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Ilove older music – I’m an old soul despite being a millennial. My parents are baby boomers, so, they love music from the 1960s and 70s. Their great taste, which encompasses various styles, with soul topping the list, rubbed off on me. With Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 in full swing, and multiple soul/pop/rock oldies lists under my belt – 🎧 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, and Vol. 4, Vol. 5 – I proudly present 🎧 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 6, the first throwback musical compendium of 2023. Gracing this list are contributions from 🎙 Bill Withers, 🎙 Clarence Carter, 🎙 Gladys Knight & The Pips, 🎙 James Taylor, and 🎙 Tina Turner among others. All songs featured on this list had to be released prior to 1990. Future compendiums will expand nto the 90s but for now, everything you see or hear in this series predates it. So, without further ado, let’s take it back 30-plus years and enjoy these throwback vibez of various styles!
1. Jimmy Ruffin, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”
💿 Sings Top Ten • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1967
“What becomes of the brokenhearted
Who had love that’s now departed
I know I’ve got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Help me.”
Beyond the chorus, there’s yet another awesome lyrical and musical moment – the outro. Ruffin states, “I’ll be searching everywhere / Just to find someone to care.” Even when love is unkind, we all still desire it so badly. “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” 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, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 91 (2022)
- Sadness: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2022)
- 11 Songs Where The Boys Are Sad
2. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”
💿 Just As I Am • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1971
“Ain’t No Sunshine” doesn’t need extensive analysis. Thematically, it’s self-explanatory. Bill Withers is devastated “when she’s gone.” The heartbreak and heartache do a serious number on him. He asks himself, “Wonder this time where she’s gone / Wonder if she’s gonna stay /… This house just ain’t no home / Anytime she goes away.” Perhaps even more famous than the verses of this lush, minor key soul gem is the bridge, specifically the phrase, “I know.” Withers famously sings it 26 times. It has it’s intended effect, particularly when he finishes the thought: “Hey, I oughta leave the young thing alone / but ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.” It’s amazing that Withers would top himself a year later with the definitive hit of his career, 🎵 “Lean on Me”.
Appears in 🔻:
3. Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”
💿 Imagination • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 1973
Clearly, 🎙 Gladys Knight, who handles the lead, backed up by 🎙 The Pips, sings about a legitimate love – one that’s 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: “I guess you could say that I’ve been lucky / Well, I guess you could say it’s all because of you.” Aww! Taken out of context, you could argue that Knight could possibly be speaking about a higher power, but the second verse debunks this: “‘Cause for every moment that I’ve spent hurting / There was a moment that I spent, just loving you.” This is an incredibly positive and thoughtful song. Surprisingly, this lushly produced, marvelously penned gem isn’t the crowning achievement of 💿 Imagination – that honors belong to the no. 1, 🏆 Grammy-winning hit, “Midnight Train to Georgia” (also penned by Weatherly). Regardless, 🎵 “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” is one of the top soul classics of all time – truly stunning.
Appears in 🔻:
4. Johnny Taylor, “Disco Lady”
💿 Eargasm • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1976
Despite being snubbed for a 🏆 Grammy (he was nominated thrice), “Disco Lady” doesn’t 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, “Girl, you ought to be on TV on Soul Train.” Okay, that’s a dated reference, but the point is, she dances like a champ, and Taylor is enamored by her… switch 😜. It’s worth noting, that he “Can’t sit still / I’m grooving / I like that funky stuff.” Can you blame him, folks? He’s hypnotized because she’s groovin’ him – WOO! “Disco Lady,” the beloved classic that it is, was penned by 🎼 ✍ Don Davis, Albert Vance, and Harvey Scales. It remains a classic to this day. I’ll leave you with this: “If it wasn’t for the girl / Sitting next to me / I’d jump right up and outta my safety seat.”
Appears in 🔻:
5. Freda Payne, “Band of Gold”
💿 Band of Gold • 🏷 HDH / Invictus • 📅 1970
“Band of Gold” is incredibly catchy, as exemplified by the excerpted chorus. Furthermore, the music is groovy as albeit – it’s 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! “We kissed after taking vows,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, ‘but that night of the honeymoon / We stayed in separate rooms.” That’s exactly why Payne is singing “All that’s left is a band of gold!” Similarly, the second verse testifies to this sus union: “I’d wait in the darkness of my lonely room / Filled with sadness, filled with gloom / Hoping soon / That you’d walk back through that door.” What’s 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, it’s a fabulous, fabulous record.
