Eddie Kendricks' 1972 album Date With The Rain came as a flash-of-brilliance for the former Temptations lead singer, arguably being *the* record to set him apart as solo Motowner. Following his departure from the group, Kendricks explored a smoother, more soulful sound with increasingly heartsunk vocals; 'Date With The Rain' stands apart for its elegant production and showcases his falsetto, predating Vangelis with the motif of "tears in rain" and the latter weather's convenience in masking oh-so-shameful male tears. Unlike the original Motown blue-label, however, this reissue comes with 'Intimate Friends' on the B, a staple of Kendricks' quiet soul period from the Slick era, where close-miked, hotly foregrounded vocals deal a dancing blow against a smoother backing veneer.