7 of the 70s: 11/19/14 (1974)

Today's "hump-day" 70s flashback goes back to 1974, the year German electro-rock pioneers Kraftwerk release their classic album Autobahn...

Al Wilson - "Show And Tell"
from the album Show And Tell (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Jerry Fuller

Although Wilson had the hit with this emotive mid-tempo wonder, I grew up listening to the Johnny Mathis version that my mother adored.

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The Stylistics - "You Make Me Feel Brand New"
from the album Let's Put It All Together (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriters: Thom Bell, Linda Creed

The early 70s was the best era for soul vocal groups, like the Stylistics, who used both butter-smooth Airron Love and falsetto king Russell Thompkins Jr to give this classic such depth.

Gladys Knight & The Pips - "On and On"
from the album Claudine (Original Soundtrack) (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak:#5
Songwriter: Curtis Mayfield

The former Motown stars recruited the "Superfly" master to pen their own soundtrack that spawned this hit.

Blue Magic - "Sideshow"
from the album Blue Magic (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriters: Vinnie Barrett, Bobby Eli

The Philly soul quintet took us to the circus on this falsetto dream sequence.

The Spinners - "Love Don't Love Nobody"
from the album Mighty Love (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15
Songwriters: Joe Jefferson, Charles Simmons

The Detroit legends had a gem of a quiet-storm single with this record from their pre-disco era.

Marvin Gaye - "Distant Lover"
from the album Marvin Gaye Live! (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28
Songwriters: Gwen Fuqua, Marvin Gaye

The late great singer/songwriter was one of the few soul artists that was able to land a live album in the pop top-10, which included this heartfelt nugget.

The Main Ingredient - "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend"
from the album Euphrates River (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #35
Songwriter: Brian Auger

I'll end today's trip is this positive reinforcement from the psychedelic soul group from Harlem.

I'll return tomorrow with eight more from 1984...