Appears in 🔻:
6. Elton John, “I’m Still Standing”
💿 Too Low For Zero • 🏷 Mercury • 📅 1983
“I’m Still Standing” features a quick tempo, which bodes well in its favor. Furthermore, it’s an incredibly groovy and infectious record from the onset. Elton John serves up enthusiastic vocals. The melody is rhythmic – incredibly quick. Furthermore, musically, John concocts some nice harmonic moments, playing between major and parallel minor keys. Of course, it’s those exceptional lyrics by 🎼 ✍ Bernie Taupin that Elton masterfully brings to life. “I’m Still Standing” features one of the catchiest, most recognizable choruses of all time:
“Don’t you know I’m still standin’ better than I ever did?
Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid
And I’m still standin’ after all this time
Pickin’ up the pieces of my life without you on my mind.”
Also, it’s worth shouting out the brief but ear-catching electric guitar solo. Another also – the music video is a treat itself!
Appears in 🔻:
- Elton John, “I’m Still Standing”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 98 (2022)
- 11 Marvelous Songs That Stand Tall
- 12 Utterly Stupendous STILL Songs
7. Tina Turner, “What’s Love Got To Do With It”
💿 Private Dancer • 🏷 Parlophone • 📅 1984
“What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a secondhand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?”
Besides the timeless chorus, what makes “What’s Love Got To Do With It” 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 – the definition of what we call a vibe in the 2020s. It serves as the perfect soundtrack for this love-oriented track. Of course, “What’s Love Got To Do With,” which was penned by 🎼 ✍ Terry Britten (also produces) and Graham Lyle, is well-written. The lyrics stand out first and foremost (“You must understand though the touch of your hand / Makes my pulse react / That it’s only the thrill of boy meeting girl” or “It may seem to you that I’m acting confused / When you’re close to me / If I tend to look dazed I’ve read it someplace / I’ve got cause to be”) but even harmonically, it’s unique. Interestingly, 🎵 “What’s Love Got To Do With It” was offered to many others before it landed in the hands of Turner. Thank God it ultimately did land in Turner’s hands because it was made for her – PERIOD.
Appears in 🔻:
8. The Jackson 5, “Who’s Loving You”
💿 Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1969
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 – the melisma – is a huge selling point. Throw in Michael’s ad-libs, and “Who’s Lovin’ You,” a song filled with love pain, sounds like heaven on earth. Such a talent! The best lyrics, of course, arrive on the chorus – among my favorites of all-time:
“Don’t you know I
Sit around
With my head hangin’ down
And I wonder
Who’s lovin’ you.”
Appears in 🔻:
9. Brenda Russell, “Piano In The Dark”
💿 Get Here • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1988
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.
“I know I’m 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.”
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: “He 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 spoken…” Beyond theme, lyrics, and dynamic vocals, there are some interesting harmonic moments on “Piano In The Dark.” It wouldn’t 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, can’t fail to note the love the piano 🎹 gets within the backdrop.
Appears in 🔻:
- Brenda Russell, “Piano In The Dark”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 107 (2022)
- 11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano 🎹
10. James Taylor, “Fire and Rain”
💿 Sweet Baby James • 🏷 Rhino • 📅 1970
The sound of the record and the production are beautiful. The piano and guitar accompaniment suits Taylor’s 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, he’s never been a vocalist to get too high, something that plays true on “Fire and Rain.” Let’s not forget the lyrics, which find James being authentic, honest, and vulnerable. “Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone / Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you,” he sings in the first verse. In the second, he petitions to Jesus, singing, “You’ve got to help me make a stand / You’ve just got to see me through another day.” Then there’s the third verse where, “Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground” 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 – the crème de la crème ( “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend / But I always thought that I’d see you, baby, one more time again, now”). Listening to “Fire and Rain,” the big takeaway is how classy it sounds; there’s an incredible amount of finesse in this 1970 classic.
