This year marks the 30th anniversary of "Soul Train," the weekly television showcase of America's finest rhythm-and-blues. To commemorate the occasion, Rhino Records has released a series of albums dedicated to the show's top performers. During "Soul Train's" fifth season, 1975, disco climbed to new heights.
All aboard the "Soul Train," where for the past 30 years viewers have been tuning in to the latest and the greatest from the R&B world. The whistle is compliments of the New York City funk and disco group B.T. Express whose tune "Express" became their theme song in 1975.
Do you remember 1975? It was the year when the Vietnam War came to an end; A Russian cosmonaut and an American astronaut linked up in outer space; Margaret Thatcher was elected England's first female Prime Minister; Sonny and Cher got divorced; kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst was found; and Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony hustled all the way to Number One on both the pop and R&B charts.
Singer, pianist and producer Van McCoy hit gold with "The Hustle," a song inspired by a popular dance in Washington, D.C. nightclubs. Disco reached a feverish pitch with this catchy dance tune.
That's the way fans liked it, pushing K.C. And The Sunshine Band to the top of the charts in 1975. Another "Soul Train" favorite in '75 was The Commodores, a Motown band that embraced jazz, funk and R&B. The CD also features Number One hits by the Average White Band, Spinners, Tavares, Major Harris, the Ohio Players, War and Minnie Ripperton.
"Soul Train" got its start in Chicago on August 15, 1970. Thirty years later, with actor Shemar Moore as host, the show is still going strong. The program also sponsors the annual Soul Train Awards and Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.