Released 1/1/1974, this superb collaboration between GK&tP and the legendary Curtis Mayfield (RIP) is one of the best blaxploitation movie soundtrack lps ever. Yeah, I know Isaac Hayes won the GRAMMY for “Shaft”, but this lp is just as good if not better.
The million-selling “On and On” was just one of the many hits that GK&tP had after leaving Soul/Motown. When GK&tP left Motown the hits just kept on coming whether recording for Buddah, Columbia/CBS or MCA.
In fact their first non-Motown outing, “Imagination”, contained the classics “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “I’ve Got to Use my Imagination”. Plus “Imagination” was ranked #2 (Behind the #1 O’Jay’s “Ship Ahoy LP) on the Billboard Top R&B Albums of 1974.
The Claudine soundtrack LP was released by Columbia Records on cd on June 8, 1999, but is no longer in print. When I looked around for it I found the lowest price for a used one $50.00 and the highest price $95.00.
I just don’t understand why the record companies don’t print Old School Classics. We “baby boomers” are the ones with disposable income to update our vinyl into CDs. Plus keeping the music available will only serve to introduce a new generation to the best music around, thus increasing sales. I just don’t get it!
Anyway, this is the track list:
1. Mr. Welfare Man
2. To Be Invisible
3. On And On
4. The Makings Of You
5. Claudine Theme (Instrumental)
6. Hold On
7. Make Yours A Happy Home
Every song is a gem. So much so, that I had a hard time selecting just one to post for you to hear. I finally decided on “Make Yours a Happy Home”. There is no way any one can not listen to this cut and clap your hands, or tap your feet, or sing along or all of the above. Just listen and see for yourself.
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Gladys Knight & The Pips – Make Yours a Happy Home (1974)
First I was humming “End of Our Road” for two days. Then when I got in the car today, the first thing I hear, on Sirius Soul Town Radio, was “If I Were Your Woman” by GK&tP.It sounded so good to me, that when I got home I popped in one of my GK&tP Greatest Hits CDs to listen too while blogging this for you. This love ballad has been covered by everyone from Stephanie Mills to Alica Keys.
Stephanie’s version was on her 1987 lp of the same name. Of course the album should have been called “I Feel Good All Over”: that was her hit at the time and unfortunately she sang IIWYW using the same phraseology: not a good Sound.
As for Alicia’s cover -- well my Dad taught me that if you can’t say anything nice then … (you know the rest)
This song was written by three more of the Motown stable of writers/producers; Gloria Jones, Clay McMurray and Pam Sawyer. According to AMG, the song began when Gloria and Pam were talking about women’s issues on their lunch hour.
This beautiful ballad went to #1 on the R&B charts and #9 on the pop charts on early 1971.
BTW, since I have started this blog with two GK&tP songs I think I will finish out the remaining few days with more of the same.
Now this is a cut that if you don’t know -- well you better ask somebody quick! 1967s ‘Grapevine” isn’t all that Motown’s Gladys Knight & The Pips were known for.
The Funk Brothers turn it out solidly for GK&TP’s rendition of this R&B classic penned by the brilliant Motown writing team of Roger Penzabene, Barrett Stong and Norman Whitfield.
Marvin Gaye also charted with the song in 1970, but it couldn’t have been too much of a splash since I just found out about it when preparing to write this post. Mavis Staples also led the Staple Singers version of the tune on their second Stax outing in 1970 and of course it was outstanding. But the best by far is the Gladys led version you can hear here
and watch as performed on the Mike Douglas show right here below. Enjoy.
After a few false starts, I am ready to take my place on the internet by blogging about something that I love – Old School Music. The music that I have the love affair with is mostly from from the 1960s and 1970s with a smattering of late 1950s and early 1980s. It spans the genres of Soul, Deep Soul, R&B, Funk, Gospel Quartets, Country Pop, AM Pop, Doo-Wop, Girl Groups, The British Invasion, Blues, Reggae, Zydeco, Smooth Jazz and Instrumental Pop among others.
I hope to meet some compadres that share this love and can perhaps school me to something I might have missed along the way.
