Photo: Public Domain Wikipedia
Story by: Gail Nobles

Good afternoon , and welcome to the Ferret. I’m Gail Nobles. Today, we're looking back at a fascinating, if perhaps unexpected, intersection of art and entertainment. You might not think of magic and funk and soul sharing the same stage, but back in the late 1970s, that's precisely what happened.

We all know Earth, Wind & Fire. A pioneering band, blending genres, with dazzling musicianship and a profound sense of the spectacular. Their live shows were legendary, not just for the music, but for the sheer visual feast. They wanted to transport their audiences to another realm, a realm of "fantasy," as they so put it.

And who better to help them do that than a master of illusion? Now, while Doug Henning, the then-reigning king of stage magic, wasn't exactly out there planting trees or solving world hunger for EWF, he did lend his considerable talents to making their concerts utterly unforgettable.

Doug Henning collaborated with the band to design illusions that amplified their already larger-than-life stage presence.

One of the most memorable illusions Henning designed for Earth, Wind & Fire was the levitation act. Imagine the sheer wonder of seeing members of this incredible band seemingly floating effortlessly in mid-air, defying gravity right before your eyes. It wasn't just a trick; it was an extension of their music. It was a picture that showed the freedom, feeling, and higher meaning they wanted to create.

So, did Doug Henning directly solve any earthly problems for Earth, Wind & Fire in 1978? No. But he did contribute to their unique brand of entertainment, adding another layer of magic and spectacle to their performances. It was a collaboration that enriched the concert experience for countless fans and solidified Earth, Wind & Fire's reputation as one of the most visually stunning and   brilliant bands of all time. And sometimes, a little magic is exactly what the world needs.

Intro: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles

This is Gail Nobles on The Ferret coming at you with a  groove straight from the heart of Detroit, the Motor City! Today, we're diving into the electrifying world of C.J. & Co. and their sensational track "We Got Our Own Thang." This tune is more than just music; it’s a celebration of individuality, freedom, and the disco revolution!

C.J. & Co., that dynamic duo crafted by the genius of producers Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore, laid down a sound that made the dance floors shake. You may know them for their breakout hit "Devil's Gun," which stormed its way onto the Billboard charts, hitting that sweet #36 spot on the HOT 100 and keeping the vibe alive for p29 weeks! Not to mention its glorious run as the #2 on the R&B chart in 1977. Those beats were unstoppable!

But let’s shine a light on "We Got Our Own Thang," a track that packed its bags with awesome rhythms and was ready to boogie! This song didn’t just sit quietly in the shadows; it exposed in the limelight, hitting #1 for an impressive five weeks on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. You know what that means, right? It means that clubs across the nation were spinning this record like there was no tomorrow!

Let’s not forget—this track also caught the attention of the next generation of hip-hop artists. The legendary Heavy D and the Boyz sampled this song in their own music, taking disco music and blending it with the fresh beats of rap. That’s how you know a tune has truly made its mark—when it transcends genres and keeps the spirit alive!

So, if you’re ever feeling low, just throw on "We Got Our Own Thang" and let it pull you into the vibrant world of dance and joy! C.J. & Co. took the disco scene by storm, and this track still echoes the message: there’s nothing wrong with having your own style, your own groove, and your own thang! Until next time, keep the record playing!

Photo: RaymondBoyd51 - Own work
Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles

Today’s topic the sound of Philadelphia soul radio I just happen to browse on the Internet and found gamble – huffmusic.com and that’s how I found out about TSOP Soul Radio. I’m here to tell you It’s a sensational sound experience that’s taking the airwaves by storm. If you’re looking to get lost in smooth, melodies rhythms, and a whole lot of heart, you’ve hit the jackpot .

You’ll see TSOP Soul Radio, and you know TSOP stands for Th Sound of Philadelphia. And believe me, it’s got that soulful magic that’ll make you wanna dance, and it has that soulful magic that makes you want to slow dance too. It’s where legends like the O’Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and Teddy Pendergrass cone alive. You can feel love in the air.

TSOP Soul Radio has got what you need. You want rhythm? You got it! You want blues? You got it! Each track spins like a love letter to the soul bringing warmth and joy to every listener. TSOP Soul Radio is your ticket to a world filled with soulful satisfaction.

So tune in and feel the power of the groove. Remember, this isn’t just a radio station. It’s a soulful celebration that keeps the legacy alive and keeps us dancing through the night.
Catch the vibe, spread the love, and let the music play at gamble-huffmusic.com or tunein.com.

