This one contains a whole lot of performers. Just move the slide to choose the video.

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It's the 'Sooouuuullll Train' documentary! On VH1, honey! USA TODAY

Back in the 1970s, if there was a party on a Saturday night, the fly dances being done probably had been scoped out on TV that afternoon. Teenagers — and their parents, too — knew that being down with the latest moves and styles meant getting your ticket punched by Don Cornelius.

Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America, a 90-minute VH1 Rock Docs film celebrating the 40th anniversary of the culturally influential music show Cornelius created, premiered ( Feb 6th ) Saturday (9:30 p.m. ET/PT). Soul Train would chug across screens for 1,100 episodes, giving hundreds of R&B, soul, funk, blues and pop stars national exposure and opening a window to African-American culture for mainstream viewers. On the air from 1970 to 2006 (two years of reruns followed), it became the longest first-run series in syndication history.

Terrence Howard narrates the film, which was scored by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots and features commentary from Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Sly Stone, Clive Davis, Smokey Robinson, Snoop Dogg and others.

In 1970, none of the prominent dance shows, including American Bandstand, routinely featured black artists or teens. But a Chicago journalist with a sonorous baritone had an idea to change all that. "The primary mission was to provide exposure for people who didn't get invited to The Mike Douglas Show or (Johnny) Carson," says Cornelius, 73, who started Soul Train on Chicago's WCIU before moving it to Los Angeles and syndication a year later.

Cornelius, a former DJ, was able to tap into Chicago's wealth of musical talent (Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, The Emotions, The Chi-Lites) to give his fledgling show star power. Gladys Knight & the Pips did the syndication pilot, and Chicago-based Johnson Products Company, makers of Afro Sheen, signed on as sponsor. The show soon had artists clamoring to appear and ultimately featured future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, one-hit wonders and everybody in between.

But it was the teens who really stoked the engine with their flamboyant outfits and flashy dance steps. The original dancers were recruited from recreation centers around L.A., and later dancers needed a referral from someone already on the show. Singer Jody Watley, who started dancing on the show when she was 14, remembers weekend tapings that would start at 9 a.m. and last into the night.

"There were no choreographers and stylists," Watley says. "You had to look cool. We didn't get paid for it. We did it for the love of dancing and to be seen. All we got was a cold Kentucky Fried Chicken box and a soda."

Cornelius sold the franchise to MadVision Entertainment in 2008. In addition to the documentary, a Soul Train movie is under consideration, and there's a deal with Time Life to release DVDs of the vintage shows. So even in retirement, Cornelius will still be heard giving his famous sign-off: "And you can bet your last money, it's gonna be a stone gas, honey! ... We wish you love, peace and soul!"
Oh how I love your work. Always excellent+. I'll be back. I'm doing something--but I will def be back!!!
I just hate I Missed the 90 mins Soul Train documentary on VH1. It was on last Feb 13 and I don`t see if they gonna show it again. :( Those old Soul Train tapes are as clear as a bell. Notice how crisp this clip is?
Beautifully done Gene. Just superb!

I enjoyed the read. What did Jody Watley say? a "cold box of Kentucky Colonel and a soda"??? LOL!
The videos are outstanding in quality and that's one of the things that I truly love! FANTASTIC! Marvin
...Marvin....MARVIN!!!!!! ♥ Thank you Gene, for the MArvin and the VH1!!!! *thunderous applause*
I noticed that 'Box of cold chicken ' too. That mean that Don didn`t have much overhead. lol
Dude in the Red Shirt and Suspenders got mad at his Lady because she wasn't paying him no attention while Marvin was singing before that interview....ROFLMBO
The Hippest Trip in America....Love it Gene my Brother. That Sylvers video is one of my new favorites, i loveeeeee Shy Olympia Sylvers....LOL
Collectively The Silvers have to have more hair on their heads than any group Eva! haha
They sure did have some naturals--as we called em.

