BOOTH ANNOUNCER:
Shady Train...
the hippest trip in America!
60 nonstop minutes across the
tracks of your mind into the
exciting world of Soul!
And now, here's your host...
Don Cornelius!
Hi and welcome aboard. You're right
on time for a beautiful trip on the Shady
Train, and if the sight and sound of soul
is your pleasure and what you treasure,
you can bet your bottom we got 'em,
baby. On today's show we are saluting
The Sound of Philadelphia with some
of Philly's Phinest. If you're all set,
let's roll this train down the track
to The City of Brotherly Love
and Sisterly Affection.
And our first guests are members of a music act that formed in the mid 70s.
Since that time the group has been responsible for some of the hottest
sounds around. They are with us today to do a song from their latest
album I'll Do My Best on the RCA label. The song is entitled
"One And Only" and they are-- The Ritchie Family!
let's roll this train down the track
to The City of Brotherly Love
and Sisterly Affection.
And our first guests are members of a music act that formed in the mid 70s.
Since that time the group has been responsible for some of the hottest
sounds around. They are with us today to do a song from their latest
album I'll Do My Best on the RCA label. The song is entitled
"One And Only" and they are-- The Ritchie Family!
"One And Only" - The Ritchie Family
(from 1981 album I'll Do My Best)
(from 1981 album I'll Do My Best)
Our next guests are here to sing about
bad luck, but it is our good fortune to
have them aboard the big train for this
special all-Philadelphia edition. For a
dozen years these gentlemen paid their
dues, but ever since signing with Phila-
delphia International. they have been
rackin' 'em back with one big hit after
another. As they join us to do their
latest single for the label entitled...
you guessed it... "Bad Luck," let's
make some big noise, gang, for--
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes!
"Bad Luck" - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
(May/June 1975, highest chart pos. #15 Hot 100/#4 R&B)
(May/June 1975, highest chart pos. #15 Hot 100/#4 R&B)
And we're gonna slow things down
right now with the mellow sound of
another fine Philadelphia group. As
they join us to do their latest single
on the Atco label, a biggin' every-
body's diggin' entitled "Sideshow,"
let's get some hands together, gang,
for the masters of the sweet soul
ballad-- Blue Magic!
"Sideshow" - Blue Magic
(June/July 1974, highest chart pos. #8 Hot 100/#1 R&B)
(June/July 1974, highest chart pos. #8 Hot 100/#1 R&B)
And we are delighted to have with us
three extraordinary canaries who have
earned a reputation as one of the best
groups in our business. Among their
hits is the Shady Train theme "TSOP-
"The Sound Of Philadelphia." As they
join us to do their latest single for
Philadelphia International, a groove
that makes you wanna move real
smooth entitled "When Will I See
You Again," a warm welcome,
please, ladies and gentlemen,
for-- The Three Degrees!
"When Will I See You Again" - The Three Degrees
(Nov./Dec. 1974, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100/#4 R&B
(Nov./Dec. 1974, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100/#4 R&B
(Don's intro
is on video.)
"Betcha By Golly, Wow"
The Stylistics (Apr. 1972,
highest chart position
#3 Hot 100/#2 R&B)
The Stylistics (Apr. 1972,
highest chart position
#3 Hot 100/#2 R&B)
And look out now, don't hurt yourself.
The Shady Train line's gettin' into the
swing with a pretty little thing. It's
a slick sound comin' out of Philly
that's a sho 'nuff dilly. These are
The Philly Devotions and this is
-- "I Just Can't Say Goodbye!"
"I Just Can't Say Goodbye" - The Philly Devotions
(Feb./Mar. 1975, highest chart pos. #81 R&B/#95 Hot 100)
(Feb./Mar. 1975, highest chart pos. #81 R&B/#95 Hot 100)
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 2:30 MARK!
And the young ladies you are about
to meet have more than just their
last names in common. They are
all very talented and very lovely.
As they join us to do their latest
single on the Cotillion label
entitled "Thinking Of You,"
a big welcome, gang,
a big welcome, gang,
for-- Sister Sledge!