Appears in 🔻:
- James Taylor, “Fire and Rain”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 106 (2022)
- 11 Songs Where When It Rains It Pours (Pt. III)
11. Commodores, “Still”
💿 Midnight Magic • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1979
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. “So many dreams that flow away / So many words we didn’t say,” he sings in the second verse, continuing about the state of an ended relationship, “Two people lost in a storm / Where did we go?” In an article about “Still”, Tom Breihan of Stereogum writes, “Richie wasn’t writing from experience… he was still married to his first wife when he wrote ‘Still.’ Instead, Richie wrote it about two friends who were splitting up.” Richie captures the end amicably and thoughtfully – it’s not the least bit messy. In the centerpiece, the chorus, Richie retains the classiness and finesse.
“We played the games that people play
We made our mistakes along the way
Somehow I know deep in my heart
You needed me
‘Cause I needed you so desperately!
We were too blind to see
But then most of all
I do love You
Still.”
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, “Solid”
💿 Solid • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 1984
It’s safe to say that the solidness – the solidarity – runs long. “Solid” 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 – wait for it – SOLID! “You didn’t bat an eye / When I made you cry,” Ashford sings in the first verse, continuing, “We knew down the line / We would make it better.” 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. it’s catchy as albeit – definitely solid as a rock!
“And now it’s solid
Solid as a rock
That’s what this love is
That’s what we’ve got, oh
Yes, it is
Solid
Solid as a rock
And nothing’s changed it, oh
The thrill is still hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot.”
Appears in 🔻:
13. Clarence Carter, “Patches”
💿 Patches • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1970
The songwriting is impeccable on “Patches” – pitch perfect. The record depicts a family struggling to survive – working hard and doing the best that they can. ‘Patches’ 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.
“Patches, I’m depending on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it’s all left up to you.”
All told, Carter feels like the perfect artist to sing 🎵 “Patches”, period. Added to the awesome songwriting and Carter’s 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, “Patches”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 112 (2022)
- Clarence Carter vs. Jimmy Reed: Head 2 Head 🗣️ 47 (2022)
14. The Friends of Distinction, “Going In Circles”
💿 Grazin’ • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1969
As the excerpted lyrics suggest, The Friends are in a vicious circle. In the second verse, the collective asserts, “I’m a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop.” The effect of love is written all over this one, best summarized by the chorus: “You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go).” The poetic lyrics are high-flying vocals are utterly sublime. Adding to the sheer excellence of “Going in Circles” 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 ‘got it done’ releasing a couple of hits including 🎵 “Going in Circles”. Sure, it’s a fifty-plus year-old song that sounds nothing like the music of the 2020s. Honestly, that’s a beautiful, truly refreshing thing.
Appears in 🔻:
- The Friends of Distinction, “Going in Circles”: 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 Goin’ ‘Round in Circles
- The Friends of Distinction vs. Luther Vandross: Head 2 Head 🗣️ 50 (2022)
15. Billy Preston, “Will It Go Rounds In Circles”
💿 Music is My Life • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 1972
Beyond the intriguing opening verse, Billy Preston serves up two more sweet verses. Lyrically, “Will It Go Round in Circles” is incredibly simple. In the second, he asserts, “I’ve got a story / Ain’t got no moral / Let the bad guy win every once in a while.” In the third, “I’ve got a dance / I ain’t got no steps, no / I’m gonna let the music move me around.” Of course, the centerpiece of “Will It Go Round in Circles” is the chorus, which is incredibly catchy:
“Will it go round in circles
Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky.”
Beyond the fun lyrics, the music is funky as albeit – 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 “Will It Go Round in Circles.” What else is there to say? 🎵 “Will It Go Round in Circles” is a surefire vibe – it speaks for itself without extensive analysis. Billy Preston was a fantastic musician, and his legacy is enduring, with “Will It Go Round in Circles” leading the charge.
Appears in 🔻:
- Billy Preston, “Will It Go Round in Circles”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 116 (2022)
- Circles: 5ive Songs No. 72 (2022)
- 11 More Circular Songs to Keep You Goin’ ‘Round in Circles
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