1. Jimmy Ruffin, βWhat Becomes of the Brokenheartedβ
Sings Top Ten β’
Motown β’
1967
βAs I walk this land of broken dreams / I have visions of many things,β
Jimmy Ruffin (1936 β 2014) sings in the first verse of the beloved soul gem,
βWhat Becomes of the Brokenheartedβ. Ruffin continues singing, βBut happiness is just an illusion / Filled with sadness and confusion.β This 1966, brokenhearted classic was his highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 7 β surefire pop hit! The first verse is golden, as are the second, third, and fourth verses. All three following verses speak to the plight of love. For example, in the third, Ruffin asserts, βI walk in the shadows searching for light / Cold and alone no comfort in sight.β Hopeless! Similarly, in the fourth, he sings, βAll is lost, thereβs no place for beginning / All thatβs left is an unhappy ending.β Woo! The centerpiece is none other than the chorus, which is incredibly tuneful and features a marvelous backdrop:
βWhat becomes of the brokenhearted
Who had love thatβs now departed
I know Iβve got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Help me.β
Beyond the chorus, thereβs yet another awesome lyrical and musical moment β the outro. Ruffin states, βIβll be searching everywhere / Just to find someone to care.β Even when love is unkind, we all still desire it so badly. βWhat Becomes of the Brokenheartedβ was penned by
James Dean, Paul Riser, and William Weatherspoon. Ruffin is responsible for one of the greatest soul songs of all time, which remains fresh and relevant.
Appears in :
- Jimmy Ruffin, βWhat Becomes of the Brokenheartedβ: Throwback Vibez
91 (2022)
- Sadness: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2022)
- 11 Songs Where The Boys Are Sad
2. Bill Withers, βAinβt No Sunshineβ
Just As I Am β’
Sony Music Entertainment β’
1971
βAinβt no sunshine when sheβs gone / Itβs not warm when sheβs away,β
Bill Withers sings emotionally in the first verse of his beloved classic,
βAinβt No Sunshineβ. βAinβt No Sunshineβ appears as the second track on the legendary musicianβs 1971 album,
Just As I Am. Withers won his first of three Grammys (Best Rhythm & Blues Song) for βAinβt No Sunshine.β As far as the widespread success of the record, βAinβt No Sunshineβ peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, charting for 16 weeks. Furthermore, it was certified gold by the RIAA.
βAinβt No Sunshineβ doesnβt need extensive analysis. Thematically, itβs self-explanatory. Bill Withers is devastated βwhen sheβs gone.β The heartbreak and heartache do a serious number on him. He asks himself, βWonder this time where sheβs gone / Wonder if sheβs gonna stay /β¦ This house just ainβt no home / Anytime she goes away.β Perhaps even more famous than the verses of this lush, minor key soul gem is the bridge, specifically the phrase, βI know.β Withers famously sings it 26 times. It has itβs intended effect, particularly when he finishes the thought: βHey, I oughta leave the young thing alone / but ainβt no sunshine when sheβs gone.β Itβs amazing that Withers would top himself a year later with the definitive hit of his career, βLean on Meβ.
Appears in :
3. Gladys Knight & The Pips, βBest Thing That Ever Happened To Meβ
Imagination β’
RCA β’
1973
βIf anyone should ever write my life story / For whatever reason, there might beβ¦β Those iconic lines hail from the chorus of the beloved
Gladys Knight & The Pips classic,
βBest Thing That Ever Happened to Meβ. How beloved is βBest Thing That Ever Happened to Meβ? Well, it earned success on the pop charts, peaking impressively at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gospel icon
James Cleveland transformed the
Jim Weatherly-penned joint into a gospel classic:
βJesus is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Meβ. Itβs worth noting, that the reverend gives Gladys her props. The utterly sublime chorus continues, βOoh, youβll be there between each line of pain and glory / βCause youβre the best thing that ever happened to me.β
Clearly, Gladys Knight, who handles the lead, backed up by
The Pips, sings about a legitimate love β one thatβs everlasting. Not Jesus like Rev. James Cleveland, but, speaks to a committed, loving relationship. In the first verse, Knight is thankful to have his companionship: βI guess you could say that Iβve been lucky / Well, I guess you could say itβs all because of you.β Aww! Taken out of context, you could argue that Knight could possibly be speaking about a higher power, but the second verse debunks this: ββCause for every moment that Iβve spent hurting / There was a moment that I spent, just loving you.β This is an incredibly positive and thoughtful song. Surprisingly, this lushly produced, marvelously penned gem isnβt the crowning achievement of
Imagination β that honors belong to the no. 1,
Grammy-winning hit, βMidnight Train to Georgiaβ (also penned by Weatherly). Regardless,
βBest Thing That Ever Happened to Meβ is one of the top soul classics of all time β truly stunning.
Appears in :
4. Johnny Taylor, βDisco Ladyβ
Eargasm β’
Sony Music Entertainment β’
1976
βShake it up, shake it down / Move it in, move it round, disco lady.β Ooh, wee,
Johnnie Taylor! That certainly doesnβt sound innocent in the least! βHey sexy lady / Said I like the way / You move your thang / Lord, have mercy, girl,β Taylor continues singing! In 1976, βThe Philosopher of Soulβ earned the biggest hit of his career with
βDisco Ladyβ, which graced his album,
Eargasm. This timeless record spent four weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made history becoming the first single to be certified platinum by the RIAA.
Despite being snubbed for a Grammy (he was nominated thrice), βDisco Ladyβ doesnβt need affirmation from any awards to prove its greatness. This soulful, sexy single speaks for itself. Johnnie Taylor is turned on by the way she moves, so much so, he asserts, βGirl, you ought to be on TV on Soul Train.β Okay, thatβs a dated reference, but the point is, she dances like a champ, and Taylor is enamored by herβ¦ switch
. Itβs worth noting, that he βCanβt sit still / Iβm grooving / I like that funky stuff.β Can you blame him, folks? Heβs hypnotized because sheβs groovinβ him β WOO! βDisco Lady,β the beloved classic that it is, was penned by
Don Davis, Albert Vance, and Harvey Scales. It remains a classic to this day. Iβll leave you with this: βIf it wasnβt for the girl / Sitting next to me / Iβd jump right up and outta my safety seat.β
Appears in :
5. Freda Payne, βBand of Goldβ
Band of Gold β’
HDH / Invictus β’
1970
βNow that youβre gone / All thatβs left is a band of gold / All thatβs left of the dreams I hold / Is a band of gold / And the memories of what love could be / If you were still here with me.β Woo! Versatile singer and actress
Freda Payne earned the biggest hit of her career with her 1970 single,
βBand of Goldβ. βBand of Goldβ appeared on Payneβs album of the same title. βBand of Goldβ also graced Payneβs
Greatest Hits compilation, released in 1991. βBand of Goldβ was written by
Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne, with Edyth Wayne being a pseudonym for the legendary songwriting/production collective comprised of Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, and Lamont Dozier. βBand of Goldβ was a pop hit, peaking at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified gold by the RIAA.
βBand of Goldβ is incredibly catchy, as exemplified by the excerpted chorus. Furthermore, the music is groovy as albeit β itβs a soul classic through and through. Vocally, Payne shows off her versatility without a hitch. That said, what often draws the most interest with this song beyond its elite musicianship is the theme. In the most general sense, literally right after becoming husband and wife, the marriage is effectively over, like, oh snap! βWe kissed after taking vows,β she sings in the first verse, continuing, βbut that night of the honeymoon / We stayed in separate rooms.β Thatβs exactly why Payne is singing βAll thatβs left is a band of gold!β Similarly, the second verse testifies to this sus union: βIβd wait in the darkness of my lonely room / Filled with sadness, filled with gloom / Hoping soon / That youβd walk back through that door.β Whatβs interesting is, this record is subject to multiple interpretations with two popular takes including the sexual inabilities of the man in the relationship, as well as the fact she may have married a gay man. Regardless, itβs a fabulous, fabulous record.
Appears in :
6. Elton John, βIβm Still Standingβ
Too Low For Zero β’
Mercury β’
1983
βAnd did you think this fool could never win? / Well look at me, Iβm a-cominβ back again.β
βIβm Still Standingβ is one of those quintessential 1980s classics β period! Furthermore, itβs one of the best songs from the
Elton John collection. John was well in his 30s when this catchy gem materialized. Somehow, this standout from
Too Low For Zero (1983) wasnβt even a top-10 hit (it peaked at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100)! Sacrilege! Blasphemy!