"Thinking of You" - Sister Sledge
(April thru Sept. 1979, B side of "Lost In Music,"
1984 UK re-release peaked at #11 UK/#20 Ireland,
from Jan. 1979 album We Are Family)
(April thru Sept. 1979, B side of "Lost In Music,"
1984 UK re-release peaked at #11 UK/#20 Ireland,
from Jan. 1979 album We Are Family)
And if that didn't get it it can't be
gotten. We wanna thank you for
joining us on this special edition
featuring some of Philly's Phinest.
We hope you'll come on back and
jam with us again next time, and
you can bet you last money it's
all gonna be a stone gas honey.
I'm Don Cornelius and as
always in parting we wish
you love... peace... and soul!
Wow, friend Shady … Dat sure woke me up … it's 04:35 hours here … now a very early breakfast and back to bed. Thanks for the post and wishing you a very happy Sunday, eh? Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteThank you for being the early bird this time and taking a ride on the Shady Train, this edition pheaturing phavorites phrom Philly's Phinest. :) I hope you had a nice breakfast, hit the sack and are snoozing by now.
Thanks again for coming all the way down from Canada and have a happy Sunday, dear friend cat!
"pheaturing phavorites phrom Philly's Phinest"… dat phunny … smiles … c.
DeleteWhy aren't you sleeping, cat? Go to bed!
Delete:) :) :)
https://youtu.be/-kfhg1Hn7q8 … :):);)
DeleteAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! (LOL)
DeleteI just watched that video of the creature with the orange hair singing the "Mahna Mahna" song. Now I'll have that dreaded ditty stuck in my head for eons!
I hope you are having a good Monday, dear friend cat! :)
Yas! Soul Train is back and I was so ready for the hippest ride in the nation. :)
ReplyDeleteI've only listened to Sister Sledge and Philadelphia Devotion, and even though I live in the suburbs, I wasn't too familiar with the other groups. I love what I hear, I love their lyrics and the composition. I was dancing over here, dear friend! Later, I'm going to have to YouTube other pieces by these "phine" groups. I might have a new exercise playlist. :)
Thanks for welcoming me aboard, Shady and Don Cornelius. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for swinging over bright and early on a Sunday, dear friend! I am delighted that you enjoyed your ride on the big train.
Isn't it amazing the wealth of talent that came out of Philadelphia in the 60s and 70s? I'm sure you remember Teddy Pendergrass, the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. If not, your dad should remember him. After leaving the group, Teddy had a successful solo career going until he crashed his Rolls-Royce in Philadelphia in 1982 and was left a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down. Teddy, who was born four months after Shady, died in 2010 as he approached his 60th birthday.
Thanks again for coming to hear Philly's Phinest, dear friend JM, and have a great week!
I do! We have a bunch of Teddy's CDs at the library and it always makes me sad that CDs don't move as much anymore. Most people stream and hopefully streaming allows for people to explore new music.
DeleteHave a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend. I'm off to bed... late night last night.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for popping back in, dear friend! I'm happy to know that you remember the late, great Teddy Pendergrass and that your library carries his CDs. We lost a fine talent when he died before his time.
Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!
Oh, my.... I haven't thought about Sideshow by Blue Magic in AGES! I think I had that on a 45, but now (thanks to you), I've added it to my iTunes library. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you may remember that I'm a great fan of The Stylistics. They put out SO many good songs!!
Thanks for a nice treat on a stormy Sunday morning, Shady.
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for coming over to ride the big train, dear friend!
I'm thrilled that you enjoyed this special edition of Shady Train with all seven acts originating in Philadelphia. I am also pleased to know that the songs by Blue Magic and The Stylistics resonated with you. I didn't remember that The Stylistics are one of your favorite groups. They certainly did have a smooth sound and many hits to their credit. How about these nicely restored Soul Train videos? I could hardly believe it!
It's a stormy Sunday in Arkansas? I hope you aren't encountering any rough stuff. Thank you again for coming to see me on your weekend, dear friend Kelly, and have a safe and happy week ahead!
They certainly had some creative names. The names also reflect the times - simpler and more innocent.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThank for joining the fun this week, good buddy!
You make an important point. If you observe how these singing groups dressed and performed, and how the Soul Train kids danced and conducted themselves, you realize how much has changed in the decades since. The girl groups wore beautiful dresses and gowns. The male groups were clean cut, wore fancy, nicely tailored suits and performed choreographed dance moves. They sang songs about love rather than lust or violence. The dancers looked more innocent and danced with enthusiasm and glee rather that suggestively popping to simulate the sex act. We'll never have that recipe again.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex, and have a great week!
