Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose, Too Late to Turn Back Now | Throwback Vibez

In the 41^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Too Late to Turn Back Now” by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose.  

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 41^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Too Late to Turn Back Now”, performed by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose.

“It’s too late to turn back now / I believe, I believe / I believe I’m falling in love.” Those iconic lyrics hail from the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose soul classic, “Too Late to Turn Back Now”.  Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose were a relatively short-lived, family R&B collective. Despite a brief career, they released a pair of top-3 Billboard Hot 100 hits, led by the song at hand.  “Too Late to Turn Back Now” reached no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  What held off this Eddie Cornelius-penned, Bob Archibald-produced hit from reaching no. 1? “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers. Totally understandable!

So, what makes “Too Late to Turn Back Now” the sugar honey iced tea? Well, the lush, string orchestration plays a key role.  Besides those dynamic strings, the rhythm section cooks too – keys, bass, and drums.  Besides being the songwriter, Eddie Cornelius served as the lead vocalist for the collective.  His pipes are steeped in soul, possessing a grittiness. Eddie would later move beyond soul and focus on gospel music, something his voice is perfectly suited for.  He is convincing as he expresses falling in love, singing in the second verse, “I found myself phoning her / At least ten times a day / You know, it’s so unusual for me / To carry on this way.” Love – it’ll make you do crazy, unusual things! Supporting Eddie is the rest of the collective, who shine on equally soulful, harmonized background vocals.  Of course, the centerpiece – the crème de la crème – is the chorus, arguably one of the most tuneful of all-time.  The bridge also deserves a shout-out, successfully contrasting the verses, pre-chorus, and chorus.  All told, “Too Late to Turn Back Now” is one of the greatest soul hits of all-time – a huge one from the 70s.

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose // The Story of Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose // Capitol // 1996

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose, Too Late to Turn Back Now: Throwback Vibez No. 41 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]