βIβm Still Standingβ features a quick tempo, which bodes well in its favor. Furthermore, itβs an incredibly groovy and infectious record from the onset. Elton John serves up enthusiastic vocals. The melody is rhythmic β incredibly quick. Furthermore, musically, John concocts some nice harmonic moments, playing between major and parallel minor keys. Of course, itβs those exceptional lyrics by
Bernie Taupin that Elton masterfully brings to life. βIβm Still Standingβ features one of the catchiest, most recognizable choruses of all time:
βDonβt you know Iβm still standinβ better than I ever did?
Lookinβ like a true survivor, feelinβ like a little kid
And Iβm still standinβ after all this time
Pickinβ up the pieces of my life without you on my mind.β
Also, itβs worth shouting out the brief but ear-catching electric guitar solo. Another also β the music video is a treat itself!
Appears in :
- Elton John, βIβm Still Standingβ: Throwback Vibez
98 (2022)
- 11 Marvelous Songs That Stand Tall
- 12 Utterly Stupendous STILL Songs
7. Tina Turner, βWhatβs Love Got To Do With Itβ
Private Dancer β’
Parlophone β’
1984
βWhatβs love got to do, got to do with it? / Whatβs love but a secondhand emotion?β Those lyrics are simply ICONIC. Who better to sing iconic lyrics than an icon herself? Whatβs surprising is how old
Tina Turner was when
βWhatβs Love Got To Do With Itβ materialized β nearly 45 years old! This beloved no. 1 hit was a big part of her comeback on
Private Dancer, an album that found the versatile,
Grammy-winning musician embracing pop/rock. Speaking of Grammys, for βWhatβs Love Got To Do With It,β Turner won two: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and more prestigiously, Record of The Year. βWhatβs Love Got to Do With Itβ was certified gold by the RIAA, while the parent album, Private Dancer, has been certified quintuple platinum.
βWhatβs love got to do, got to do with it?
Whatβs love but a secondhand emotion?
Whatβs love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?β
Besides the timeless chorus, what makes βWhatβs Love Got To Do With Itβ so epic? It all starts with Tina Turner, whose vocals are phenomenal. She sings smoothly in the verses, packing more of a punch on that anthemic refrain. Beyond her pipes, the production, with its smooth, 80s palette of sounds (guitars, keys/synths) is pretty sweet β the definition of what we call a vibe in the 2020s. It serves as the perfect soundtrack for this love-oriented track. Of course, βWhatβs Love Got To Do With,β which was penned by
Terry Britten (also produces) and Graham Lyle, is well-written. The lyrics stand out first and foremost (βYou must understand though the touch of your hand / Makes my pulse react / That itβs only the thrill of boy meeting girlβ or βIt may seem to you that Iβm acting confused / When youβre close to me / If I tend to look dazed Iβve read it someplace / Iβve got cause to beβ) but even harmonically, itβs unique. Interestingly,
βWhatβs Love Got To Do With Itβ was offered to many others before it landed in the hands of Turner. Thank God it ultimately did land in Turnerβs hands because it was made for her β PERIOD.
Appears in :
8. The Jackson 5, βWhoβs Loving Youβ
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 β’
Motown β’
1969
βWhen I (when I) had you (had you) / I treated you bad / And wrong, my dear / And girl since / Since you went awayβ¦β These blues-laden lyrics, depicting heartbreak and regret, hail from a surefire, Motown classic,
βWhoβs Lovinβ Youβ. βWhoβs Lovinβ Youβ was written by one of Motownβs most accomplished and iconic artists, singer/songwriter
Smokey Robinson. Furthermore, the original version, was recorded by him and his collective,
The Miracles, commencing their 1961 album,
Hi Weβre The Miracles. That said, even though this is Smokeyβs song through and through, the definitive recording of this oft-covered song belongs to one 11-year-old unlike any other:
Michael Jackson. Young Michael kills it on the lead of this 1969
The Jackson 5 masterpiece, which graces their album,
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5.
Even though Michael Jackson was a mere kid singing about heartbreak, he sings it with an authenticity that transcends his youth and inexperience. His tone is beautiful and mesmerizing. Furthermore, his brothers do a bang-up job of supporting with soulful background vocals. The updated production ( Bobby Taylor) from the early 60s rendition easily breathes new life into a near-decade-old song. The strings add drama, the groove cooks, and the bass line is EVERYTHING. Furthermore, those vocal runs β the melisma β is a huge selling point. Throw in Michaelβs ad-libs, and βWhoβs Lovinβ You,β a song filled with love pain, sounds like heaven on earth. Such a talent! The best lyrics, of course, arrive on the chorus β among my favorites of all-time:
βDonβt you know I
Sit around
With my head hanginβ down
And I wonder
Whoβs lovinβ you.β
Appears in :
9. Brenda Russell, βPiano In The Darkβ
Get Here β’
UMG Recordings, Inc. β’
1988
βJust as I walk through the door / I can feel your emotion / Itβs pulling me back / Back to love you.β Ooh la-la! Versatile R&B singer/songwriter
Brenda Russell is best known for one song, and itβs safe to say, itβs pianistic! That classic is
βPiano In The Darkβ, which she penned alongside
Jeff Hull and Scott Cutler. Furthermore, she produced the track alongside Hull and
AndrΓ© Fischer. Also, assisting Russell is
Joe Esposito, who provides background vocals on this adult contemporary R&B gem. Notably, βPiano In The Darkβ is Russellβs highest charting single. It peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The record features warm, inviting, and chill production work at the onset. The record sounds idiomatic of the 1980s. Russell delivers smooth vocals early on. After a slightly more reserved start in the first verse, Russell packs more of a punch during the chorus section. The chorus is incredibly memorable and tuneful; I love the harmonized vocals that occur during select moments.
βI know Iβm caught up in the middle
I cry just a little
When I think of letting go
Oh no, gave up on the riddle
I cry just a little
When he plays piano in the dark.β
Beyond tuneful pre-chorus and chorus sections, the songwriting in the verses is also impressive. The second verse features some truly poetic, love-oriented moments: βHe holds me close like a thief of the heart / He plays a melody / Born to tear me apart / The silence is broken / And no words are spokenβ¦β Beyond theme, lyrics, and dynamic vocals, there are some interesting harmonic moments on βPiano In The Dark.β It wouldnβt be far-fetched to characterize this 80s classic as much less predictable than so many of the pop/R&B songs of today. Fittingly, given its title, canβt fail to note the love the piano gets within the backdrop.
Appears in :
- Brenda Russell, βPiano In The Darkβ: Throwback Vibez
107 (2022)
- 11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano
10. James Taylor, βFire and Rainβ
Sweet Baby James β’
Rhino β’
1970
βIβve seen fire and Iβve seen rain / Iβve seen sunny days that I thought would never end,β
James Taylor sings in his classic,
βFire and Rainβ. βFire and Rainβ appears on Taylorβs 1970 album,
Sweet Baby James. The thoughtfully penned record is the most popular record from Sweet Baby James. Furthermore, itβs one of Taylorβs most beloved hits, peaking at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Only
βYouβve Got a Friendβ performed better, topping the charts). βFire and Rainβ was nominated for three
Grammys, including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and a now defunct category, Best Contemporary Song. Notably, Sweet Baby James was also nominated for the prestigious Album Of The Year. So, with so many accolades, what makes βFire and Rainβ so exceptional?
The sound of the record and the production are beautiful. The piano and guitar accompaniment suits Taylorβs singing and songwriting superbly. Furthermore, the addition of strings further accentuates the color and the vibe. Nerding out regarding the timbre, the sound of the drums is pretty sweet, particularly as the rhythm intensifies. Another big selling point is Taylor, who delivers chill, easy-going vocals. Historically, heβs never been a vocalist to get too high, something that plays true on βFire and Rain.β Letβs not forget the lyrics, which find James being authentic, honest, and vulnerable. βJust yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone / Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you,β he sings in the first verse. In the second, he petitions to Jesus, singing, βYouβve got to help me make a stand / Youβve just got to see me through another day.β Then thereβs the third verse where, βSweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the groundβ references a previous band of which he was a member, The Flying Machine (not to be confused with a British band). The chorus, as to be expected, is the crowning achievement β the crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me ( βIβve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend / But I always thought that Iβd see you, baby, one more time again, nowβ). Listening to βFire and Rain,β the big takeaway is how classy it sounds; thereβs an incredible amount of finesse in this 1970 classic.
