The Dynamic Superiors -

The Dynamic Superiors were an American soul group from Washington, D.C., that released four albums on Tamla/Motown between 1975 and 1977.

Members: George Spann (first tenor vocals), Tony Washington (lead vocals, 1963-80), Maurice Washington (bass vocals, 1963-80), George Wesley Peterback, Jr. (second tenor vocals, 1963-80), Michael McCalpin (baritone vocals, 1963-80)

Background

The Dynamic Superiors formed in 1963 as The Superiors in Northeast Washington, D.C., with all five members attending Spingarn High School. Bassist Michael McCalpin (b. June 5, 1947), singer/guitarist George Wesley Peterbark Jr. (b. March 14, 1948), multi-instrumentalist George Spann (vocals, percussion) (b. September 22, 1948), singer Maurice Washington (b. January 2, 1947), and singer Tony Washington (b. February 7, 1949) grew up in the same housing project and performed together on street corners and at talent contests. They began playing D.C. nightclubs while underage, sometimes lying about their ages to gain entry. Their first public performance was at a Spingarn High talent show, followed by local club gigs and occasional tours to nearby states.

By 1968 they pooled earnings to finance a shared house, agreeing to remain unmarried to focus on music. In 1969, The Superiors released their first single, “I’d Rather Die” b/w “Heavenly Angel,” produced by Chuck Rainey for Sue Records and written by Maurice Washington. Performing in Atlanta in the early 1970s, they were discovered by Motown executive Ewart Abner. Frontman Tony Washington sometimes performed in drag and sang a gender-reversed cover of Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Motown signed the group and paired them with producers Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, who wrote most of their early material.

The Dynamic Superiors

The Dynamic Superiors released their first album, The Dynamic Superiors, on January 16, 1975, on Motown. The album features singers Tony Washington, George Peterbark Jr., George Spann, Maurice Washington, and multi-instrumentalist Peterbark Jr. and Spann (vocals, percussion), supported by session musicians under Ashford and Simpson’s production. It contains ten tracks including “Shoe Shine Shine,” “Leave It Alone,” “Don’t Send Nobody Else,” “Star of My Life,” and “I Got Away,” blending high falsetto leads, tenor harmonies, and up-tempo dance numbers with ballads.

“Shoe Shine Shine” opens with Washington’s falsetto layered over backing harmonies and rhythmic accents. “Leave It Alone” infuses gospel elements into Peterbark Jr.’s lead, while “Don’t Send Nobody Else” pairs Washington and Spann in an energetic, rhythm-driven performance. “I Got Away,” written by Raymond Simpson, contrasts Ashford and Simpson compositions with a bright, fast-paced melody.

A1. “Shoe Shine Shine” (3:45)
A2. “Soon” (3:44)
A3. “Leave It Alone” (4:21)
A4. “Don’t Send Nobody Else” (3:39)
A5. “Romeo” (3:45)

B1. “Star of My Life” (3:44)
B2. “Cry When You Want To” (4:17)
B3. “I Got Away” (2:18)
B4. “One-Nighter” (4:00)
B5. “Release Me” (3:29)

Sessions occurred at A&R Recording in New York City with Ashford and Simpson producing and recording engineers tracking and mixing. Motown issued “Shoe Shine Shine” b/w “Release Me” as the lead single, reaching No. 16 R&B and No. 6 pop. The follow-up single “Leave It Alone” b/w “One-Nighter” reached No. 13 R&B.

Pure Pleasure

The Dynamic Superiors released their second album, Pure Pleasure, on July 14, 1975, on Motown. Ashford and Simpson wrote nine of ten tracks, with the same vocal lineup. The album contains “Deception,” “Pleasure,” “Nobody’s Gonna Change Me,” “Feeling Mellow,” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” combining dance-driven numbers and ballads.

“Deception” features shared leads between Toni Washington and Peterbark Jr. layered over percussive accents. “Pleasure” relies on lilting phrasing and refrains, while “Nobody’s Gonna Change Me” integrates bass movement and pointed delivery. “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” reinterprets the Tammi Terrell/Marvin Gaye hit.

A1. “Deception” (4:49)
A2. “Pleasure” (3:19)
A3. “Nobody’s Gonna Change Me” (5:30)
A4. “Feeling Mellow” (4:13)

B1. “Face the Music” (3:09)
B2. “Hit and Run Lovers” (4:06)
B3. “A Better Way” (3:38)
B4. “Don’t Give Up on Me Baby” (3:03)
B5. “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” (4:13)

Sessions occurred at Motown Studios with Ashford and Simpson producing, Horace Ott, Al Gorgonia, and William Eaton arranging, and engineers handling tracking. Motown issued “Nobody’s Gonna Change Me” b/w “I Got Away” and “Deception” b/w “One-Nighter.”

You Name It

The Dynamic Superiors released their third album, You Name It, on August 26, 1976, on Motown. Production was split among Hal Davis, Don Daniels, Michael Sutton, and Pam Sawyer with Marilyn McLeod. The album contains “Stay Away,” “Looking Away,” “Many Many Changes,” “Before the Street Lights Come On,” and “I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love),” spanning dance-oriented soul and extended ballads.

“Stay Away” opens with Washington’s falsetto over harmonized layers, while “Looking Away” and “Many Many Changes” add light disco touches. “I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love)” stretches vocal arrangements over extended instrumentation and harmonic interplay among the tenors.

A1. “Stay Away” (5:39)
A2. “Looking Away” (5:01)
A3. “Many Many Changes” (3:09)
A4. “Before the Street Lights Come On” (4:52)

B1. “I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love)” (7:11)
B2. “Supersensuousensation (Try Some Love)” (4:45)
B3. “If I Could Meet You” (4:35)
B4. “I Can’t Afford to Be Poor” (4:24)

Sessions occurred at Motown Studios, Hollywood, California, with the various producers guiding tracking and mixing. Motown issued “I Can’t Stay Away (From Someone I Love)” as a single (M 1413F).

Give and Take

The Dynamic Superiors released their fourth album, Give and Take, on May 17, 1977, on Motown. Brian Holland produced with Eddie Holland as executive producer. The album contains “Happy Song,” “Give It All Up,” “Nowhere to Run,” “You’re What I Need,” and “Once I Just Not Enough,” combining disco-influenced material and conventional soul.

“Happy Song” features Washington’s high lead over slow disco instrumentation, while “Give It All Up” mixes soul phrasing and ensemble harmonies. “Nowhere to Run” extends Martha and the Vandellas’ classic into a dance arrangement. “You’re What I Need” balances Motown orchestration with vocal interplay, and “Once I Just Not Enough” employs slap bass and deep-soul backing vocals.

A1. “Happy Song” (6:07)
A2. “Give It All Up” (2:51)
A3. “Nowhere to Run” (9:07)

B1. “You’re What I Need” (4:47)
B2. “All in Love Is Fair” (4:31)
B3. “All You Can Do with Love” (3:33)
B4. “Here Comes That Feeling Again” (4:22)
B5. “Once I Just Not Enough” (5:03)

Sessions occurred at Motown Studios with Brian Holland producing, Eddie Holland supervising, and engineers handling recording. Motown released “Nowhere to Run” (Pt. 1 b/w Pt. 2) and “You’re What I Need” b/w “Here Comes That Feeling Again.”

The Sky’s the Limit

The Dynamic Superiors released their fifth album, The Sky’s the Limit, in 1980 on Venture. Tony Camillo replaced Tony Washington on lead vocals. Sessions were limited and remained hard to find until reissued by P-Vine Records in 2003.

Discography: