Hello and welcome on-board. We’re a bit late for another super-smooth ride on the Soul Train. A couple weeks back, the Best of Soul Train timeline skipped across several months, from mid June to early November of 1974. Hopefully it’ll eventually work its way back to the Four Tops/New Birth/Creative Source episode originally aired that October — ditto the September episode featuring Herbie Hancock. The November 2, 1974 episode was a somewhat odd one, featuring only two eventual Top Ten R&B hits (with several non-charters) and guest starring the 5th Dimension, Al Wilson (again), and Formula IV — all of whom were managed by Marc Gordon. Gordon, a songwriter in his own right who was already a few years removed from his position as president of Motown’s West Coast operations, got stage time as well; he was interviewed for a few minutes by Don Cornelius.

What was played and performed on this episode, with Billboard R&B chart info included:

Sly & the Family Stone, “Loose Booty” (Epic). Cornelius’ upwardly cusping hand gesture was considerably more pronounced while introducing this one. Probably the most unjustly overlooked song in Sly’s catalog, left off most of his anthologies, though it was further immortalized as the dominating component of the Beastie Boys’ “Shadrach.” Debuted October 12, 1974; peaked at number 22.

Formula IV, “Wee Willie Sweet Wine” (Rocky Road). A group on Gordon’s label with an obscure but quite fine funk single that did not chart. The members were primarily session musicians and songwriters who often worked together, led by the late Richard Cason (who passed away this past March). Tired after touring with Al Wilson, they turned down an offer to back a pre-superstardom Donna Summer, which they later regretted. Still led by Cason through the ’80s, the group changed members and recorded for 20th Century and Malaco as Formula V. (Very important footnote: Cason, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis performed and arranged Captain Rapp’s 1983 electro classic “Bad Times [I Can’t Stand It].” We do not have a sample for “Wee Willie Sweet Wine,” so here is one for “Bad Times” as a consolation: )

The Meters, “Hey Pocky A-Way” (Reprise). Debuted September 7, 1974; peaked at number 31.

The Mighty Clouds of Joy, “We Need Just a Little More Time” (Dunhill). Did not chart (wow).

Al Wilson, “La La Peace Song” (Rocky Road). When Wilson was on the show in June, he was working Show and Tell, which was six months old. When he returned five months later, his follow-up — La La Peace Song — had already been out for nearly a month. This song, written and produced by Johnny Bristol, maintained a modest streak of hits that basically dried out by 1976. Debuted September 28, 1974; peaked at number 19.

Barry White, “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” (20th Century). Debuted November 9, 1974; peaked at number one.

The 5th Dimension, “Soul and Inspiration” (Bell). The Soul Train Gang was probably not the group’s most receptive audience. No one danced or really appeared to be all that interested in their cover of the Righteous Brothers hit, which did not chart, but at least the group and Cornelius shared some humorous back-and-forth, most of which was at the expense of Lamonte McLemore.

Brother to Brother, “In the Bottle” (Turbo). Not as great as Gil-Scott Heron’s original or Joe Bataan’s instrumental version (a minor hit in early ‘75), but nonetheless wholly deserving of Top Ten status. If you’re in a band with a competent rhythm section and cannot sound genius-level playing this, something could be wrong. Debuted July 27, 1974; peaked at number nine.

Al Wilson, “Willoughby Brook” (Rocky Road). Did not chart.

James Brown, “Coldblooded” (Polydor). Did not chart.

The 5th Dimension, “Harlem” (Bell). Doesn’t have the dive-bombing guitar/bongo combo heard on Blue Mink’s version or the machine bounce heard on Skipworth & Turner’s version. And, of course, it’s no match for the version recorded by its songwriter, Bill Withers. Naturally, this sounds like it belongs in a stage production (not necessarily a knock). Debuted December 12, 1974; peaked at number 87.

Previously:

May 11, 1974: Sylvia; the Moments; Ecstasy, Passion & Pain
June 8, 1974: Staple Singers, Bunny Sigler
June 15, 1974: Kool & the Gang, Al Wilson, Natural 4