When Don Cornelius' Soul Train caught on in the early '70s, the show was often described as the African-American equivalent of American Bandstand, and Cornelius often found himself being exalted as the R&B world's version of Dick Clark. Back then, there was no BET, so a weekly syndicated program... [+] Expand

When Don Cornelius' Soul Train caught on in the early '70s, the show was often described as the African-American equivalent of American Bandstand, and Cornelius often found himself being exalted as the R&B world's version of Dick Clark. Back then, there was no BET, so a weekly syndicated program focusing primarily on R&B meant a lot to the African-American community. In 1975 Cornelius branched out into recording when he formed Soul Train Records with Dick Griffey, and the two produced this debut album by the Soul Train Gang. The group never became huge, and the record didn't establish Soul Train Records as another Motown or Philadelphia International. However, Griffey did become a major-league record mogul after Soul Train Records evolved into Solar Records (minus Cornelius) several years later, putting out smash hits by the Whispers, Lakeside, Shalamar, Dynasty, and others. Although a bit uneven and not exactly earth-shattering, this LP is a likable example of '70s soul that boasts such talented arrangers as Stevie Wonder and Gene Page. Side one focuses on uptempo material, with cuts that include the gritty "Garbage Can," the funky "I Can Do It All Night," and the Philadelphia International-like "Soul Train '75," one of the various themes from Soul Train. But ballads are the focus of side two, which ranges from the jazzy, Minnie Riperton-ish "Music on My Mind" to the Stylistics-like "Fairytales." It's true that everyone has to start somewhere -- and for Soul Train Records this LP was a decent start, if an imperfect one. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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