Editor’s note: “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” by The Dramatics is not a one-hit wonder. Sometimes I’m compelled to write about great songs and this is one of them.

I’m sitting in a meeting at the office and one of our web guys says “It’s WYSIWYG…you know, What You See Is What You Get.” 

That’s all it takes for “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” by The Dramatics to start playing in my head. And that’s a good thing, because it’s one of the all-time greatest soul songs. Ever.

The Dramatics recorded for the Stax/Volt record label out of Memphis, Tennessee. Stax is like Motown with an edge. A much harder edge. Motown had Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Stax had Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes. The difference is as clear as the innocence of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by Marvin Gaye compared to the street savvy pimp of Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes (yes, the same Isaac Hayes that played “Chef” on South Park for years). Detroit pop vs. southern soul. Like Motown, Stax records featured many of the same backing musicians on every song. Booker T. and the MGs became the studio band, yet also had their own hits like “Green Onions,” Soul Limbo” and “Time is Tight.”

But this post is about The Dramatics. In the tradition of five-guy harmony bands like The Temptations and The Spinners, The Dramatics brought sweet harmony vocals and a great, silky cool arrangement to “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.” Group vocals, fuzzy electric guitar and horns all came magically together as a top -10 Billboard hit in 1971. The band realized their only #1 pop hit with “In the Rain” a year later. But for my money, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” is their best song.

Southern soul music never gets old. If you’re looking for a fantastic introduction to Stax Records, look no further than Stax 50: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Listen to “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” by The Dramatics

Listen to “Green Onions” by Booker T. and the MGs

Listen to “Time Is Tight” by Booker T. and the MGs

Buy Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The Dramatics