack of quality. Phase 1 was a vocal quintet doing popular cover material and honing their skills, practicing and not recording. Phase 2 was a lead singer with four backers and increasingly performing their own material, practicing and recording. Phase 3 saw the lead leaving and the band on their own label. This CD features mostly material from phase 2, mostly 1967 to 1969.
That says a lot about the music: late 60's soul, strong vocals and strong harmonies. Nothing earth shattering but that's because there were so many good artists around that time. As listeners now, we're spoiled but I don't hesitate to put this up because it's good and there's never enough good stuff. The '60's stuff is what you'll expect it to be but you've no problem recognizing the few early 70's tracks either. ;-)
If I hadn't said anything about the company behind this release, you could've easily mistaken it for an Ace/Kent issue. Booklet good, most pictures of 7'' labels but 3 band pics too. Booklet contains the band's history with numerous quotes, CD has 3 previously unreleased tracks. The name 'Masqueraders' originally stems from their excellence at imitating other bands, they would perform on stage masked and wearing stetsons as a reference to their Texas roots. Great attention grabber, 5 guys walking into a club, masked and wearing huge hats. I guess the audience was just relieved they only came to sing...
To continue with the history: The Masqueraders continued to record through the 70's into the 80's, with original lead Lee Hatim (formerly known as Lee Jones). Hatim/Jones left again, a member died and three/four remaining guys are still part-time masked, performing weekly in Memphis, apparently.
Grapevine, 2004

The Masqueraders - Unmasked