Every Tuesday, the Analog Kid blog goes back in time and features some groovy R&B/soul songs from a specific year. Sometimes you’ll hear songs from individual artists, and other times you’ll get an entire full-length classic LP ripped directly from the Analog Kid’s vast vinyl vault. Warning: by R&B/soul, I also mean disco. I could go all Village People on your ass at any given moment, so just be ready!
Groovy Tuesday: 1973
The Pointer Sisters: “Yes We Can Can” (Toussaint)
From the album The Pointer Sisters
Blue Thumb Records, 1973
“Yes We Can Can” was the first hit single for Anita, Ruth, Bonnie, and June Pointer. It peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it would take another five years for the sisters to finally reach the Top 10. The song that finally did the trick? “Fire,” written by Bruce Springsteen with Elvis in mind. The King died before he heard the demo, and Bruce gave the song to the Pointer Sisters instead.
Spinners: “One Of A Kind (Love Affair)” (Jefferson)
From the album Spinners
Atlantic Records, 1973
Spinners was the band’s first album for Atlantic after a long (and not-so-successful) run with Motown, and Barry Gordy must have been kicking himself for letting the band leave his label. Spinners produced three consecutive #1 hits on the Billboard R&B chart, including the super-smooth “One Of A Kind (Love Affair)” (the others were “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love”). The Spinners would go on to have 24 more Top 40 R&B hits, with 10 of these tracks cracking the Top 40 on the pop charts.
Ike & Tina Turner: “Nutbush City Limits” (Tina Turner)
From the album Nutbush City Limits
United Artists Records, 1973
“Nutbush City Limits” was the last major hit for Ike & Tina Turner as a duo. Tina wrote the song about her hometown in Tennessee, and it would become one of Turner’s signature numbers during her solo career. A long-standing rumor attributes the guitar work on “Nutbush” to Marc Bolan of T-Rex, but this has never been confirmed. “Nutbush City Limits” peaked at #11 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1973, and reached #22 on the Hot 100.
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose: “Big Time Lover” (Cornelius)
From the album Big Time Lover
United Artists Records, 1973
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose only made two albums before disbanding, but both are among the Analog Kid’s favorite ’70s soul albums. Big Time Lover lacked the hit singles of the band’s 1972 debut album, but its title track was a great song and should have followed “Treat Her Like A Lady” into the Top 10 . “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” is another standout track from a woefully underappreciated record.
The Love Unlimited Orchestra: “Love’s Theme” (White)
From the album Rhapsody In White
20th Century Records, 1973
I’m currently in the process of working on a sexy playlist for Mr. and Mrs. Analog Kid, and a classic instrumental like “Love’s Theme” would seem to be a perfect fit. One problem, though– every time I hear “Love’s Theme,” my mind immediately sees this:
In retrospect, I suppose it’s pretty funny that one of the best R&B songs of all time will be forever associated with a bunch of rich white dudes in plaid trousers. You gotta love the ’70s! Thanks, ABC.
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
The Pointer Sisters: “Fire” (Springsteen)
From the album Energy
Planet Records, 1978
Bruce Springsteen: “Fire” [Live Video Version] (Springsteen)
From the compilation VHS Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-88
The Spinners: “I’ll Be Around” (Bell/Hurtt)
The Spinners: “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (Mystro & Lyric)
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love
Both take from the album Spinners
Atlantic Records, 1973
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (Cornelius)
From the album Big Time Lover
United Artists Records, 1973
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose: “Treat Her Like A Lady” (Cornelius)
From the album Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
United Artists Records, 1971
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