The Cuff Links group was always a writer/producer-led concept. Hitting big with Tracy, they never strayed out of that particular mid-tempo safety zone. It wasn’t bad, but it did quickly become very predictable, and even the insertion of a couple of strong songs from outside writers (Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and Jackie De Shannon’s Put A Little Love In Your Heart) don’t really give variety.
The voice of the “group” was the ubiquitous Ron Dante (also the lead of The Archies). Though one of the best session singers around New York, perhaps producers Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss could have added another voice for some light and shade, and enlisted a vocal arranger for some more adventurous background harmonies. This reissue collects the Tracy album and adds six later single A- and B-sides, the best of which is Robin’s World. File under competent.
