1974!

[marv2]

Arguably, one of the best years in music [[I guess during the Rock/Soul/Pop era.....). There so, so many great songs and recordings that came out at that time. Not all were masterpieces, but most were very popular across the board! Tell me your favorite songs from 1974. Here's just one of mine, Lamont Dozier and "Fish Ain't Bitin":


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKVu_kNH0EE

[thomas96]

I think a more interesting conversation would be the best year in music! I may go with 1966, but it is a very hard task to pick a best year.

[marv2]

I think a more interesting conversation would be the best year in music! I may go with 1966, but it is a very hard task to pick a best year.

Well, I felt 1974 was a pretty special year in music and the fact that it is the 40th anniversary are why I chose to focus solely on it for this thread. Another favorite from 1974:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7PE99A1S1I

[marv2]

1974 was when most people first heard Chaka Khan/Rufus when "Tell Me Something Good" was a huge hit:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9uZOCEl7v0

[manny]

I think "For The Love Of Money" is a masterpiece from 1974 year [['I'm not totally sure if previously than the "Ship Ahoy" 1974 PIR album, the single was issued in 1973, ??).

Some others [[I'm sorry if i'm wrong and are not from 1974, I think they are): "A Mother For My Children" and "One For The Money" by The Whispers; "Future Shock" by Curtis Mayfield; "This Can Be Real" by Natural Four; "The Love I Lost" by The Blue Notes; "Love Is The Message" by MFSB; "I'll Always love my mama", by The Intruders; "Thanks For Saving My Life" and "The Whole Town's Talking" by Billy Paul; "I Want You", by Marvin Gaye; "Wonderful" by Isaac hayes; "A Beautiful day" by Ecstasy, passion & pain; "Chaper To keep her" by Johnnie Taylor; "Funky Stuff" by Kool & The Gang; "Sexy mama" by The Moments; "Party Down" by Little Beaver;...

If I recall a particular 70's year on wich there was a lo t of great albums, was 1976 [["Wake Up Everybody" by The Blue Notes; "Drama V" by The Dramatics; "Chain Reaction" by The Crusaders; "Kickin'" by Mighty Clouds Of Joy; "Love's On The Menu", by Jerry Butler; "All Things In Time", by Lou Rawls; "Love Crazy" by The Miracles; "Bondage", by Angelo Bond; "Rufusized", by Rufus feat. Chaka Khan;...)

[splanky]

I don't think theres such a thing as a best year in music for me but I have to admit 1974 was fully loaded with great sounds that shaped my musical tastes for years to come. I'd finished
high school and left my parents home and moved to South Carolina. It was a hot summer
and one day I heard Funkadelic's Standing On The Verge Of Gettin' It On on the radio and it
rocked my world!....

[no_place_like_motown]

In my top 10 of favs from 1974:

Modulations - I Can't Fight Your Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX4mG55obVg

[marv2]

I think "For The Love Of Money" is a masterpiece from 1974 year [['I'm not totally sure if previously than the "Ship Ahoy" 1974 PIR album, the single was issued in 1973, ??).

Some others [[I'm sorry if i'm wrong and are not from 1974, I think they are): "A Mother For My Children" and "One For The Money" by The Whispers; "Future Shock" by Curtis Mayfield; "This Can Be Real" by Natural Four; "The Love I Lost" by The Blue Notes; "Love Is The Message" by MFSB; "I'll Always love my mama", by The Intruders; "Thanks For Saving My Life" and "The Whole Town's Talking" by Billy Paul; "I Want You", by Marvin Gaye; "Wonderful" by Isaac hayes; "A Beautiful day" by Ecstasy, passion & pain; "Chaper To keep her" by Johnnie Taylor; "Funky Stuff" by Kool & The Gang; "Sexy mama" by The Moments; "Party Down" by Little Beaver;...

If I recall a particular 70's year on wich there was a lo t of great albums, was 1976 [["Wake Up Everybody" by The Blue Notes; "Drama V" by The Dramatics; "Chain Reaction" by The Crusaders; "Kickin'" by Mighty Clouds Of Joy; "Love's On The Menu", by Jerry Butler; "All Things In Time", by Lou Rawls; "Love Crazy" by The Miracles; "Bondage", by Angelo Bond; "Rufusized", by Rufus feat. Chaka Khan;...)

