The Dramatics vs. The Dramatics | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 19th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), The Dramatics compete against themself to determine which of their two top 10 hits is the best. 

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1. The Dramatics, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” 

💿 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get • 🏷 Concord Music Group, Inc. • 🗓 1971 

Did you know, “Some people are made of plastic / And you know, some people are made of wood”? According to Detroit-based R&B collective 🎙 The Dramatics, that is the case! Furthermore, on 🎵 “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”, the fourth track from their 1972 album, also titled, 💿 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get, “Some people have hearts of stone / Some people (Some people) / Are up to no good.” Valid points made on this gem, which peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Even though “some people” are suspect, The Dramatics ensure you – her – are aware “I’m for real!”  

“Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” marked the first of two top-ten hits by The Dramatics. “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” features an epic, soulful groove. Beyond the groove, the production is electrifying with its blend of the rhythm section firing on all cylinders, winds (horns, flutes, oboe), and of course, picturesque strings.  The vocals are marvelous vocals with the collective doing a fabulous job splitting lead vocal duties and providing welcome contrast.  The centerpiece, undoubtedly, is the incredibly catchy chorus which ranks among the crème de la crème of the 1970s:   

“Whatcha see (Whatcha see)  

Is whatcha get (Is whatcha get)  

Whatcha see (Whatcha see)  

Is whatcha get (Is what you get)  

I said, what you see (Whatcha see)  

Is whatcha get now, baby (Is what you get)  

And the real thing (The real thing)  

Is the best thing yet (The best thing yet).”  

The Dramatics gives us sheer authenticity on 🎵 “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”.  This is once in a lifetime music, baby!     

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:  

• The Dramatics, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 73 (2023) 

2. The Dramatics, “In The Rain” 

💿 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get • 🏷 Concord Music Group, Inc. • 🗓 1971

“I wanna go outside in the rain / It may sound crazy, but I / Wanna go outside in the rain.” It does sound crazy to some extent but there is nothing crazy about the biggest hit of 🎙 The Dramatics’ catalog. 🎵 “In The Rain” earned the soul quintet a top-five hit on the pop charts, their second top-10 hit following 🎵 “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”.  Both songs appeared on The Dramatics’ debut LP, 💿 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. “In The Rain,” which was written by 🎼 ✍ Tony Hester, peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.    

Hester’s pen is tremendous. Furthermore, so is his production, which famously features rain, thunder, and lightning effects.  Furthermore, the instrumental sounds are awesome too, with the gorgeous keys, robust bass line, horns, and strings – this is 1970s soul after all! Besides the instrumental ear candy, the late, great 🎙 William “Wee Gee” Howard brings the heat on vocals.  So, why does Howard want to go outside in the rain? “‘Cause I, I think I’m gonna cry / And I, I don’t want you to see me cry.” There you go.  Later, he states the rain will camouflage those tears, of which, “I’m crying, because of you.” Woo! He does speak about better days BUT right now, he’s going through it – the rain of those pesky matters of the heart, that is! The Dramatics’ rain is our listening pleasure – one of the truly great soul classics of the 1970s.   

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:  

• The Dramatics, “In The Rain”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 9 (2023)  

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, will it be 🎙 The Dramatics or 🎙 The Dramatics 😜?  Well, the good news is that The Dramatics come out victorious either way 🤷🏾‍♂️! 🎵 “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” marked the collective’s first charting hit on the pop charts – it gave them that breakthrough moment.  Furthermore, check out the Spotify plays and “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” is also their most streamed song.  That said, 🎵 “In The Rain” charted higher, giving the soul group their sole top-five hit. Furthermore, the production could be considered innovative given the use of sound effects.  It has also been streamed a lot too. So, when it all comes down to it, I am making the smart decision to declare a tie between these two classics. Both mark career defining moments.  

via GIPHY

The Dramatics vs. The Dramatics: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 19 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Concord Music Group, Inc.; Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, andresilva5, talha khalil, Valentin Tikhonov via Pixabay; Nick Wang on Unsplash]