1971 Best Of 70s Soul

Candi Staton

In the beginning of the 1970s soul music became influenced by other genres like country (Candi Staton), rock (Sly & the Family Stone) and folk (Bill Withers). The typical Motown beat disappeared in favour of more sophisticated sounds, like Memphis soul (Al Green) and the sound of Philadelphia (The Three Degrees). One of the first songs that came out on the Philadelphia International label was ‘You’re the reason why’ by The Ebony’s. Philly soul, however, was not fully evolved yet and still on the drawing board.

Around 1971 the Three Degrees were in search of a sound that would suit them best. When they eventually aligned their recording fate with Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International label, after years of struggling, they hit immediate paydirt in 1973 with 'Dirty Ol’ Man'. Soon after came 'TSOP', which featured the ladies with the Philly house orchestra MFSB. The following year came ‘When Will I See You Again'. All tracks were on their first album for Philadelphia International: "A fine bridge between sugar soul and the sexy disco strings lurking in the band's future." (Amy Hanson/Allmusic.com). Original (and still current) member Valerie Holiday tells on their website that they weren’t aware of the potential of the label when they first signed:

“But at our first session with them, we felt the magic. It was different from anything we had ever experienced before."

There’s a joke about the song ‘One less bell to answer’ in the HBO-series 'Vinyl'. If you like the music scene of the 1970s, you definitely have to watch the first (and last) season.

Enjoy this new 1971 edition of Best Of 70s Soul!

Tracklist:

Marvin Gaye – Mercy Mercy Me
Barbara Lynn – Nice And Easy
Honey Cone – Stick Up
The New Birth – Never Can Say Goodbye
Joe Simon – Drowning In The Sea Of Love
The Ebony’s – You’re The Reason Why
The Enticers ‎– Calling For Your Love
Johnnie Taylor ‎– Jody Got Your Girl And Gone
Al Green – Tired Of Being Alone
Denise LaSalle – Trapped By A Thing Called Love
Candi Staton – He Called Me Baby
Garland Green ‎– Just My Way Of Loving You
The Undisputed Truth – Smiling Faces Sometimes
The Staple Singers – You’ve Got To Earn It
Stevie Wonder – We Can Work It Out [The Apple Scruffs Edit]
The Dells – One Less Bell To Answer
Freddie North ‎– She's All I Got
Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair
Gary Bartz NTU Troop – Celestial Blues
Bill Withers – Harlem
The Isley Brothers ‎– Love The One You’re With
Joe Tex ‎– Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants
The Meters – Good Old Funky Music
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
The Three Degrees – Ebb Tide

me>