Happy Sunday afternoon with the temps around 70 today! Your selection had me saying: "Never heard of them...Yep, I've heard that one before!" Some of the songs were very familiar. Of course I love the videos with the soul dancers and those outfits! I do remember the 70's and our clothes back then but I must say the guys outdid the gals in these videos! So thanks for a nice selection and some good laughs too! Hope all is well down south..take care Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for dropping in to ride the train, dear friend. I am always delighted to see you!
Looks like you learned a few new groups and songs today and reviewed some that were familiar. I agree that the guys in their snazzy suits stole the show. You also got to see quite a collection of hair styles and clothes worn by The Soul Train gang in the 70s. As I mentioned in my reply above, the styles, dance moves and attitudes were a lot more innocent in the 70s. By the mid to late 80s, many of the women looked and acted like hoochie mamas and the guys like pimps.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this special all Philly edition of Shady Train. I am also happy to know you are enjoying springlike weather up your way. Down here the temperature feels like the surface of the sun. :)
Have a wonderful week, dear friend YaYa!
They're all good, but the only one I recognized was "When Will I See You Again", though I confess I didn't know it was sung by trio called The Third Degrees.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for joining the fun and riding the train, good buddy!
I'm happy to know that six of the seven acts are new to your eyes and ears. Behold The Sound of Philadelphia in the 70s, one of the most successful styles of music in pop history. As you might recall, The Three Degrees had a big hit with the Soul Train theme song "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)," credited on the label as performed by MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. They also has a smash in my neck of the woods in 1973 with "Dirty Ol' Man," a single that topped the charts in Belgium and The Netherlands. The song was possibly inspired by Arte Johnson's character Tyrone F. Horneigh from the recurring sketch on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
Thanks again for stopping by, good buddy Kirk, and enjoy the week ahead!
Alright Don and Shady-Train! I'm pretty much on board with you guys today! It's a cloudy, dreary day with a few sprinkles and a little bit of soul is just the ticket!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember a girl group named The Ritchie Family, but their sound is real familiar, and, I like the song. It's always so nice to see the videos-I still can't get over how so many performances have been remastered! I like seeing how these groups performed and dressed.
I think I've heard "Slideshow" by Blue Magic, but I'm not sure. This one was also very good. And, YAY to The Blue Notes! They are really good, "Bad Luck" was a fun song!
You really hit home with The Three Degrees! I have never seen who sang "When Will I See You Again"-what a treat! I love this song...remember it well. These girls are so talented and pretty too! Thanks for this memory, guys!
The Soul Train dancers hit the spot as always. Although I skipped here and there, I made it through the video, and came to the conclusion that most of the guys could out dance the girls! They are all good, though and I love to watch them!
You really got me with the Stylistics! They were good through and through! What a great group of guys, to be so polite and speak with the audience. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" is totally a favorite of mine-this song brings tears and feel good smiles at the same time! My favorite pick today!
Thank you Don and Shady-you brought a whole new time back to life for me! This post was super enjoyable. I guess I'm still a 'soul survivor', and always will be.
Shady, I hope you are doing well. As usual, we are having a mix of weird weather...one day rain, then on with the furnace, next day AC! I'm surprised my unit is still in working order, haha!
Have a great week, dear friend! ♫
Now when you're feelin' low and the fish won't bite
DeleteYou need a little bit o' soul to put you right
You gotta make like you wanna kneel and pray
And then a little bit of soul will come your way
Now when your girl is gone and you're broke in two
You need a little bit o' soul to see you through
And when you raise the roof with your rock'n'roll
You'll get a lot more kicks with a little bit o' soul
And when your party falls 'cause ain't nobody groovin'
A little bit o' soul and it really starts movin', yeah
And when you're in a mess and you feel like cryin'
Just remember this little song of mine
And as you go through life tryin' to reach your goal
Just remember what I said about a little bit o'soul
Hi, Suzanne!
Thanks a lot for coming over on day one, dear friend, and for hopping aboard The Shady Express on it's 12th slick trip across the tracks of your mind into the exciting world of Soul!
