Your favorite 1970's Soul Group?

Soul music is R&B with a hint of Gospel. Funk is a derivative of Soul music but has dance beats and is central on the bass line. They are not entirely exclusive of each other. Songs can be both Soulful and Funky.

 

I picked the O'Jays,but like most of them.I do think this great group should be on the list to.

 

But it's got to be the special promo, the one not for airplay or when the kids are near. (big grins)

 

Lots of great ones, glad we are having this discussion, we only have 1 of the 4 D's: Dells, Dramatics, Dynamics

 

I agree, soul/r&b like all music is on a continuum of development, the 50s are different from the 60s are different from the 70s, etc., and the the stylistic developments/differences can be seen quite readily from the beginning of a decade and its end.

Though the OP did identify these as vocal groups as opposed to vocal/instrumental groups: Isleys, P-Funk, Mandrill, EWF, Graham Central, Meters, etc.,

EWF gained strength as the 70s wore on, and though most of the vocal groups attempted album statements, the vocal/instrumental groups were more successful in moving album units, though both also relied on singles. EWF was easily the most successful at crossing over, maintaining a balance between albums' and singles' sales. The Isleys were probably second.

 

Those of you guys who love Spinners and O'Jay's and maybe aren't familiar with the Chi-lites catalog should check them out.

I love these tracks from their 1973 S/T album:



The Chi-Lites - I Found Sunshine

 

War.

 

Another great group, the Dells, did some great work in the 70s -and of course in the 50s and 60s...I just loved this track when I heard it in 1971, "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind". I found out years later that it was written by the outstanding singer songwriter Terry Callier.

 

Stylistics by a long shot.

 

I like them all............though only know them all on greatest hits levels. When I was young/old enough (5 years old - 1971) to recognize and listen to music, these groups were all over top 40 radio.

I voted Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, but would've checked the whole list if multiple votes. I'd also add The Dramatics - love "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" and "In The Rain."

 

Spinners without hesitation.

 

Chi-Lites, followed by O'Jays. Nothing wrong with the Spinners, but the Chi-Lites and O'Jays always seemed to be a little grittier.

 

I had to go with The Delfonics. Then Blue Magic , The Spinners and The O'Jays following up. For me, The Manhattans did their best stuff in the 60's on Carnival. Love The Dells too but they span decades with some classic stuff in the 50's and 60's.

 

Went with the Spinners

 

I have two favourites.
The temprees. they only made 3 albums. my favourites are the first two(lovemen/lovemaze). On the 3rd they got too funk for me.

The originals. i got 3 of their albums. green grows the lilac(69 but close to 70s), portraits, def i ni tions. after def i nitions they lost something to me.

 

temprees
from lovemaze:


from lovemen: love between a boy and girl The Temprees-Love between a Boy and Girl

 

I went with the Stylistics but I have to put in a special mention for The Impressions. Brilliant group.

 

70s soul.Always reminds me of staying with my older brother.He was a soul fan unlike me a 70s teenage rocker.Enlightened me to all that good 70s soul music.Thank you...August.

 

originals


from portraits: the bells The Bells

from green grows the lilac: baby i'm for real The Originals - Baby I'm For Real

 

I also got exposed to this stuff by someone else. whn i was young like before i was 13 I used to sleep over at my cousins house and he was like 6 years older than me and he had these art laboe golden oldies cds he would play every night to rock us to sleep.

 

I love the entire list, but The Chi-Lites is on top...

 

Thom Bell made some of my favorite records, ever. Some are heartbreakingly beautiful.

The Spinners' Mighty Love and Pick Of The Litter are fantastic albums, start to finish. Man, Phillipe Wynne...loved to hear him just take off.

The first half of the seventies, what a wonderful time for soul music.

 

There were so many from back then that I dearly loved that I could never be able to nail down just one.

 

I'm not a fan of the exclusions but it's not my thread so I'll try to play by the rules. The Delfonics were some of my earliest exposure to this style of music with La La, Ready Or Not, Didn't I and the magnificent When You Get Right Down To It. The Chi-Lites started with a gorgeous Have You Seen Her , Oh Girl, A Letter To Myself, Homely Girl, right through the funkier Stoned Out Of My Mind. The Stylistics settled into a smooth, silky groove with You Are Everything, You'll Never Get To Heaven, Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart and my favorite Betcha By Golly Wow. And these were all on the first album! Ultimately, I have to go with The Spinners for the entirety of their 1972 LP, Rubberband Man, Love Don't Love Nobody and the magnum opus of Neo-Soul songs Mighty Love. It is more energetic than most songs in this category and the driving horn charts and swirling strings lift Phillipe Wynne's insane vocals right up above our heads as he scats the song to a fiery conclusion. Yup, you can say I like it a lot.

 

Spinners...
... but I really love "Sly and Family Stone"...