Manny you've got it! You are right on the money with the songs you cited! I agree about 1976 being a year of some of the greatest, most enduring albums [[along with 1978 when I bought close 100 albums that year alone!) .

[marv2]

I don't think theres such a thing as a best year in music for me but I have to admit 1974 was fully loaded with great sounds that shaped my musical tastes for years to come. I'd finished
high school and left my parents home and moved to South Carolina. It was a hot summer
and one day I heard Funkadelic's Standing On The Verge Of Gettin' It On on the radio and it
rocked my world!....

Splanky, I could have used the descriptor...." One of the most memorable" in terms of music. Check this out:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8HkEprSaAs

[marv2]

How many times did I sing along with or hum this ditty from the Summer of 1974?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBwsG8ubFw

[marv2]

Boogie Down-Eddie Kendricks


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD-f8BxgqPI

[marv2]

Here's a Billboard Chart for a typical week in 1974. How many of these do you remember?

BILLBOARD [[USA) MAGAZINE'S SINGLES CHART FOR WEEK OF:March 9,1974

TW LW Wks. Song-Artist

1 1 9 SEASONS IN THE SUN-TERRY JACKS

2 4 10 Boogie Down-Eddie Kendricks

3 2 16 The Way We Were-Barbra Streisand

4 5 14 Jungle Boogie-Kool & The Gang

5 6 18 Rock On-David Essex

6 9 11 Dark Lady-Cher

7 3 18 Spiders & Snakes-Jim Stafford

8 13 6 Mockingbird-Carly Simon & James Taylor

9 7 16 Until You Come Back To Me-Aretha Franklin

10 17 7 Sunshine On My Shoulders-John Denver

11 8 15 Love's Theme-Love Unlimited Orchestra

12 14 13 Love Song-Anne Murray

13 18 9 Eres Tu [[Touch The Wind)-Mocedades

14 20 5 Jet-Paul McCartney & Wings

15 10 12 Put Your Hands Together-O'Jays

16 12 14 I Love-Tom T.Hall

17 24 9 Come And Get Your Love-Redbone

18 19 9 Sexy Mama-Moments

19 23 12 Trying To Hold On To My Woman-Lamont Dozier

20 11 13 You're Sixteen-Ringo Starr

[soulster]

I think a more interesting conversation would be the best year in music! I may go with 1966, but it is a very hard task to pick a best year. Well, there is no one best year. There are many good years for music, and both 1966 and 1974 and among the greatest, IMO. 1974 also had the most #1 singles of the 70s decade.

[marv2]

Another classic from 1974: "Let's Straighten It Out" - Latimore


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKXVOywj7T0

[marv2]

and the fun times partying to Kool & The Gang - "Hollywood Swinging"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK-cvcw3ngM

[marv2]

Well, there is no one best year. There are many good years for music, and both 1966 and 1974 and among the greatest, IMO. 1974 also had the most #1 singles of the 70s decade.

Soulster there were so many good records that came out that year it was ridiculous LOL!!!

[soulster]

Soulster there were so many good records that came out that year it was ridiculous LOL!!! Damn right!

[marv2]

The Spinners had this masterpiece! Spinners - "Love Don't Love Nobody "



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkDrnauXhRA

[marv2]

KC and the Sunshine band was just starting to blow up big around this time!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83I9El6C47A

Soulballad, I've always loved this record, but didn't it come out in 1975?

[marv2]

This one always reminds of me of the trip to Cedar Point [[major amusement park in Sandusky , Ohio.....)
Redbone - "Come and Get Your Love"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7eloXr2iak

[soulballad]

You're right it was 75ish right around the time of the Hustle!

[soulballad]

Now Redbone was it! Native American Soul brothers!

[soulballad]

The Spinners "Love Don't Love Nobody was blown up on the Chicago soul stations for years! It was one of their best!

[marv2]

You're right it was 75ish right around the time of the Hustle!

The Hustle! I remember well! LOL!

[marv2]

The Spinners "Love Don't Love Nobody was blown up on the Chicago soul stations for years! It was one of their best!