Don't you remember The Ritchie Family's two big hit singles "Brazil" and "The Best Disco In Town"? Both were huge in the clubs in my area. Two members of The Ritchie Family came from a popular Philly girl group of the 60s called Honey & the Bees.
Yessum, you see some nice sharp, clear videos in this post and nicely remastered sound as well. I have enough high quality performance videos to go the distance and fill 50 volumes of my Shady Train series.
As I mentioned to Jessica Marie (above) "Bad Luck" foretold lead singer Teddy Pendergrass's future, because he was nearly killed in a car crash a few years later, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down, and he died young at age 59.
Aren't The Three Degrees' vocals "angelic" on "When Will I See You Again"? I get goose bumps listening to them sing the song. This, my friend, is soul. They are another veteran Philadelphia girl group who got started in the mid 60s and struggled for eight years before catching fire as part of the Philadelphia International family of artists.
I'm glad you watched the whole Stylistics segment from Soul Train including their interview and second song. I wish all videos from the series were in such good shape. The 70s were indeed the sweet soul years. Members of vocal groups dressed alike, looked super sharp and super clean, performed choreographed dances and sang in perfect harmony. The urban music landscape changed dramatically in the 80s when rap and hip hop became the dominant styles and recording artists cranked up the nasty.
I'm sorry that your weather is fluctuating wildly. At least it affords you an occasional break from the heat. We are socked in, hunkered down in air conditioning for many long months ahead.
Thank you ever so much for your friendly visit and extraordinary comments, Suzanne. I hope Scootie is doing well lately. Please say hello to him for me. I hope you will mark your calendar for this coming Saturday, April 13, when I will be celebrating a special birthday, followed by another very special observance on April 18. Take care and I'll see you soon, dear friend!
Many of the song are familiar and I barely remember "Sideshow" that is a old one for me. Never saw many of the groups as I heard them on the radio. Remember I lived in the badlands of the southwest. LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always.
cheers, parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteHi, Winston: Mandibles of Doom!
Thanks for coming over to ride the Shady Train to The City of Brotherly Love. This volume features The Sound of Philadelphia, the hit making formula of the 70s that was reminiscent of The Motown Sound success story of the 60s. Tight vocal group harmony and slick, richly orchestrated productions were key ingredients in the sound.
I'm glad you remember listening to a few of these Philly recordings on the radio way out there in the Arizona desert. Thank you again for coming and for your kind comment, dear friend Gayle!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteJust a quick message to let you know I'm listening to your tunes while I tend to somethings this evening and that I'll be back by tomorrow to comment further. Have a great evening, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteI am pleasantly surprised to see you, dear friend. Thanks for coming over!
I know you've got a lot on your plate this month, and that's why I appreciate the extra effort to break free and visit Shady Place. I hope you enjoyed listening to these tunes culled from the vaults of Soul Train. Take care, get some sleep and I'm see you tomorrow morning, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
DeleteI'm back! Yep, you're so right my plate is very full this month with the A2Z challenge under way. I had your tunes playing in the background last night after we got home from house hunting and grocery shopping while I worked on dinner. DH knew many of your featured songs. I told him how often you school me in these retro tunes. I do recognize a few of your tracks by The Ritchie Family & The Three Degrees in this post. Of course, I knew some of the other artists but I can't say for certain I remember the songs used here. Oh yeah, DH wanted me to tell ya that you have good taste in mewsic and I agree! Have a good day, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks so much for returning to Shady's Place, dear friend. It means a lot to me!
House hunting can use up gobs of time. Mrs. Shady and I can testify to it. I'm delighted to know that DH listened to The Sound of Philadelphia while you made dinner last evening and that he liked what he heard. We have modern day remix engineers to thank for syncing remastered and remixed studio audio to the old video clips which, as you can see, are also brilliantly restored, giving us the best of both worlds, bringing the glory years of Soul Train back alive. I suspected that the girl groups in this post would appeal to your ears. You and I share a fondness for female vocalists. 2/3 of The Ritchie Family came from an earlier Philly R&B group called Honey And The Bees, and Shady Bunch deejay Hy Lit will be playing some of their recordings.
Thanks again for making time for a return visit and for your usual excellent comment, dear friend Cathy. Have a tunetastic week!
