Various Artists - Soul Hits of the '70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 2 (1991)

Volume 2 of a 20 volume Rhino series.

Tracks, with Billboard chart peaks:

1. The Bells - The Originals (1970, #12 pop, #4 R&B)
   Produced by Marvin Gaye and backed by The Funk Brothers, this lush ballad is heavy on the harmonies and orchestration and I don't mind a bit.
2. Love Or Let Me Be Lonely - The Friends Of Distinction (1970, #6 pop, #13 R&B, #9 AC)
   With that verse over a ostinato verse, a double time chorus, tasty horns licks, and tight vocal harmonies, this thing is catchy as all get out and a great blend of soul and sunshine pop.
3. Girls It Ain't Easy - The Honey Cone (1969, #68 pop, #8 R&B)
   Great tune; it's the lyrical content where there's a problem. Written by Ronald Dunbar and “Edyth Wayne” (pseudonym of Holland-Dozier-Holland), this strong vocal trio delivers lyrics clearly penned from a male perspective about the emotional pressures placed on women to keep their man. As they say on the social medias, this hasn't aged well. The music is great, though.
4. Viva Tirado (Pt. 1) - El Chicano (1970, #28 pop, #20 R&B, #10 AC)
   A Chicano instrumental featuring a drawbar organ, this minor crossover hit meets at the intersection of soul, jazz, and rock. I dig it.
5. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - Tyrone Davis (1970, #3 pop, #1 R&B)
   In which Davis wants to mend his broken heart using time travel and an irresistible groove. 
6. Love On A Two-Way Street - The Moments (1970, #3 pop, #1 R&B)
   I first heard this song via the faithful Staci Lattisaw cover back in 1981. Lattisaw was 15 years old and 5 months younger than me but that's neither here nor there. Songs like this make heartbreak feel so good while the falsetto vocals are devastating.
7. Compared To What - Les McCann & Eddie Harris (1970, #85 pop, #35 R&B)
   Possibly the protest song with the best soul/jazz/funk/R&B groove. Tragically, the lyrics are just as salient today as they were in 1970. The song was the lead track on the album Swiss Movement, which was in the top ten of the Billboard Jazz Album charts from December 20, 1969 until November 21, 1970, including thirteen consecutive weeks at #1. Sock it to me.
8. Love Land - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (1970, #16 pop, #23 R&B)
   This group gives us a relaxed, mid-tempo vibe with an arrangement that includes horns and strings, but really doesn't have the hook I'm looking for.
9. O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps (1970, #8 pop, #14 R&B)
   The best track on this disc. Classic.
10. Band of Gold - Freda Payne (1970, #3 pop, #20 R&B)
    The second best track on this disc. Payne's pleading over incessant downbeats is a relentless exhortation about getting left high and dry on her wedding night. (Also credited to Dunbar & Wayne, see track 3).
11. Are You Ready? - Pacific Gas & Electric (1970, #14 pop, #49 R&B)
    A gospelish tune that borrows its feel (and title?) from The Temptations tune Get Ready, but includes an electric guitar solo. Good, not great.
12. Maybe - The Three Degrees (1970, #29 pop, #4 R&B)
    A remake of an early 1958 hit for The Chantels, this gets bonus points for the spoken word introduction, but despite outstanding performances, doesn't do much for me.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Singles included on this volume charted 1969 - 1970, years when your humble blogger had yet to start his formal education.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Volume 5	Volume 13
Volume 6	Volume 14
Volume 12	Volume 15
	Volume 18