Various Artists - Soul Hits of the '70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 13 (1991)

Today marks the 13th anniversary of this blog, so we're celebrating by spinning volume 13 of this 20 volume Rhino series, released in the early '90s. The series is now out-of-print and these volumes are sometimes difficult to find and obtain. However, as more and more people foolishly cast away/sell their CD collections in favor of streaming, CDs in this series are now hitting the secondary markets at reasonable prices (which is a wonderful development in my world).

Tracks:

• Rock The Boat - The Hues Corporation: Peaked at #1 pop, #2 R&B in 1974.
  A disco classic, full of soulful vocals over a syncopated bass line that drives everything forward. When this song hit, I thought the lyrics were about an actual boat. Apparently, metaphors are lost on 8 year old boys.
• Rock Your Baby - George McCrae: Peaked at #1 pop, #1 R&B in 1974.
  Now ain't that some clever sequencing? There's really not much to the thing - just some rhythm guitar scratching over an organ pad. So why is it so damn catchy??
• Hollywood Swinging - Kool & The Gang: Peaked at #6 pop, #1 R&B in 1974.
  I've always loved this tune and my youngest son had the nickname "Hollywood" up until he was about 9, but God help me, I can't hear this song now without thinking of this:
  
  
  
  
• Love's Theme - The Love Unlimited Orchestra: Peaked at #1 pop, #10 R&B in 1974.
  If my memory can be trusted, this was the first disco song I ever fell in love with. I was 8. All these years later, it still sounds as sweet as it did in '74. If the strings and wah-wah guitar don't get ya, those soaring French Horn parts certainly should.
• Sideshow - Blue Magic: Peaked at #8 pop, #1 R&B in 1974.
  This would almost be a novelty single if it wasn't so daggum smooth. Outstanding falsetto lead supported by characteristic Philly Soul harmonies.
• Hurts So Good - Millie Jackson: Peaked at #24 pop, #3 R&B in 1973.
  Well butter my biscuits that's some good ol' Southern soul with its laid back electric piano and an arrangement straight off Dusty In Memphis (or was it the other way around?). Spectacular vocals. I'm not sure, but this thing just had to be recorded in Muscle Shoals, right?
• Finally For Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man) - The Impressions: Peaked at #17 pop, #1 R&B in 1974.
  This song was recorded after Curtis Mayfield left the group, but it is tasty nonetheless. A slow build and worth the wait.
• Tell Me Something Good - Rufus: Peaked at #3 pop, #3 R&B in 1974.
  Written by Stevie Wonder, sung by Chaka Khan. Best cut on this compilation and that's really saying something.
• Hang On In There Baby - Johnny Bristol: Peaked at #8 pop, #2 R&B in 1974.
  You can almost hear the record executive proclaim, "Get me a song that sounds exactly like that Love Unlimited tune! Now!"
• Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston: Peaked at #1 pop, #8 R&B in 1974.
  The incomparable, underrated Billy Preston. (Is it possible for a Hall of Famer to be underrated? Discuss amongst yourselves while I enjoy this funky track.) Bonus trivia: Preston performed this tune on Saturday Night Live on the show's premiere episode (October 11, 1975), making it the first musical performance ever on the show.
• Express - B.T. Express: Peaked at #4 pop, #1 R&B in 1975.
  Mislabeled on the CD packaging as (Do It) 'Til You're Satisfied. Express was that single's follow-up and it is all about the horn arrangements. One can hear its influence on the Brooklyn disco sound prevalent in Saturday Night Fever.
• Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton: Peaked at #6 pop, #11 R&B in 1974.
  This is such a happy, uplifting song that I'm just gonna sit back and float away on the waves of positivity.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 5
Volume 14
Volume 15

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First post, 2010: Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)
1st anniversary, 2011 (post #378): Electric Light Orchestra - Time (1981)
2nd anniversary, 2012 (post #694): Seal (1994)
3rd anniversary, 2013 (post #948): Fun Boy Three - Really Saying Something: The Best of Fun Boy Three (1997)
4th anniversary, 2014 (post #1127): Ultravox - Quartet (1982)
5th anniversary, 2015 (post #1231): Soul Hits of the '70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 5 (1991)
6th anniversary, 2016: no post
7th anniversary, 2017: no post
8th anniversary, 2018 (post #1461): Pat Metheny - Watercolors (1977)
9th anniversary, 2019 (post #1524): Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever (1989)
10th anniversary, 2020 (post #1594): Various Artists - Windham Hill - The First Ten Years (1990)
11th anniversary, 2021: no post
12th anniversary, 2022 (post #1800): Talk Talk - 12 x 12 Original Remixes (1999)

Today's post is #1901.