Black History Month: Best of Soul Train Episode 325 1979-80
Written by DJ Special Blend from Chicago on February 22, 2009
Acknowledging Black History Month with a look at a Best of Soul Train episode featured The Spinners and Confunkshun. The Spinners have many R&B hits that date back to 1972, and Confunshun is of course one of the best funk bands in history.
Episode 325 1979-80.
They came with the Soul Train Scrabble Board early in the episode, and Kirk and Grace resolved the puzzle… as expected. Bessie Smith got the honor of having her name all mixed up on the board, but her original fame of course came from being an off-the-chain blues singer from the 20’s and 30’s. Miss Smith made about 160 recordings for Columbia Records.
The Spinners came out getting their choreography on. They all sported red jackets, white shirts with the big collar that hung open to the shoulder, and bell bottoms. They were jamin’ as they were lip syncing “Working My Way Back To You.”
Now… Confunkshun came out in the multi-colored body suits (one green, one yellow, then two different shades of blue and red), choreographed steps of their own, a brass section, and plenty of funk. This was cool because this is what some Funk bands did at this time.
The Soul Train Line was hype with “Love Injection” by Trussel, and I always feel the episodes where the men and women come down the line together. If I have anything to do with it when The Train comes back into production, I would bring that aspect back. In fact, I would alternate mixin’ up and flippin who comes down The Soul Train Line with whom, then hit ’em with the classic way. Celebrity cameos as part of The Line would be hot as well.
