Another Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong production, first released as a single and later included on Starr's 1971 LP Involved.
Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On first hit Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on April 24, 1971, reaching #71 with a bullet.
- Dyn-O-Mite
I always thought this track was a jam when I'd hear it on the oldies stations, but never knew it went to #1 both Pop and R&B, in the golden soul spring of 1971. The same week this single debuted on the charts, Marvin Gaye's revolutionary What's Going On had just hit #1 on the Cashbox Top 100, #1 on the Billboard R&B charts, and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Want Ads first came out on Honey Cone's third album, Sweet Replies, and also appeared in a longer version on their fourth album, Soulful Tapestry. It was one of the first tracks that helped usher in the extended mix era.
Released as the first single off Soulful Tapestry in the United States...it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 79 on April 10, 1971. Within nine weeks on the chart, "Want Ads" was at the number one position for the week starting June 12. The song also remained number one on the R&B singles chart for three non-consecutive weeks for the week starting May 29, 1971 and after being bumped for one week by Aretha Franklin's rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water, the song stayed at number one for two more weeks starting June 12 through June 19.
The song would go on to receive gold certification selling more than one million units in the U.S. The song's popularity had DJs playing the long version that was available on the Sweet Replies album. This was rare at the time. The song is said to have been a major contributor to the structure, sound, and grit of the pre-disco movement that would rock the popular music world.
- Wikipedia
Honey Cone were the premier female group on Holland/Dozier/Holland's Hot Wax label. One of the trio, Shelly Clark, was an ex-Ikette who later married Verdine White, the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire. Want Ads was co-written by one of Honey Cone's labelmates, Chairmen of the Board frontman General Norman Johnson.
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What?! Ray + Booty = funky. This groovin' track hit #31 on the Billboard pop charts. For a little more info on the flavor of this cut, I'm gonna let DJ Prestige over at Flea Market Funk do the honors:
Recorded in 1971, with an orchestra (Charles was definitely comfortable with or without one), it's kind of out of character for him, but of course he pulls it off well. By this time he was gone from Atlantic and had moved to ABC for the money one can only surmise. His output of records was considerably different from when he and Ahmet were churning out R&B and Soul hit after hit at Atlantic. He had gone down the pop road and well, "Booty Butt" seems a bit out of the ordinary. Whatever his motivation, I'm glad he decided to put it out. It slow cooks with the piano maestro going back and forth with a funk guitar riff until it boils out some saxaphone. Throw in his trademark hollering blues style, lots of "Booty Booty" calling, spot on percussion, and Ray Charles has what we call here at Flea Market Funk: funk for days.
- Flea Market Funk, 2007
Booty Butt first charted on Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on March 20, 1971, reaching #86 with a bullet.
It would peak at #24 nine weeks later on May 22, 1971.
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Stevie funks up the Beatles - what's not to like? From his 1970 album Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, this was released as a single in 1971, and eventually hit #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Stevie was nominated for his second Grammy in 1972 thanks to this song, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
We Can Work It Out first charted on Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on March 13, 1971, reaching #64 with a bullet. It would peak at #9 eight weeks later on May 8, 1971.
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The title track off The Emeralds' Do Me Right LP from 1971, this proved to be the third-biggest hit of their career, going all the way to #7 on the Billboard R&B charts.
Do Me Right first hit Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on January 23, 1971, squeezing in at #96.
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Note from 2014 - I first heard this cut at the Pink House, on a cassette tape of Kool & The Gang Spin Their Top Hits. It was as timeless in the early 90s as it had been when it was written twenty years before. And today, forty years on, it's still relevant.
Who's Gonna Take The Weight (Pt. 1) first hit Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on January 16, 1971, squeezing in at #94.
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The second cut on the Three Degrees' 1970 LP Maybe, You're The One hit #19 on the Billboard R&B charts when it was released as a single in early 1971. This is a funky, super tight cut. And no wonder - it was written by Sly Stone!
The track first charted on Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on January 16, 1971, reaching #82 with a bullet. It would peak at #57 four weeks later on February 13, 1971.
- Dyn-O-Mite
A powerful statement dedicated to folks everywhere wanting to live free.
Freedom first hit Cash Box's Top 100 Singles charts on January 2, 1971, squeezing in at #100.
- Dyn-O-Mite