Appears in :
- James Taylor, βFire and Rainβ: Throwback Vibez
106 (2022)
- 11 Songs Where When It Rains It Pours (Pt. III)
11. Commodores, βStillβ
Midnight Magic β’
Motown β’
1979
βLady, morningβs just a moment away / And Iβm without you once again.β Somehow,
Commodores, while
Lionel Richie was the lead singer and songwriter, failed to win a
Grammy. It seems like a travesty, doesnβt it? Eventually, both would earn those elusive awards, of course. One of many instances where Richie and Commodores deserved to be recognized was for the surefire, throwback gem,
βStillβ. βStill,β which graced their 1979 album,
Midnight Magic, wasnβt even nominated for Grammy β bummer! Regardless, βStillβ still peaked at no. 1 on both the R&B and pop charts (Billboard Hot 100). By my estimations, itβs one of Commodoresβ very best! Anytime matters of the heart is involved in an R&B, the results are sweet music to our ears!
It goes without saying that Lionel Richie sounds amazing singing the lead. His tone is utterly sublime. He brings ample tenderness while simultaneously being expressive in the verses. βSo many dreams that flow away / So many words we didnβt say,β he sings in the second verse, continuing about the state of an ended relationship, βTwo people lost in a storm / Where did we go?β In an article about βStillβ, Tom Breihan of Stereogum writes, βRichie wasnβt writing from experienceβ¦ he was still married to his first wife when he wrote βStill.β Instead, Richie wrote it about two friends who were splitting up.β Richie captures the end amicably and thoughtfully β itβs not the least bit messy. In the centerpiece, the chorus, Richie retains the classiness and finesse.
βWe played the games that people play
We made our mistakes along the way
Somehow I know deep in my heart
You needed me
βCause I needed you so desperately!
We were too blind to see
But then most of all
I do love You
Still.β
One of the best, most classic moments of the song is the subtlety with which Richie delivers the titular lyric. The execution of that small detail exemplifies a vocal performance at its very best.
Appears in :
12. Asford & Simpson, βSolidβ
Solid β’
Capitol β’
1984
βWe build it up / And build it up / And build it up.β Build what up,
Ashford & Simpson? Why, L-O-V-E, of course! The result of this build is something that can best be described as
βSolidβ. βSolidβ appeared on the husband-wife duoβs 1984,
Grammy-nominated album,
Solid. βSolid,β the single marked the iconic singer/songwriting duoβs biggest hit, peaking at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Likely, the record is the reason why the album earned the
Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocal.
Itβs safe to say that the solidness β the solidarity β runs long. βSolidβ runs north of five minutes in duration. Even so, Nickolas Ashford and
Valerie Simpson serve up ample musical excellence. The vocals are on-point, the production is exuberant, and the lyrics are β wait for it β SOLID! βYou didnβt bat an eye / When I made you cry,β Ashford sings in the first verse, continuing, βWe knew down the line / We would make it better.β Simpson, who handled much of the intro, holds down most of the pre-chorus, which focuses on building up that love. The chorus, as to be expected, is the centerpiece. itβs catchy as albeit β definitely solid as a rock!
βAnd now itβs solid
Solid as a rock
Thatβs what this love is
Thatβs what weβve got, oh
Yes, it is
Solid
Solid as a rock
And nothingβs changed it, oh
The thrill is still hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot.β
Appears in :
13. Clarence Carter, βPatchesβ
Patches β’
Atlantic β’
1970
βI was born and raised down in Alabama / On a farm way back up in the woods / I was so ragged the folks used to call me βPatches.ββ With those lines, so begins the soul gem,
βPatchesβ. The definitive version of βPatchesβ was released in 1970 by blind soul musician,
Clarence Carter. Although heβs responsible for the
Grammy-nominated version, which peaked at no. 4 on the pop charts, βPatchesβ was written by
General Johnson and Ron Dunbar. Carter, and his brilliant delivery of the spoken word portions, as well as his soulfulness on the sung portions, truly makes βPatchesβ the classic it is.
The songwriting is impeccable on βPatchesβ β pitch perfect. The record depicts a family struggling to survive β working hard and doing the best that they can. βPatchesβ himself becomes the breadwinner, the head of the family, following the death of his father. In addition to doing the things expected of a child, Patches also doubles as the man of the house. The chorus truly hits home because there are so many families that experience some version of this.
βPatches, Iβm depending on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, itβs all left up to you.β
All told, Carter feels like the perfect artist to sing βPatchesβ, period. Added to the awesome songwriting and Carterβs exceptional performance is terrific production work. Like much of the soul of the 70s, Clarence has a picturesque, ear-catching backdrop to work with (horns, strings, and backing vocals, especially).