After it came out in mid 74, they played it regularly through the end of the year in Detroit.

[JimBagley]

Some of my favorites from 1974:
Lady Marmelade - LaBelle
Tell Me Something Good - Rufus
Sideshow - Blue Magic
TSOP - MFSB
Then Came You - Spinners with Dionne Warwick
Dancing Machine - Jackson 5
Help Me - Joni Mitchell
Jazz Man - Carole King
One Chain Don't Make No Prison - Four Tops
Heavenly - The Temptations
I Feel A Song - Gladys Knight & the Pips
Band On The Run - Wings
For The Love Of Money - The O'Jays
Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks
Learning To Love You Was Easy/Bring Back The Love Of Yesterday - The Dells

[marv2]

Great list Jim! I will add another of my favorites from 1974, "Midnight At the Oasis" - Maria Muldaur.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrKETxwRvM&feature=kp

[soulster]

The Hustle! I remember well! LOL! In the summer of 1975, "The Hustle" was one of the coolest tunes on the radio! It has a cool, strong groove going on under the orchestra.

I miss that whole era of instrumentals: swirling strings and horns over a bed of groove. TSOP, Love's Theme...all great!

[soulster]

One Chain Don't Make No Prison - Four Tops
Your list has all my favorites in it, but this one, in my opinion, was the last great Four Tops song in the fine soul tradition. Levi Stubbs was dripping sweat on this one!

[marv2]

Then there was the coolest song about prostitution! Four Tops.- "Midnight Flower"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EmxJi-0Oow&feature=kp

[soulster]

Now, if you don't mind, I will offer up the track listing of my homemade 1974 comp. Certainly it has more than soul music on it. Just for the sake this forum and for further discussion and debate, I highlighted the songs I feel are R&B.


VOL 1
=====


01 - Jet - Paul McCartney & Wings
02 - You're Sixteen [[You're Beautiful And You're Mine) - Ringo Starr
03 - Spiders & Snakes - Jim Stafford
04 - Painted Ladies - Ian Thomas
05 - A Love Song - Anne Murray
06 - Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce
07 - W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin
08 - Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
09 - Sunshine On My Shoulders [single version] - John Denver
10 - Dark Lady - Cher
11 - Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo [single version]- Rick Derringer
12 - Jim Dandy - Black Oak Arkansas
13 - Rock On - Devid Essex
14 - The Way We Were [single version] - Barbra Streisand
15 - Put Your Hands Together - O'Jays
16 - Boogie Down [single version] - Eddie Kendricks
17 - Make Yours A Happy Home - Gladys Knight & The Pips
18 - Touch A Hand [[Make A Friend) - Staple Singers
19 - Heavenly - The Temptations
20 - Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo [[Heartbreaker) - The Rolling Stones


VOL 2
=====


01 - Mockingbird - Carly Simon and James Taylor
02 - Thanks For Saving My Life - Billy Paul
03 - Come and Get Your Love [single version] - Redbone
04 - Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Swede
05 - The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
06 - Oh My My - Ringo Starr
07 - Eres Tu [[Touch the Wind) - Mecolades
08 - Star - Steeler's Wheel
09 - The Entertainer - Marvin Hamilisch
10 - Oh Very Young - Cat Stevens
11 - Mighty Love-Pt. 1 - Spinners
12 - Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
13 - Lookin' for a Love - Bobby Womack
14 - One Chain Don't Make No Prison [album version] - The Four Tops
15 - If You Love Me Let Me Know - Olivia Newton-John
16 - If You Wanna Get To Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
17 - I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song - Jim Croce
18 - Mighty Mighty - Earth, Wind & Fire
19 - Love's Theme [single version] - Love Unlimited Orchestra
20 - TSOP [[The Sound of Philadelphia) - [single version] - MFSB
21 - My Girl Bill - Jim Stafford
22 - The Lord's Prayer - Sister Janet Mead
23 - La Grange - ZZ Top


