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Overview

Coined by Frankie Crocker in 1974 as a synonym for Black music, "urban contemporary" began as a radio format for the music he was broadcasting at WBLS, the Black music radio station in New York-mainly rhythm and blues, hip-hop, rap, and disco. Other stations with medium to large Black communities in cities across the United States followed similar radio formatting/programming. Thus, "urban contemporary" became a term associated with music by and for Black people until June 5, 2020, when Republic Records announced that it was removing it from all its music material. Then, finally, it appeared the industry was serious about getting it right or at least was moving in the right direction when identifying specific African American music styles, genres, and representative artists.

Be ready to:

Explain the use of the term "urban contemporary," it's positive and negative effects on categorizing music, and the current state regarding its continued use.

Explain the phrase "Black-sounding" music as it relates to rhythm and blues and other label identifiers.

Identify specific African American music styles, their representative performers, and their songs that were on the Hot Black music chart.

Recall the term used to identify Black-sounding music after Hot Black and identify specific African American music styles, their representative performers, and their songs under this new music chart name.

Define "neo-soul."

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References

Popular Soul Songs from the 1970s and Music Style(s) That Influenced Them

1974

Song Title: "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)♫"

Artist: BT Express

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderately slow tempo; repetitious bass riff; syncopation throughout

Song Title: " TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)♫"

Artist: MFSB

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; repetitious bass riff; syncopation throughout

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings (during the introduction); use of the open/closed hi-hat sound; moderate/moderately fast tempo (i.e., disco-dancing tempo)

Song Title: "Be Thankful for What You Got♫"

Artist: William DeVaughn

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderately slow tempo; repetitious bass riff; syncopation throughout

Song Title: "Jungle Boogie♫"

Artist: Kool & The Gang

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderate tempo; repetitious bass and brass riffs; syncopation throughout; some vocal sounds by a solo voice starting at 01:14

Song Title: "You Got the Love♫"

Artist: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderately slow tempo; repetitious bass riff; syncopation throughout

1975

Song Title: "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)♫"

Artist: The Pointer Sisters

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderately slow tempo; repetitious bass riff; syncopation throughout

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings (during the introduction)

Song Title: " It Only Takes A Minute♫"

Artist: Tavares

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings throughout the song; four-on-the-floor; moderately fast tempo; repetitious bass riff

Song Title: "Supernatural Thing, Pt. 1♫"

Artist: Ben E. King

Funk Influence: Use of the "wah-wah" and scratch guitar sounds; moderately slow tempo; repetitious bass and guitar riffs; syncopation throughout

1976

Song Title: "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine♫"

Artist: Lou Rawls

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings throughout the song; four-on-the-floor; moderately fast tempo; repetitious bass riff

Song Title: "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be in My Show)♫"

Artist: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings throughout the song; four-on-the-floor; moderate tempo; repetitious bass riff

1977

Song Title: "Lovely Day♫"

Artist: Bill Withers

Funk Influence: Synchronization between the bass and the kick drum; moderate tempo; repetitious bass; use of electric piano, syncopation throughout

Song Title: "Sir Duke♫"

Artist: Stevie Wonder

Disco Influences: The use of woodwind and brass instruments is similar to big band jazz; four-on-the-floor; moderate tempo; repetitious bass riff; the instrumental accompaniment is nearly equally important to the vocals concerning volume and featured parts

Song Title: " Over and Over♫"

Artist: Ashford & Simpson

Funk Influence: Synchronization between the bass and the kick drum during the verses; moderately fast tempo; repetitious bass; use of electric piano; syncopation throughout

Disco Influences: Use of orchestral strings, particularly as the response to the singers' call; four-on-the-floor during the chorus; moderately fast tempo; repetitious bass riff

Frankie Crocker

May you live as long as you want, never want as long as you live, may you live to be 100, and me 100 but minus a day, so I'll never know nice people like you have passed away.

Earl Hines and His Orchestra

You were the sunshine, baby, whenever you smiled
But I call you Stormy today
All of a sudden that ole rain's fallin' down
And my world is cloudy and gray
You've gone away
Oh Stormy, oh Stormy
Bring back that sunny day