Tom,
DeleteI'm very thankful for the technology that breathes new life into old recordings. We have a number of remastered CDs in our collection. Did I ever mention that when DH DJed as a teen, he ran the board hitting every switch and dial, queing mewsic up & introducing the artist with purrfect fade in timing, and even did live commercial spots on the air? Today every thing is computerized and pre-recorded with very little for the radio host to do other than speak. The pizzazz from yesterday DJing is gone. Oh well...I thought I'd throw that in there for ya in case I hadn't shared it before now. Thanks for visiting this morning and I'm sorry for not getting back over here sooner. TTFN, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteNo, you never told me about DH working as a deejay in his youth. For several years I worked as a freelance deejay playing music at parties, and I also did a brief stint in a nightclub. Rob must have been one of the best around if he was able to operate the entire console while doing song intros and live spots. That's great! I almost had a career as a deejay. I had already accepted a job as an announcer at a local radio station, but then came an offer in television and I jumped at it instead. I often wonder what would have happened if I had stuck with the radio job.
Thank you for sharing that story with me and for being an outstanding friend. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you tamale, dear Cathy!
Hi Shady,
ReplyDeleteYou brought back tons of memories from my youth on the post today. I had no idea all those wonderful musicians were from my home state. "Betcha by golly wow, wow, wow!!!" “ Side show”, “I just can’t say goodbye”, “Bad luck” were some my favorite tunes back in the day! But there was nothing like, ”When will I see you again”! I used to love to sing along with that hit on the radio.
You really brought back some great music memories today! Enjoyed them so much, Shady!
Hi, Toni!
DeleteThanks a lot for coming over, dear friend! It's great to have you aboard for a look and a listen as Don Cornelius introduces the all Philadelphia lineup of artists on this edition of Shady Train.
Yessum, not only are these great soul artists from your home state, they all originated in the Delaware Valley. I watched Soul Train every week in 1974 and 1975 and I remember this performance by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and the one by Blue Magic. This post offeres a few familiar hits and a couple I never heard before, a learning opportunity for me as well as for you. "When Will I See You Again" is the biggest crossover hit in this set, peaking at #2 on the Hot 100, and that explains why people remember it better than some of the other songs in the post.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Toni, and have a good week!
Thanks for the trip on the Soul Train! I half expected to see a disco ball spinning around on the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Hi, Sherry!
DeleteThanks for coming over and riding the train, dear friend!
Your wish is my command, dear Sherry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVTZ4akhLA4
The recordings in this all Philadelphia edition were released between 1972 and 1981, a span of years that includes the heart of the disco era, the mid to late 70s. The three girl groups in this post, The Ritchie Family, The Three Degrees and Sister Sledge, were responsible for several great hits of the genre.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Sherry, and enjoy your week!
I was only familiar with a few of these songs but they were all fun. As you know, I could watch soul train dancers for hours and hours and never get tired of it!! I love the dancing and the attire. Makes me happy! happy Monday my friend Shady
ReplyDeleteHi, Holliwood N. Vine!
DeleteHappy Monday to you as well, dear friend, and thanks for coming over and going for a ride on The Shady Train, a hip trip to Philadelphia, home of the highly successful TSOP movement of the 70s.
I'm glad you enjoyed these old songs and learned a couple of new ones. That long video of the Soul Train studio dancers gives you a great glimpse of the clothing and hair styles. dance steps and the generally more innocent attitude of the young people during the series' first decade before hip hop and rap changed the rules of the game.
It is always my pleasure to make you happy, dear friend Holli. Thanks again for coming to the party and have a terrific week!
Good evening Tom
ReplyDeleteI listened to this selection but I was familiar only with Sister Sledge because they were the only famous in Italy too. (As long as I know)I remember I bought a mc when I was in elementary school sold by the newsstand with songs from the 60s to the 80s and there was this group also. I think they played their music in the discos at that time, maybe not in my town but in popular cities like Rome or Milan for sure. Have a nice day . K.
Hi, Katia!
DeleteI am surprised and thrilled to hear from you, my dear old friend! I'm glad you discovered my new blog by clicking over from Shady Dell Music & Memories. You and I have not exchanged greetings in a long time. I have added your blog to my reading list here at Shady's Place so that I can continue to follow your travel filled life.