VOL 3
=====


01 - Already Gone - Eagles
---There was originally "The Streak" by Ray Stevens here---
03 - Midnight At The Oasis - Maria Muldaour
04 - Rikki Don't Lose That Number [single version] - Steely Dan
05 - The Show Must Go On [single version] - Three Dog Night
06 - I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely - The Main Ingredient
07 - [[I've Been) Searching So Long [45 version] - Chicago
08 - Bennie And The Jets - Elton John
09 - King Of Nothing - Seals & Crofts
10 - Dancing Machine - Jackson 5
11 - Waterloo - ABBA
12 - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing [45 version] - Stevie Wonder
13 - Billy, Don't Be A Hero [45 version] - Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
14 - Help Me - Joni Mitchell
15 - Band On The Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
16 - You Won't See Me [single version] - Anne Murray
17 - Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
18 - For The Love Of Money [45 version] - O'Jays
19 - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John
20 - Jazzman - Carole King


VOL 4
=====


01 - You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
02 - Hollywood Swinging - Kool & The Gang
03 - The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
04 - One Hell Of A Woman - Mac Davis
05 - Let It Ride [single version] - Backman-Turner Overdrive
06 - Sure As I'm Sittin' Here [single version] - Three Dog Night
07 - Train Of Thought - Cher
08 - Haven't Got Time For The Pain - Carly Simon
09 - Free Man In Paris - Joni Mitchell
10 - Play Something Sweet [[Brickyard Blues) [single version] - Three Dog Night
11 - The Payback [[Part 1) - James Brown
12 - Ballero [live] - War
13 - I Won't Last A Day Without You - Carpenters
14 - Workin' At The Car Wash Blues - Jim Croce
15 - Air That I Breathe - Hollies
16 - Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
17 - Please Come To Boston - Dave Loggins
18 - Annie's Song - John Denver
19 - Finally Got Myself Together [[I'm a Changed Man) - The Impressions
20 - On And On - Gladys Knight & The Pips
21 - Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot


VOL 5
=====


01 - Pinball Wizard - Elton John
02 - Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe [single version]- Barry White
03 - The Bitch Is Back - Elton John
04 - Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
05 - Rock Your Baby [single version] - George McCrae
06 - Skin Tight [single version] - Ohio Players
07 - Sideshow - Blue Magic
08 - Who Do You Think You Are - Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
09 - Radar Love [radio version] - Golden Earring
10 - You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder
11 - Rock The Boat [single version] - The Hues Corporation
12 - You Little Trustmaker - The Tymes
13 - Be Thankful For What You've Got [single version] - William DeVaughn
14 - Machine Gun - Commodores
15 - Then Came You - Dionne Warwich with Spinners
16 - Tell Me Something Good [single version] - Rufus
17 - Feel Like Makin Love - Roberta Flack
18 - Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston
19 - Earache My Eye featuring Alice Bowie - Cheech & Chong
20 - I Shot The Sherrif [single version] - Eric Clapton


VOL 6
=====


01 - Do It Baby - The Miracles
02 - Sweet Home Alabama [single version - Lynyard Skynyard
03 - Call On Me - Chicago
04 - Can't Get Enough [single Version] - Barry White
05 - Evil Boll-Weevil - Grand Canyon
06 - Beach Baby - First Class
07 - Hang On In There Baby - Johnny Bristol
08 - Do It [['Till You're Satisfied) [single version] - B.T. Express
09 - Whatever Gets You Thru The Night - John Lennon Ono Band
10 - You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
11 - I Can Help - Billy Swan
12 - I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
13 - I Got The Music In Me - Kiki Dee Band
14 - Life Is A Rock [[But The Radio Rolled Me) - Reunion
15 - The Wall Street Shuffle [single version] - 10cc
16 - Wishing You Were Here - Chicago
17 - Tin Man - America
18 - Laughter In The Rain - Neil Sedaka


VOL 7
=====


01 - Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
02 - When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees
03 - My Melody Of Love = Bobby Vinton
04 - Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton
05 - Sha La La La [[Make Me Happy) - Al Green
06 - Clap For The Wolfman - The Guess Who
07 - Bungle In The Jungle - Jethro Tull
08 - You're My First, My Last, My Everything - [single version] - Barry White
09 - Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
10 - Junior's Farm - Paul McCartney & Wings
11 - Sally G - Paul McCartney & Wings
13 - You Got The Love [single version] - Rufus
14 - Longfellow Seranade - Neil Diamond
15 - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Elton John
16 - Boogie On Reggae Woman [single version] - Stevie Wonder
17 - Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin

[marv2]

Rock On - David Essex........ I loved it!