This is Gail Nobles‘s podcasting off, but remember: keep it real, keep it soulful, and keep moving.

Into by: Gail Nobles

The Thee Degrees are a female vocal group form circa 1963 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.

The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. Porter and Turner were eventually replaced by Helen Scott and Janet Harmon and the group was signed to Swan Records in Philadelphia. The line-up from 1967 to 1976 was Pinkney, Valerie Holiday and Sheila Ferguson, who would go on to sing lead on most of the group's biggest hits. This line-up topped the US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single "When Will I See You Again", which was a huge international hit, reaching the Top 5 in seven countries, including number two in the US and topping the UK Singles Chart. After Pinkney was fired from the group in 1976, Helen Scott returned to join Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday to have four UK Top 20 hits, including "Woman in Love", which reached number three in 1979. Ferguson left for a solo career in 1986.

 It was 1973 when the group was signed to Philadelphia International Records under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff where they had their greatest successes. The first song they recorded for the label was with the studio band MFSB, titled "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", which was the theme song for Soul Train.In October 1973, the group also made an appearance on the American television sitcom Sanford and Son (season 3, episode 4), singing their song "I Didn't Know".

 Their first album for the Philadelphia International label, The Three Degrees, spawned three hits: "Dirty Ol' Man" (which went gold in the Netherlands and Belgium), "Year Of Decision" (which made it to No. 13 in the UK Singles Chart),but it was the third single, "When Will I See You Again", that propelled the trio into the mainstream. It topped the UK Chart for two weeks in August 1974 (the first time this had been achieved by an all-female group since The Supremes in 1964, and became the fourth best-selling single of the year. It also reached No. 2 in the US, where it sold over two million copies and earned the trio a gold record in December 1974.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening. Goodbye for now.

Podcast Intro music by: Gail Nobles
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Cover Art by: Gail Nobles

Song: Soul Train 76 (Get On Board)
Song by: The Soul Train Gang

In the early 1970s, the dancers on Don Cornelius' hit television program Soul Train were called the Soul Train Gang. But they became the Soul Train Dancers in 1975, when Cornelius and Dick Griffey co-founded Soul Train Records (later SOLAR Records), home to Lakeside, Shalamar, the Whispers and others—and decided to name an R&B vocal quintet The Soul Train Gang.

Consisting of two brothers' from Cincinnati, Ohio; Gerald Brown & Terry Brown; Judy Jones, Patricia Williamson (replaced by Denise Smith in 1976) and Hollis Pippin, the Soul Train Gang recorded its debut album, Don Cornelius Presents the Soul Train Gang, in 1975. Produced by Cornelius and Griffey, the LP included "Soul Train '75," one of the many themes from Soul Train.

But I like Soul Train 76 (Get On Board) by The Soul Train Gang. To me, it was a better theme. It was a theme that painted a picture in my mind what Soul Train was really all about.

Coming up next: The Sound of Philadelphia featuring The Three Degrees.

You're listening to Ferris Wheel Soul. I’m your host Gail Nobles.

Beginning Ferris Wheel Soul Intro by: Gail Nobles
Ending podcast jingle by: Gail Nobles
Cover Art by: Gail Nobles
Circus Music: Pixabay.com
Usage: Free
Other Music by: Gail Nobles

Hello! I'm Gail Nobles. Welcome to Ferris Wheel Soul. I'm gonna talk about music from the days of Solar Records when tunes were spinning from the records. Those were good days. Those were the best days of music.

Solar Records was founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey. It was reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only two years after it was founded with Soul Train television show host and creator Don Cornelius.

SOLAR began in 1975 as Soul Train Records, founded by Dick Griffey and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.[2] The first act they signed was an R&B vocal quartet they named The Soul Train Gang (Gerald Brown, Terry Brown, Judy Jones, Patricia Williamson, and later Denise Smith), who performed one of Soul Train's many themes, "Soul Train '75". Their first album was entitled Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang. In 1976, their second album, The Soul Train Gang, produced by Philly's Norman Harris, was released. The Gang broke up in 1977.

Next, I'll be talking about the Soul Train Gang and their music. You're listening to the Ferret-FWS. Another edition of the Ferret. Ferris Wheel Soul is about the artists of Solar Records and the days of Soul Train. Tune in again next time for more FWS-Ferris Wheel Soul.