I am happy to know that you remember Sister Sledge. On YouTube there are several of their performance videos recorded in European countries. Thanks for letting me know they were popular in Italy during the peak of their career in the years of disco's popularity.
I can't wait to read your current post and find out what you have been up to lately. Thank you again for stopping by Shady's Place. I hope you will return soon, dear friend Katia!
Ho Tom ! I sent a comment days ago but maybe you didn’t read it . Sorry if I have been away from your blog for so long I had a second baby and my days are very busy this months :) see you soon K.
ReplyDeleteHi again, Katia!
DeleteI cannot find any other comments from you on this blog or my old one, dear friend, but nevertheless it makes me very happy to know that you gave birth to your second child. Your days are full now and I am sure your heart is as well. It is wonderful to be back in touch with you, dear Katia, and I hope you will bookmark Shady's Place and visit whenever you can. Bless you!
Hi there my long-lost friend. Well, you haven't been lost; I have. :( But I'm here today, visiting the first blog I've been to in several weeks! Happy to be catching the Shady Train to Philly, a city I've never been to, so thanks for the fun ride through there.
ReplyDeleteHarold Melvin and the Blue Notes struck me particularly, talking about Bad Luck. I've seen my share of that lately so I'm sure I'll be singing those lyrics in my head all day!
Blue Magic's "Sideshow" made me smile as it took me back to happier days. I've always liked that song. Loved their blue suits. Curious: did they always dress in blue, keeping in step with their name? "Hurry, hurry" -- that's going to be my mantra this week as I try to get my taxes done by the 15th. Ugh. Another year of waiting until the last minute to tackle that daunting task... But now I can come back to Shady's Place for some great music as I sort through receipts...
Hi there my long-lost friend. Well, you haven't been lost; I have. :( But I'm here today, visiting the first blog I've been to in weeks! Happy to be catching the Shady Train to Philly, a city I've never been to, so thanks for the fun ride through there.
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes struck me particularly, talking about Bad Luck. I've seen my share of that lately so I'm sure I'll be singing those lyrics in my head all day!
Blue Magic's "Sideshow" made me smile as it took me back to happier days. I've always liked that song. Loved their blue suits. Curious: did they always dress in blue, keeping in step with their name? "Hurry, hurry" -- that's going to be my mantra this week as I try to get my taxes done by the 15th. Ugh. Another year of waiting until the last minute to tackle that daunting task... But now I can come back to Shady's Place for some great music as I sort through receipts... (1 of 2: Comment continued in next Reply Box)
(Continued Comment, 2 of 2): My absolute favorite of all your Philadelphia picks is Three Degrees "When Will I See You Again." I LOVE that song! (I liked how you called the magnificent gals with those incredible voices "canaries". That made me smile too. :) )
DeleteWhat a treat with your next video featuring the Stylistics and a twofer! I have to admit that I never knew the name of this song and hearing it today made me smack my head, realizing that had I known the song title, I wouldn't have gotten those lyrics wrong all these years when they sing "Betcha By Golly, Wow." haha
Loved hearing another of their greats "You Make Me Feel Brand New." I also enjoyed hearing the interview and the audience questions, especially the one that made the guys laugh. And wasn't it a sign of the times getting an audience question asking the guys to name their astrological signs?!
You always come through with a fun video of the Soul Train Line! This was especially entertaining with a 15 minute song by the Philly Devotions! Love seeing all the fashion styles back then and certainly all the funky (and often questionable) dance moves. The editing was good because it took me a little bit to notice that the dance line video was repeated…and that was okay with me. There were so many dancer moves that I got a kick out of but my favorite is that of a guy I nicknamed the "rubberband man" -- he had the b&w plaid pants. Did that guy have bones in his legs cuz it didn't look like it, the way he bended those long legs!
I thought it was cool that you kicked off your set with The Ritchie Family and ended with an actual family group Sister Sledge. I wasn't familiar with either song but it did get me questioning if The Ritchie Family was actual family (it wasn't but they have an interesting story). Although I didn't know your last song by Sister Sledge, it did give me a nostalgic feeling thinking of the song by them that I like best (and frankly may be the only song I know by them actually): "We Are Family" -- that always takes me back to the summer of 1979.