[marv2]

Now how in the World can we have a retrospective discussion about the music of 1974 without mentioning this JAM~!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-z2Kyiu0Nk

[marv2]

It was also the year of the big.................."PAYBACK!"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=istJXUJJP0g

[stephanie]

One thing that the listings above prove. Most of these people were very very talented and Disco did not ruin the charts the way rap has. There is such a difference in taste here for everyone. Hey remember we all knew who was singing what as well. Midnight at the Oasis and the Ohio Players on the charts there was enough for Mommy and Daddy and the kids!

[timmyfunk]

I don't think theres such a thing as a best year in music for me but I have to admit 1974 was fully loaded with great sounds that shaped my musical tastes for years to come. I'd finished
high school and left my parents home and moved to South Carolina. It was a hot summer
and one day I heard Funkadelic's Standing On The Verge Of Gettin' It On on the radio and it
rocked my world!....

And of course, the P-Funk organization didn't stop there, having also released Up For The Down Stroke from the reactivated Parliament.

[marv2]

One thing that the listings above prove. Most of these people were very very talented and Disco did not ruin the charts the way rap has. There is such a difference in taste here for everyone. Hey remember we all knew who was singing what as well. Midnight at the Oasis and the Ohio Players on the charts there was enough for Mommy and Daddy and the kids!

You have that right Stephanie. I could hear "The Streak" one minute and the next hear the Stylistics singing " You Make Me Feel Brand New "! LOL!!!

[marv2]

And of course, the P-Funk organization didn't stop there, having also released Up For The Down Stroke from the reactivated Parliament.

That was one of our Jr. High School JAMS Timmy!

[soulster]

Now how in the World can we have a retrospective discussion about the music of 1974 without mentioning this JAM~!!!

It's in my list.

[soulster]

It was also the year of the big.................."PAYBACK!"
To this day, the only place to find the 45 version on CD with the DJ voice-over is on an out-of-print Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1974. Shame.

[soulster]

One thing that the listings above prove. Most of these people were very very talented and Disco did not ruin the charts the way rap has.

Rap didn't ruin anything! If you want to blame anything, blame the artists and producers who insisted on putting a rap into the middle of every R&B song.


There is such a difference in taste here for everyone.

And, that's the way I listen to music. I don't limit myself to just one type. I can't put my musical tastes in a box like some people here can. Back in 1974, when you turned on the radio, there was something there for almost everybody. You may even have had the tolerance to sit through the ones you didn't like, but something you did always came up.


Hey remember we all knew who was singing what as well.

I doubt it. If people can't remember today, what makes you think they could back then?


Midnight at the Oasis and the Ohio Players on the charts there was enough for Mommy and Daddy and the kids!

But, your older brother had to endure "Billy, Don't be A Hero"! :)

[marv2]

It's in my list.

Sorry. Your list is so long and so inclusive, you might end the discussion right there! LOL! Let's have a little more fun remembering, cool?

[marv2]

Rap didn't ruin anything! If you want to blame anything, blame the artists and producers who insisted on putting a rap into the middle of every R&B song.



And, that's the way I listen to music. I don't limit myself to just one type. I can't put my musical tastes in a box like some people here can. Back in 1974, when you turned on the radio, there was something there for almost everybody. You may even have had the tolerance to sit through the ones you didn't like, but something you did always came up.



I doubt it. If people can't remember today, what makes you think they could back then?



But, your older brother had to endure "Billy, Don't be A Hero"! :)

or, "The Night Chicago Died"! LOL!!!

[soulster]

Sorry. Your list is so long and so inclusive, you might end the discussion right there! LOL! Let's have a little more fun remembering, cool? Sorry man! I just listen to old music every day, all the time. I live with the stuff.

I put these comps together for my personal enjoyment, but I don't think they are always so diverse or all-inclusive. But, that list represents all of what I heard and liked in that year.

[soulster]

or, "The Night Chicago Died"! LOL!!!