Appears in :
- Clarence Carter, βPatchesβ: Throwback Vibez
112 (2022)
- Clarence Carter vs. Jimmy Reed: Head 2 Head
47 (2022)
14. The Friends of Distinction, βGoing In Circlesβ
Grazinβ β’
Sony Music Entertainment β’
1969
βIβm an ever-rollinβ wheel, without a destination real / Iβm an ever-spinning top, whirling around till I drop.β Soul collective
The Friends of Distinction (
Floyd Butler,
Jessica Cleaves,
Harry Elston, and
Barbara Love), who were active in the late 1960s and disbanded in the 1970s, scored a hit with
βGoing in Circlesβ. βGoing in Circlesβ appeared in the collectiveβs 1969 album,
Grazinβ. The single peaked at no. 15 on the pop charts, earning gold certification from the RIAA. Notably, numerous musicians have covered the gem penned by
Jerry Peters and Anita Poree including
Isaac Hayes (
Black Moses, 1971),
The Gap Band (
Gap Band VII, 1985), and
Luther Vandross (
Songs, 1994).
As the excerpted lyrics suggest, The Friends are in a vicious circle. In the second verse, the collective asserts, βIβm a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop.β The effect of love is written all over this one, best summarized by the chorus: βYou got me going in circles (oh round and round I go).β The poetic lyrics are high-flying vocals are utterly sublime. Adding to the sheer excellence of βGoing in Circlesβ is the lush production work ( John Florez), which was idiomatic of late 1960s-70s soul sound. The orchestration is absolutely incredible. The Friends of Distinction may have been a short-lived soul collective, but the Los Angeles quartet βgot it doneβ releasing a couple of hits including
βGoing in Circlesβ. Sure, itβs a fifty-plus year-old song that sounds nothing like the music of the 2020s. Honestly, thatβs a beautiful, truly refreshing thing.
Appears in :
- The Friends of Distinction, βGoing in Circlesβ: Throwback Vibez
113 (2022)
- Circles: 5ive Songs No. 72 (2022)
- The Friends of Distinction vs. Isaac Hayes: Head 2 Head
46 (2022)
- 11 More Circular Songs to Keep You Goinβ βRound in Circles
- The Friends of Distinction vs. Luther Vandross: Head 2 Head
50 (2022)
15. Billy Preston, βWill It Go Rounds In Circlesβ
Music is My Life β’
UMG Recordings, Inc. β’
1972
βIβve got a song / I ainβt got melody,β the late, great
Billy Preston sings exuberantly in the first verse of
βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ. He continues singing, βIβma gonna sing it to my friends.β Sounds good, Billy! βWill It Go Round in Circles,β which appears on Prestonβs 1973 album,
Music is My Life, gave the legendary,
Grammy-winning musician his first no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Interestingly, his second no. 1 hit,
βNothing From Nothingβ, arrived a year later.
Beyond the intriguing opening verse, Billy Preston serves up two more sweet verses. Lyrically, βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ is incredibly simple. In the second, he asserts, βIβve got a story / Ainβt got no moral / Let the bad guy win every once in a while.β In the third, βIβve got a dance / I ainβt got no steps, no / Iβm gonna let the music move me around.β Of course, the centerpiece of βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ is the chorus, which is incredibly catchy:
βWill it go round in circles
Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky.β
Beyond the fun lyrics, the music is funky as albeit β keys (including organ), horns, a prominent bass line, and a lite groove. Billy Preston was an incredible musician, something that shines from the start of βWill It Go Round in Circles.β What else is there to say? βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ is a surefire vibe β it speaks for itself without extensive analysis. Billy Preston was a fantastic musician, and his legacy is enduring, with βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ leading the charge.
Appears in :
- Billy Preston, βWill It Go Round in Circlesβ: Throwback Vibez
116 (2022)
- Circles: 5ive Songs No. 72 (2022)
- 11 More Circular Songs to Keep You Goinβ βRound in Circles
3 Comments
Sunshine
| 3 to 5 BOPS | The Musical Hype
Β· January 20, 2023 at 9:50 pm
[β¦] 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 6 [β¦]
15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 7 | Playlist
Β· February 1, 2023 at 12:01 am
[β¦] lists under my belt β
15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, and Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6 β I proudly present
15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 7, the second throwback musical [β¦]
15 Compelling Songs From the Heart | Playlist
Β· February 13, 2023 at 12:03 am
[β¦] 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 6 (2023) [β¦]
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