Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 1994Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review Soul Train, the longest-running weekly syndicated program in television, gave black artists and dancers a forum when there was no interest from the major networks. This fine three-disc boxed set celebrates the show's two decades and serves as a good overview of how contemporary black pop has changed during its run. The opening disc is by far the most diverse; during the mid-'70s, there was still room for Southern soul and blues, stylish pop, funk, and vocal groups. The second disc mirrors the turn toward more sophisticated production, a less soulful sound, and the coming of disco. The final CD begins with light soul and pop-tinged fare, then slides into rap, hip-hop, and new jack swing. Most of these songs are available elsewhere, but this collection gives listeners a consistently entertaining tour.
Rhino deserves bonus points for using all original versions throughout. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
Tracks
CD 1
T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)
Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff MFSB , The Three Degrees (3:36)
Cold Sweat, Pt. 1 (Lyrics) Pee Wee Ellis , James Brown James Brown (2:58)
The Thrill Is Gone
Roy Hawkins , Rick Darnell B.B. King (5:26)
Love and Happiness (Lyrics) Al Green , Mabon "Teenie" Hodges Al Green (5:04)
I'll Take You There (Lyrics) Alvertis Isbell The Staple Singers (3:18)
If You Don't Know Me by Now
Leon Huff , Kenny Gamble Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (3:29)
Lean on Me (Lyrics) Bill Withers Bill Withers (3:57)
Oh Girl (Lyrics) Eugene Record The Chi-Lites (3:20)
Love Train
Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff The O'Jays (3:01)
Yes We Can Can
Allen Toussaint The Pointer Sisters (3:07)
Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)
Brian Potter , Dennis Lambert The Four Tops (3:08)
Midnight Train to Georgia (Lyrics) Jim Weatherly Gladys Knight & the Pips (4:40)
Love Don't Love Nobody
Lonnie Simmons , Joseph B. Jefferson The Spinners (3:35)
Reasons (Lyrics) Philip Bailey , Charles Stepney , Maurice White Earth, Wind & Fire (4:53)
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
Marvin Yancy , Chuck Jackson Natalie Cole (2:52)
Fight the Power, Pt. 1
Ronald Isley , Chris Jasper , Ernie Isley , Rudolph Isley , O'Kelly Isley , Marvin Isley The Isley Brothers (3:22)
Something He Can Feel (Lyrics) Curtis Mayfield Aretha Franklin (3:29)
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (Lyrics) Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff Lou Rawls (3:33)
Sweet Thing (Lyrics) Chaka Khan , Tony Maiden Rufus & Chaka Khan (3:18)
I'll Be Good to You (Lyrics) Sonora Sam , George Johnson The Brothers Johnson (3:30)
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
Jerome Brailey , George Clinton , Bootsy Collins Parliament (3:45)
CD 2
Soul Train's A'comin'
Don Cornelius O'Bryan (4:15)
(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again
Zane Grey , Len Ron Hanks L.T.D. (3:39)
I Wanna Be Your Lover (Lyrics) Prince Prince (2:59)
I'm Every Woman (Lyrics) Valerie Simpson , Nickolas Ashford Chaka Khan (3:52)
Cruisin' (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson , Marvin Tarplin Smokey Robinson (4:29)
Three Times a Lady (Lyrics) Lionel Richie The Commodores (3:38)
Bad Girls (Lyrics) Bruce Sudano , Eddie Hokenson , Donna Summer , Joe Esposito Donna Summer (4:01)
We Are Family (Lyrics) Nile Rodgers , Bernard Edwards Sister Sledge (3:38)
Upside Down (Lyrics) Nile Rodgers , Bernard Edwards Diana Ross (3:41)
Celebration (Lyrics) Ronald Bell , Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang (3:42)
Love T.K.O. (Lyrics) Cecil Womack , Gip Noble Jr. Teddy Pendergrass (3:41)
The Second Time Around (Lyrics) William Shelby , Leon F. Sylvers III Shalamar (4:29)
Lady (Lyrics) Cedric Caldwell The Whispers (5:06)
Never Knew Love Like This Before (Lyrics) Reggie Lucas , James Mtume Stephanie Mills (3:33)
Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
Charlie Wilson , Rudy Taylor , Lonnie Simmons The Gap Band (4:14)
Let It Whip
Reggie Andrews , Leon "Ndugu" Chancler Dazz Band (4:06)
Super Freak, Pt. 1
Rick James , Alonzo Miller Rick James (3:21)
Sexual Healing (Lyrics) Odell Brown , David Ritz , Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye (4:09)
Ribbon in the Sky
Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder (3:47)
Jungle Love (Lyrics) The Time (3:26)
CD 3
Soul Train Theme [Adapted from TSOP][#]
Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff George Duke (6:06)
What's Love Got to Do With It (Lyrics) Graham Lyle , Terry Britten Tina Turner (3:50)
Stuck on You
Lionel Richie Lionel Richie (3:13)
Solid (Lyrics) Valerie Simpson , Nickolas Ashford Ashford & Simpson (3:45)
If Only You Knew (Lyrics) Kenny Gamble , Dexter Wansel , Cynthia Biggs Patti LaBelle (3:46)
You Are My Lady (Lyrics) Barry Eastmond Freddie Jackson (4:20)
You Give Good Love (Lyrics) La La Whitney Houston (4:36)
Word Up! (Lyrics) Larry Blackmon , Tomi Jenkins Cameo (4:19)
Freaks Come out at Night (Lyrics) Jalil Hutchins , Larry Smith Whodini (4:43)
Fake (Lyrics) James Harris , Terry Lewis Alexander O'Neal (3:59)
How Ya Like Me Now
Moe Dewese Kool Moe Dee (3:47)
Just Coolin'
Marc Gordon , Gerald LeVert LeVert (4:03)
My Prerogative (Lyrics) Bobby Brown , Gene Griffin Bobby Brown (4:31)
U Can't Touch This (Lyrics) MC Hammer , Rick James , Alonzo Miller MC Hammer (4:16)
O.P.P. (Lyrics) Deke Richards , Vincent Brown , Anthony Criss , Freddie Perren , Alphonso Mizell , Berry Gordy, Jr. , Keir Gist Naughty by Nature (4:31)
Power of Love/Love Power (Lyrics) Luther Vandross , Teddy Vann , Marcus Miller Luther Vandross (4:20)
The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)
El DeBarge , Siedah Garrett , Rod Temperton , Quincy Jones Quincy Jones (6:41)
Save the Best for Last (Lyrics) Phil Galdston , Wendy Waldman , Jon Lind Vanessa Williams (3:41)
Credits Marvin Gaye (Performer), Tina Turner (Performer) , Kool Moe Dee (Performer) , Naughty by Nature (Performer) , The Whispers (Performer) , The Pointer Sisters (Performer) , Kool & the Gang (Performer) , El DeBarge (Performer) , The Spinners (Performer) , Vanessa Williams (Performer) , Natalie Cole (Performer) , Aretha Franklin (Performer) , The Four Tops (Performer) , Barry White (Performer) , The Commodores (Performer) , Donna Summer (Performer) , The Famous Flames (Performer) , Ashford & Simpson (Performer) , Al Green (Performer) , Chaka Khan (Performer) , The O'Jays (Performer) , Gladys Knight (Performer) , James Brown (Performer) , Freddie Jackson (Performer) , The Isley Brothers (Performer) , Don Cornelius (Producer) , Lionel Richie (Performer) , Diana Ross (Performer) , James Ingram (Performer) , Prince (Performer) , Sister Sledge (Performer) , Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) , Al B. Sure! (Performer) , Dazz Band (Performer) , MFSB (Performer) , George Duke (Performer) , Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (Performer) , O'Bryan (Performer) , Luther Vandross (Performer) , Parliament (Performer) , Whitney Houston (Performer) , Patti LaBelle (Performer) , The Brothers Johnson (Performer) , Smokey Robinson (Performer) , L.T.D. (Performer) , Ron Weisner (Producer) , Quincy Jones (Performer) , Alexander O'Neal (Performer) , B.B. King (Performer) , Rufus & Chaka Khan (Performer) , Stevie Wonder (Performer) , Rufus (Performer) , Shalamar (Performer) , Harold Melvin (Performer) , Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (Performer) , Gladys Knight & the Pips (Performer) , The Three Degrees (Performer) , Bill Withers (Performer) , MC Hammer (Performer) , Teddy Pendergrass (Performer) , The Chi-Lites (Performer) , Whodini (Performer) , LeVert (Performer) , The Gap Band (Performer) , Rick James (Performer) , Stephanie Mills (Performer) , The Staple Singers (Performer) , The Time (Performer) , Cameo (Performer) , Bobby Brown (Performer) , Lou Rawls (Performer)