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Quincy Jones is thoroughly entwined in the musical background of my young adulthood. A genius of unique quality. I have been posting blogs and music throughout the years and decided to embark on the arduous but satisfying task of gathering some of it to remember the excellent legacy that he left.
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The history of the Butlers/Raw Soul is dense, but for all of us music nerds, that's normal. It is not totally clear what year the Butlers actually formed but they released their first single in 1963 on Liberty Records. That single was "She Tried To Kiss Me" and another single followed on Guyden entitled "Lovable Girl." After the Guyden single the Butlers took a break not recording another record until the single "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" was released on the Phila label in 1966. The group also backed Charles Earland and Jean Wells on one Phila single ("I Know She Loves Me"). 


As you might be noticing, the Butlers were doing a fair amount of recording but not achieving much success. The group's recordings sold regionally but never had the promotion to make an impact on the national scene. After the single with Phila, the Butlers moved to the Fairmount label (part of the Cameo-Parkway family) and released a handful of singles, some being reissued singles of the past. The Butlers were with Fairmount for 1966-67 and then moved to Sassy Records. Sassy released the group's greatest single (in my opinion) "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" b/w "If That's What You Wanted." A copy of that 45 sold for just under $500 last summer on eBay. Even though that isn't that much in the world of record collecting--it's still a hefty sum. The Butlers released another single on Sassy ("She's Gone" b/w "Love Is Good") that appears to be even 
harder to come by then the "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" single.

 

The true history become a bit blurred here as the AMG biography states that the Butlers last record was released on C.R.S. in 1974 (". However, between 1971 and that single, Frankie Beverly formed a group called Raw Soul and released a number of singles. Some of the songs recorded by Beverly during this period are "While I'm Alone," "Open Up Your Heart," (both on the Gregor label) and "Color Blind." "Color Blind" was released by the Eldorado label and rerecorded by Maze. Beverly's big break came when Marvin Gaye asked Raw Soul to back him on a tour. Gaye helped Beverly/Raw Soul get a contract at Capitol. Beverly decided to take the group in a different direction, a name change occurred, and Maze was created. 

The above isn't the most complete history of Beverly but hopefully someone will know a way to get in touch with the man or his management because a comprehensive pre-Maze history needs to be done on Frankie Beverly (his real name is Howard, by the way). Below you'll find every Frankie Beverly (pre-Maze) song available to me right now ("Color Blind" will be up soon). 

If you have a song that is not included below, shoot it over to funkinsoulman (at) yahoo.com and it will go up in the next Frankie Beverly post (later this week--highlighting Maze). Also, if you have any more information please share your knowledge. The Butlers material has been comp-ed sporadically (usually imports) but the entire Maze catalog has been reissued and is available. 

Enjoy.  "She Kissed Me" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967) 
 
 "I Want To Feel I'm Wanted" (not sure which label or year) "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" (Phila, 1966) "Because Of My Heart" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)
   
 "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" (Sassy, 1967)
   
 "If That's What You Wanted" (Sassy, 1967)
 



Frankie Beverly is one of those cats that has lasting power. He started in the music business doing a tour with doo wop group the Silhouettes and then formed his own group called the Blenders. The Blenders never recorded a single, Beverly wouldn't appear on wax until forming the Butlers a few years later. Along with Beverly, the Butlers included Jack "Sonny" Nicholson, Joe Collins, John Fitch, and Talmadge Conway.

Beverly would later enjoy great success fronting Maze and Conway would become a
well-known penning Double Exposure's
"Ten Percent" and the Intruders' "Memories Are Here To Stay." 
 While Maze is a phenomenal group, Beverly's work before that group will always stand out as his best (imo).
The Butlers produced tunes that most Northern Soul fans would kill for and Raw Soul gave the funksters something to pursue. The Butlers recorded their first single in 1960 titled "Loveable Girl". Left to right John Fitch, T Conway, Frankie Beverly, Sonny Nicholson and Joe Collins. 

Frankie Beverly12/6/46 - 9/10/24

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