Thanks for a great ride through Philadelphia on the Shady Train! Sorry I've been out of the loop for so long. I owe you an email to catch you up on everything (but it probably won't come until after the 15th: I'm balls to the wall every day through then trying to get through these dang taxes. Except I am taking a break to go out tonight with a friend to see a midnight showing of "Pet Sematary" at my favorite theater, the Alamo Drafthouse. Alcohol is definitely on the menu! And I am so in need of this break...and a few margaritas! Talk soon my friend! XOXO
Hi, One-L Michele!
DeleteI am thrilled to see you again, dear friend. Thanks for much for dropping by!
You're just in time to take the 12th ride aboard the Shady Train and, based on the length of your two-part comment (longer than the Mueller Report :) it appears you enjoyed the lineup of Philadelphia artists in this special edition.
Yessum, I am sure by now you can relate to the "Bad Luck" song. I hope the rest of 2019 will be, as another old song goes, your "Good Luck Charm." As I reminded other readers, "Bad Luck" foretold the future for lead singer Teddy Pendergrass, who I am sure you remember from his solo hits "Close The Door," "Turn Off The Lights," "Love T.K.O.," "Joy" and "It Should Have been You," and his hits duets - "Two Hearts" with Stephanie Mills and "Hold Me' with Whitney Houston. In 1982 Teddy smashed his car into a couple of trees and the accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. He died young at age 59.
I haven't seen very many performance clips by Blue Magic, but I am willing to bet they always wore blue suits to help audiences remember their name and build their brand.
The song by The Three Degrees is probably my Pick To Click as well. Those ladies have angelic voices, don't they? Their vocals, beauty and elegant moves put me in a trance. Calling them "canaries" was not my idea. Soul Train host Don Cornelius sometimes introduced female artists and groups as "extraordinary canaries." Many of the intros you read in my Shady Train series are transcribed verbatim from Soul Train clips. When I can't find the actual Don Cornelius intro for a particular performance, I write it myself based on what I remember about his style.
I'm pleased that you sat through the entire Stylistics segment including the Q & A with the audience. Astrological signs really mattered from the late 60s through the 70s, but I don't hear people asking each other that question lately. Truth be told, the audience members usually asked very predictable, elementary questions of musical guests. It wasted valuable air time and prevented us from learning much of substance about the artists.
Yessum, the extended version of the Philly Devotions song made it necessary for the YouTube uploader to repeat certain scenes of the Soul Train gang dancing. In fact, the kids in that clip were probably dancing to an entirely different song during the taping of the show. The modern practice of syncing studio sound to unrelated dance footage is widespread on YouTube. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and I have seen many videos that use the same dance sequences. Yessum, you see all shapes and sizes of Soul Train dancers, including some who were obviously inspired by the hit song "Rubberband Man" by The Spinners.
As I have told others. I saw Sister Sledge in person on the grandstand at the York Interstate Fair in September 1979. They performed "We Are Family" and a few of their other hits in a show that also included Peaches and Herb. When the disco era came to an abrupt end, record sales also plummeted for disco-oriented acts like Sister Sledge and they struggled from then on.
You are a dear for visiting Shady's Place while doing your taxes. That's probably the biggest compliment I ever received! Your visit and generous comments mean a lot to me, Michele. I hope you have fun at the midnight screening of "Pet Sematary." Thank you again for coming over, dear friend. Please take good care of yourself until we meet again!
The only song I know is the one by the 3rd degree?? The 3 gals dressed like Morticia:) This is definitely from the times but it was fun listening and i love when they dance because some are great while others...not so much but all are highlighted. Speaking of highlighted, some of those outfits are beyond speech. The one in the poison green pantsuit and purply top is just..wow!
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks a lot for coming down from Canada to ride the Shady Train, dear friend!
I'm happy to know you remember the song by The Three Degrees "When Will I See You Again." Of the seven recordings in the post, that single was the most successful in terms of crossover and peak position on the pop chart. It might explain why you remember their song and not the others. I am happy to give you this introduction to the "ice cool" sound of Philadelphia soul music in the 70s and some of the major groups responsible for the success of the genre. Some of the Soul Train dancers of the early 70s couldn't dance very well. By the late 70s and 80s the studio dancers looked and performed like trained professionals.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend BB, and enjoy the rest of your week!