Every Tuesday, the Analog Kid blog goes back in time and features some of the best groovy R&B/soul songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Sometimes you’ll hear songs from individual artists or from a specific year, 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 Peter Brown on your ass at any given moment, so just be ready!
Groovy Tuesday: 1972 (Part Two)
Love Unlimited: “Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love” (White)
From the album From A Girl’s Point Of View We Give To You…Love Unlimited
Uni Records, 1972
Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love
Barry White has one of the most distinctive voices in soul, and he used it for the very first time on this #14 single from 1972. White wrote and produced “Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love” for Love Unlimited, and yes– that’s Barry on the telephone. White’s empire would soon expand to include solo releases as well as albums from the Love Unlimited Orchestra, but this is the song that started it all.
The Main Ingredient: “Everybody Plays The Fool” (Bailey/Clark/Williams)
From the album Bitter
RCA Records, 1972
Everybody knows and loves “Everybody Plays The Fool,” but did you know that Cuba Gooding, Sr. was the lead singer of The Main Ingredient? We will assume that Mr. Gooding was indeed provided with a substantial opportunity to examine large quantities of currency when “Everybody Plays The Fool” reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October of 1972.
Brighter Side Of Darkness: “Love Jones” (Murph/Eskridge/Johnson)
From the album Love Jones
20th Century Records, 1972
It may creep you out a bit to learn that Daryl Lamont, the lead vocalist for Brighter Side Of Darkness, was only twelve years old when “Love Jones” was recorded. His falsetto helped push the song to #3 on the Billboard soul chart, and it was the only hit for the short-lived teen group. The song also inspired the classic Cheech & Chong song “Basketball Jones,” and for that we should all be grateful.
Betty Wright: “Clean Up Woman” (Reid/Clarke)
From the album I Love The Way You Love
Alston Records, 1972
Betty Wright was only seventeen when she recorded “Clean Up Woman” in 1971. The song would eventually reach #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 (#2 on the soul charts), and Wright would go on to write and record a string of hits throughout the ’70s. She won a Grammy for Best R&B song for 1974’s “Where Is The Love,” and even provided the female voice on Peter Brown’s 1977 disco classic “Dance With Me.”
Bobby Womack: “Across 110th Street”
From the soundtrack album Across 110th Street
United Artists Records, 1972
Rest in peace, Bobby. You were one of the greats.
_________________________________________________________
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.
Cheech & Chong: “Basketball Jones” (Marin/Chong)
From the album Los Cochinos
Ode Records, 1973
Betty Wright: “Where Is The Love” (Wright/Casey/Finch/Clarke)
From the album Danger High Voltage
Alston Records, 1974
Peter Brown: “Dance With Me” (Brown/Rans)
From the album A Fantasy Love Affair
Drive Records, 1977
The Analog Kid 