"Love Train": A Playlist for Don Cornelius & "Soul Train"

For a very white kid growing up in a very white town in the Seventies, "Soul Train" really was "The Hippest Trip in America," and a kind of weekly master class in soul music that taught me more than I can say here in a few works. Tragically, I never quite learned how to dance from that Soul Train Line of dancers, but I did learn all about the beauty and power of soul music and the remarkable artists who made it. Those are the kinds of lessons one never forgets.

Here are just a few of the sights and sounds enjoyed by this clueless Caucasian growing up in Tenafly, New Jersey back in a day when you couldn't just download or YouTube any music you wanted. As I write these words, I hear helicopters overhead covering the death of Don Cornelius in my neighborhood, but I prefer to remember that being able to board "Soul Train" changed my life -- and countless others -- for the better. As always, please share your own "Soul Train" memories below.

LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays
USE ME - Bill Withers
THAT LADY - The Isley Brothers
LET'S GET IT ON - Marvin Gate
SIR DUKE - Stevie Wonder
DACINING MACHINE - The Jackson Five
BRICK HOUSE - The Commodores
ROCK STEADY - Aretha Franklin
DANCE TO THE MUSIC - Sly & The Family Stone
LOVE'S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra
THE CISCO KID - War
SUPER FREAK - Rick James
BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John
FAME - David Bowie
TSOP - MFSB
SUPER BAD - James Brown
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD - Rufus
MIGHTY MIGHTY - Earth, Wind & Fire
ON AND ON - Gladys Knight
DISCO LADY - Johnny Taylor
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW - The Stylistics

 

 

 

Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic

Comments

[jbs902]

12:27 PM on 02/03/2012

OOH Child- Five Stairsteps (Loved Clarence)
Lady Marmalade-LaBelle
Chain of Fools-Aretha Franklin

[Grulg]

10:48 AM on 02/02/2012

Couple more that could go in: Rock Your Baby-George McRae, and Rock the Boat, Hues Corporation.

[ruchild]

07:43 AM on 02/02/2012

Don Cornelius was amazing. He reflected the town and people I grew up with, when faced with nothing but white faces on the TV. The man had the vision and soul to make the world a more soulful and cool place. Watching the line every week was the highlight for many of my friends and myself. I had the fortune to grow up in an integrated town, you may say no, but I say yes. I speak as a white girl, who grew up watching the amazingness that was Soul Train every week, because Bandstand didn't cut the groove I was into musically.

I speak not just for myself but for my many friends who are deeply saddened by the untimely passing. May Brother Cornelius find peace now and continue on the soul train for eternity.

[Gasparilla]

07:06 AM on 02/02/2012

I made a list of about a dozen songs last evening that never posted. There was nothing that did not meet guidelines. This is not the first time this has happened and I know one poster Cybolt stopped doing lists because he was continually scrubbed. I won't be spending the time either.

[moderatorJanRyan]

07:16 AM on 02/02/2012

Gasparilla-Thank you for bringing this to my attention this morning. Unfortunately there always seems to be glitches with David's blog comments, not sure why (he has the patience of a saint sometimes while we investigate:). I have reviewed all deleted comments and they are now restored. I apologize for the trouble and frustration you and others may have gone through.
Best
Jan

[Gasparilla]

07:20 AM on 02/02/2012

Thanks for your reply. I see you posted it.

[SKSagar]

04:19 AM on 02/02/2012

Last train home....... Pat Metheny
Take your time......... S.O.S. Band
Last train to San Fernando......Johnny Duncan

[noaxe396]

03:05 AM on 02/02/2012

GREAT list:

Two more, if I may:

Midnight Train to Georgia
Express (BT Express)

[Oldman River]

01:10 AM on 02/02/2012

Don Cornelius was the hippest man in America and always very classy. The music and dancers were best in the early 80s. Memorable ST Line songs include:

Angela Bofill - Too Tough
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
D Train - You're the One for Me
Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Jets - Rocket 2 U
Chaka Khan - Can't Stop the Streets
Mary Jane Girls - Boys
O'Bryan - I'm Freaky
Pebbles - Mercedes Boy
Tina Marie - Lover Girl
Jody Watley - Looking for a New Love

[myviewsofnow]

12:19 AM on 02/02/2012

Love them all...Who has to pick? I do remember running to get in front of the TV after I finished my cleaning on Saturdays to watch the dancing. For a early teenage white girl with 2 left feet I loved watching it. Damn , he was one smooth man.. RIP, Don..those without chronic health conditions may never know what it's like.

[goodmandown]

11:48 PM on 02/01/2012

That's quite a list, Mr. Wild. Mad props.

[KnowzyRowzy]

11:21 PM on 02/01/2012

HAPPY FEELINGS--Frankie Beverly and Maze!

[Tammy Smith]

10:30 PM on 02/01/2012

I'm another white person who loved to watch Soul Train. And I always wished that I could dance like the dancers, too!

[Gasparilla]

10:28 PM on 02/01/2012

Traintime....Cream
Train In Vain....Clash
Train Kept A Rolling....Yardbirds
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry....Bob Dylan
Orange Blossom Special....Johnny Cash and many others
City Of New Orleans....Arlo Guthrie
One After 909....Beatles
Locomotion....Little Eva
Midnight Special....Johnny Rivers
Chattanooga Choo Choo....Glenn Miller
Engine Engine # 9/
King Of The Road....Roger Miller

[Oldman River]

09:29 AM on 02/02/2012

Excuse me, but I don't think any of your songs ever played on Soul Train. What is your point?

[Gasparilla]

07:23 PM on 02/02/2012

Excuse me, but other people here took the theme of trains and went with it. Everyone here can put together their own lists on the subject at hand. With your permission, of course.

[brooklyncitizen]

08:57 PM on 02/01/2012

No list is complete without Patti Labelle "Feels Like Another One", man the notes she hits as she starts that song.....unbelievable gives me chills...it's also a great dance tune.

And the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone".

oh and Anita Baker.

[CPAwADD]

07:30 PM on 02/01/2012

For Don Cornelius
Let's Get It On -- Marvin Gaye
Jungle Boogie -- Kool and the Gang

So Sad. For the Despairing The Rest of My Life -- Less than Jake

[mkdallas]

07:00 PM on 02/01/2012

As usual, David, your playlist and commentary are perfect and I'm so glad you marked Don's passing in HP today. As a college freshman in 1975 who loved rock and soul, I'd like to think that without my exposure to "Soul Train" growing up, my record collection would have never been the eclectic delight that it was,, including LPs by Tower Of Power, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers. It saddens me that radio playlists are so one-dimensional now. Don Corselius was a huge influence in bringing so many great artists into my life in the 70s. Again, thanks for devoting your column to his memory today.