Naw! That one had respect among the older guys, for some reason. My ex-wife who was several years younger than me even liked it over "Billy...".

[marv2]

Soulster, you remember this one from '74? It wasn't a
HUGE hit nationally, but got airplay in my area and was a number one in the U.K. Sweet Sensation and "Sad Sweet Dreamer":


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Rrrz0ZfRc

[marv2]

Another unforgettable classic from '74, Earth, Wind & Fire - "Mighty Mighty"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKljHXYTRy0

[thomas96]

One of my favorites from Lamont Dozier came out in '74... "Why Can't We Be Lovers" Such a beauty.

[soulster]

Soulster, you remember this one from '74? It wasn't a
HUGE hit nationally, but got airplay in my area and was a number one in the U.K. Sweet Sensation and "Sad Sweet Dreamer":


Oh, sure! That was a national U.S. hit single. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 11, 1975, and got to #14. So, it kinda doesn't belong on this thread if you're talking about the U.S.. It got played heavily out here.

[marv2]

Oh, sure! That was a national U.S. hit single. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 11, 1975, and got to #14. So, it kinda doesn't belong on this thread if you're talking about the U.S.. It got played heavily out here.

Well see it got played several times in late '74 on CKLW [[which covered Southwestern Ontario Canada, as well as Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland etc....) which is why I included it in 1974. Yeah CKLW was a Canadian station, so technically it was not played in the U.S. until 1975.

[marv2]

"On And On" - Gladys Knight & The Pips......



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0vJDpscaE

[marv2]

Jungle Boogie-Kool & The Gang


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgGJdgseU5o

[nysister]

The Spinners had this masterpiece! Spinners - "Love Don't Love Nobody "



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkDrnauXhRA

Marve2, YASSSSSSS!!!

[marv2]

Marve2, YASSSSSSS!!!

They were not playing were they Nysister? LOL!!!

[TomatoTom123]

Stumbled upon this brilliant thread and had to add my one of my all-time favourites...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yuv2y96bCw

[waynesville]

yeah..1974..so much to remember and be thankful for. among my highlights from that year are

> William DeVaughan - Just be thankful for what you got [[and indeed anything from that album - the only one he did)
> Al Green - sha la la [[make me happy)
> Aretha Franklin - until you come back to me
> Three Degrees - Year of decision
> Three Degrees - When will I see you again
> Staples singers - Back Road into town
> Staples singers - Who Made the man?
> Staples singers > Today was Tomorrow yesterday
> Betty Wright - Shoorah, shoorah!
> Barbara Mason - World in a crisis
> Stylistics - You make me feel brand new [[although the album where this appeared came out the year before)

BUT..on balance, track of the year of me was this one - the hit that kept Stax Records out of bankruptcy for a little while longer.....from West Memphis, Arkansas, Shirley Brown....with this absolute masterpiece of soul


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZssL3nr6JZg

[destruction]

After reading only a half of this thread, I can't unequivocally say it was the best.....but I can't unequivocally name a year that was Better.

There may be some truth in that serum.

[Motown Eddie]

In addition to the other songs that were mentioned on this list, I add;

Ramsey Lewis - "Sun Goddess"
Stevie Wonder - "You Haven't Done Nothing", "Boogie Down Reggae Woman"
Minnie Ripperton - "Lovin' You"
Billy Preston - "Nothing From Nothing"
Syreeta - "Cause We've Ended As Lovers"

[timmyfunk1]

Parliament-Up For The Down Stroke
Funkadelic-Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
The Meters-Rejuvenation
Stevie Wonder-Fulfillingness First Finale
The Isley Brothers-Live It Up
The Ohio Players-Skin Tight

[MichaelSherry59]

To me the best period for rhythm and blues/soul was from 1966-1974, it was the greatest time to be a fan of that genre.

Al Green, Sly and The Family Stone, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Marvin Gaye, Laura Lee, Curtis Mayfield, Lynn Collins, Bettye Lavette, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Temptations, all at their peak and shaped black culture for good in every aspect.

There were some good stuff post 1974 [[Earth Wind And Fire, Isley Brothers, P-Funk) but it wasn't what it once was from 66-74, I think soul started to decline around the Disco age