Intro by: Gail Nobles

Today's topic: Shorty Long-Function at the Junction.

Hello! I'm Gail Nobles. Welcome to The Ferret. The count about sounds… about songs from the music charts. Today we're going to talk about Shorty Long and his song Function at the Junction.

Shorty Long was a soul singer songwriter musician and record producer for Motown soul records imprint.He was inducted into the Alabama jazz Hall of Fame in 1980.

I like Shorty Long's song Function at the Junction released in 1966.It's a classic and soul song. It was a very popular hit. It has a catchy tune. The song is on his 1968 debut studio album album: Here Comes the Judge. The song might make you think of a gathering or people getting together for something. Function at the Junction was written by Shorty Long and Eddie Holland.

Photo: Laurel Maryland
Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 2.0
Story by: Gail Nobles

Hello everyone! Welcome again to the Ferret. I'm Gail Nobles and today's topic is Ashford and Simpson-Coke commercial. They were a husband and wife songwriting production recording duo composed of Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. You may remember them from their biggest hit Solid from the 11 studio album Solid .The album peaked at number one on the US R&B albums chart. You might remember songs from them like Count Your Blessings, Street Corner, Found A Cure & more.

I've enjoyed Ashford & Simpson’s songs and seeing them perform together. The way they have sung together looked as if they really had love for each other.

Did you know that they were in a 1980 Coke commercial together? I considered it a wonderful classic as well. Commercials aren't made like they were made back then. There are some things you just don't forget, and that's how commercials were made. They were made in a way you didn't forget them.

The commercial took place in a recording studio. Ashford had two Cokes and walked up to Simpson to hand her one while she was playing the piano. It put her more in the mood to sing with Ashford, and the band members began to play their instruments. When you were done watching the commercial, you were left in a great mood with them. The commercial put you in the mood to sing and this very day I remember it. I still remember Ashford and Simpson.

Music intro by: Gail Nobles

Do we have any Rod Stewart fans out there? How many remember Rod Stewart in the 70s? Rod Stewart remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 17 weeks during the 1970s. He is among the best selling music artist of all time having sold more than 120 million records worldwide. He has had 10 number-one albums and 31 top-ten singles in the UK. Six of which reached number one. Stewart has had 16 top-ten singles in the US with four reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rod Stewart's first hit song was Maggie May released 1971. There were other hits like Hot Legs released in 1978, You Wear It Well in 1972. The hit song I remember most in the 70s is Da Ya Think I'm Sexy released in 1978. It was from Stewart's nineth studio album Blondes Have More Fun. It was written by Stewart Appice and Duane Hitchings.

The song was released as the first single from Blondes Have More Fun in November 1978. It spent one week atop the UK Singles Chart in December 1978 and four weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979. Billboard ranked it number four on its Top Singles of 1979 year-end chart. It also topped the charts in Canada for four weeks and in Australia for two weeks.

I played Rod Stewart’s song to death when I was a little girl. My mother and father had the 45 record. I loved the music and the bridge of the song when Rod Stewart said: His heart is beating like a drum because it lasts he's got this girl home.” He was telling a story, and there was something about the music and Rod's voice in that spot. I always waited for that part of the song.

I'm Gail Nobles and you're listening to The Ferret. Thank you for tuning in, and I hope you'll come back to Tune in next time.

Intro: By Gail Nobles
Photo: Hans Peters / Anefo - Nationaal Archief
Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0

Today's topic: the British soul group The Real Thing.


The Real Thing are a British soul group formed in the 1970s. The band charted internationally with their song "You to Me Are Everything", which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. They also had successes a string of British hits such as "Can't Get By Without You" and "Can You Feel the Force?". They returned to mainstream success in 1986 with the Decade Remix of "You to Me Are Everything". By number of sales, they were the most successful black rock/soul act in England during the 1970s.

The Real Thing ffound chart success with the pop-soul single "You to Me Are Everything", which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 29 on Billboard's "R&B Singles" and No. 66 on Billboard's "Hot 100". The song was certified silver for 250,000 in sales. Their follow-up, "Can't Get By Without You", did not chart in the US but was still a success in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 2.

In 1976, they released their first album, Real Thing, which included both of their hit singles as well as a third UK hit, "You'll Never Know What You're Missing", which peaked at No. 16.

You’re listening to The Ferret. I’m your host, Gail Nobles.