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Rhythm & Blues: Historic & Notable


I, for one, had never heard the Olympics 1966 original version of “Good Lovin’”. Chalk that up to that old maxim ‘you learn something every day.’ Everybody’s got some holes in their education. But what intrigued me is that the Top 40 AM radio hit of that tune by The Young Rascals, recorded less than a year later, was arranged and performed note for note, almost verbatim to its predecessor. It reached #1 on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart while the Olympics’ version got to #81. The “race records” concept was still in effect...and counteracted by Otis Redding recording The Rolling Stones’ classic composition “Satisfaction”, both coming out in 1965. 

You get to enjoy these historical notables on this week’s Al compás del mundo playlist, along with plenty of other major and minor R&B successes of the times. Lots of other familiar and rewarding musical statements found herein: Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly”, Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight (Everything's Alright)”, The Temptations’ “Ain't Too Proud to Beg”, etc. I’ve even included a disco hit, Lakeside’s “Fantastic Voyage”, though I was never a particular fan of the genre (unless well-buzzed and dragged on to the dance floor). There’s something here for everyone who loves the Soul music of the 1960s-70s.

One of these numbers, I was surprised to discover had never included it in a previous show after three years of programming Al compás. That would be 1967’s “Get on Up” by The Esquires, out of Milwaukee. While I love the falsettos and overall arrangement, it’s probably my Wisconsin roots that make it stand out as an all-time favorite. Not Chicago R&B – Milwaukee R&B.  It’s good to root for the home team now and then. Does it all make sense as a playlist? I’ll let you decide.

Al compás del mundo – programa #163, 1-16-25, R&B
Play List

01 Don Covay - Take This Hurt off Me

02 Otis Redding - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

03 Capitols - Cool Jerk

04 Brenton Wood - The Oogum Boogum Song

05 Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing (I Believe in Miracles)

06 Allen Toussaint - Cruel Way to Go Down

07 Ollie and The Nightingales - Mellow Way You Treat Your Man

08 Olympics - Good Lovin'

09 Robert Parker - Barefootin'


10 The Esquires - Get on Up

11 The Soul Survivors - Expressway (To Your Heart)

12 Curtis Mayfield – Superfly

13 Eddie Floyd - I've Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)

14 Larks - The Jerk

15 The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg

16 Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)

17 Jimmy Hughes - Let 'Em Down Baby

18 The Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child

19 Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage


~@~@~@~@~@~


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