40 Year Itch: The Three Degrees

Thursday, August 28, 2014

UK Top 11 This Week in 1974

American soul music, whether it came from Philadelphia or Miami, dominated the UK charts in the last week of August 1974. At the top was "When Will I See You Again", a tune Sheila Ferguson originally refused to sing.

"The song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me."

1. The Three Degress "When Will I See You Again"

2. George McRae " Rock Your Baby"

3. Stylistics "You Make Me Feel Brand New"

4. Bay City Rollers "Summerlove Sensation"

5. Stephanie de Sykes/ Rain "Born With a Smile on My Face"

6. Hues Corporation "Rock the Boat"

7. Mud " Rocket"

8. Jimmy Ruffin "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"

9. Eric Clapton " I Shot the Sheriff"

10. Rolling Stones "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll"

BONUS

11. Sparks " Amateur Hour"

Thursday, April 17, 2014

40 Year Itch : Top 20 Soul This Week in 1974

1. MFSB and the Three Degrees : TSOP

After backing Billy Paul, The Stylistics, The Spinners, The O'Jays and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes on their hits, the studio musicians who made up Mother Father Sister Brother hit pay dirt with the future Soul Train theme "TSOP". And the disco era was born...