| Author | Message | ||
  bigdaddyg2k4 (bigdaddyg2k4) 2-Debutant Username: bigdaddyg2k4 Post Number: 29 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.102.169.218 |
On this day in 1974, William DeVaughn, R&B vocalist/guitarist/songrwriter , hit the Billboard Pop Charts with the smash "Be Thankful For What You Got" (Roxbury 0236), peaking at #4 and #1 on the R&B charts for 1 week respectively, staying on the charts for 10 weeks and eventually becoming a Gold single, then Platinum. Here is a short bio on the one-hit wonder and this soul classic. "Singer/songwriter/guitarist William DeVaughn had a million-seller the first time out with his inspiring "Be Thankful For What You Got". Those who first heard the smooth track thought it was a new record from Curtis Mayfield. DeVaughn's high tenor does bear some resemblance to Mayfield's and the simple, encouraging lyrics were similar to the kind found in the catalog of the Impressions leader. "Be Thankful For What You Got" also found its way onto the playlist of some gospel radio programs. One of the lyrics "Diamond in the back/sunroof top/digging the scene with a gangster lean" became a catchphrase and appeared in numerous rap/hip hop records of the '90s. The Washington, D.C. native was working for the Federal government when he paid $900 for a recording session at Philadelphia's Omega Sound, Inc. (basically a "vanity record" operation). Usually, the results of such efforts are anything but star-making, but Omega featured the services of MFSB's main rhythm session (guitarist Norman Harris, drummer Earl Young, bassist Ronnie Baker, organist Lenny Pakula, percussionist Larry Washington and vibist Vince Montana). Omega vice-president Frank Fiorvanti was impressed with the record and began shopping it around to various labels. Finally issued on Wes Farrell's Roxbury imprint, and produced by Frank Fiorvanti and arranger John Davis, "Be Thankful For What You Got" sold nearly two million copies, gliding up to the top of the R&B charts and number Four pop in Spring, 1974. The album of the same name had an almost religious tone (DeVaughn was Jehovah's Witness) and yielded several radio-aired LP tracks: "Give The Little Man A Great Big Hand" (the third single), "We Are His Children", "Sing A Love Song", and "You Can Do It". The second single, "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" made it to number Ten R&B and number 43 pop in Summer 1974. Akin to the post-heyday performances of a converted Al Green, DeVaughn preached to and admonished his audience from the stage. He lost interest in the music business not long after, though he did remake "Be Thankful For What You Got" for TEC and charted again with the Top 40 R&B hit "Figures Can't Calculate" in Summer, 1980 for the label."~Ed Hogan, All Music Guide This song has been a personal anthem in my life now more than ever as William said "Though you may not drive/A great big Cadillac/Against the white walls/Tv antennas in the back/You may not have/A car at all/But remember, brothers and sisters/You can still stand tall/Just be thankful/For what you got." That tells me right there that right now, you may not have a ride, a house, money in your pocket, a mate, whatever. You should be happy that you got your health and well being to carry you through the rough times, and eventually, get to the good times, if you just be thankful for just having the basics to survive. Because, as the old saying goes, "There's always somebody doing far worse than you", and ain't that the truth! So folks, you think you may not have much at all, but if you stop and look around you and above, you have everything you need and more. A little of something is better than nothing. Although that great big Powder Blue '74 Cadillac Fleetwood Bro-ham fresh from the car wash with the leather seats, ragtop, whitewalls, Dayton rims, tv antenna, sunroof top, diggin' the scene wit a gangsta lean with that song in the CD player is nothing short of "playlistic" and "pimpin" in anyone's imagination, including mine! Holla back! Eli, what's your fave memories on that session you and comrades sat in and made that old skool classic? | ||
bigdaddyg2k4 (bigdaddyg2k4) 3-Pundit Username: bigdaddyg2k4 Post Number: 31 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 206.157.27.194 |
waiting..........just waiting a response from someone...............helloooo o...............is anybody home?.............  | ||
Manny (manny) 4-Laureate Username: manny Post Number: 148 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.11.139 |
Hi, Bigdaddy! Hope someday I find a compilation by this soul singer wich diverse people have told to me is very fine. In fact I only got the Intruder's version of "Be Thankful For What You Got" in their "Energy Of Love" album and is jointly with "Be On Time" my favorite track of this LP. I'm wondering how sounds the original. I never see one album or 45 of William De Vaughn in Spain! Peace & Soul Food! | ||
~medusa~ (~medusa) 4-Laureate Username: ~medusa Post Number: 98 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.79.165.76 |
I've always thought he was saying~ though you may not drive a great big cadillac, GANGSTA White walls..etc. ok, I was wrong on that one. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 414 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.57.199 |
Medusa, It was gangster white walls. I played on that session. Back then the term "gangsta" wasnt coined as of yet. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 415 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.57.199 |
Omega was a "song shark" type operation,whereby they advertized in magazines with lines like "sent us 41500.00 and we will record your songs" There were three 'artists" that day who each recorded on song. The other two was a rather fat female singer and a male singing group. Harry Chipetz of Sigma was the one with the Wes Farrell hookup. Fiorvanti was only interested in the cash. I was the one who played the wah wah part. | ||
Soulaholic (soulaholic) 4-Laureate Username: soulaholic Post Number: 165 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.41.40.105 |
Oh Manny: You are missing a vital tune!!! I'll hook you up. e-mail me your address | ||
Destruction (destruction) 2-Debutant Username: destruction Post Number: 29 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 199.173.225.2 |
BigDaddy, The irony for me is that inspite of the song's message, whenever I hear it I immediately conjure up images of cadillacs, big fur coats, and platform shoes. I think you covered everything else, including the Curtis Mayfield vibe. | ||
DyvaNaye (westside314) 6-Zenith Username: westside314 Post Number: 417 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.212.74.211 |
Manny! You are my SPANISH SOUL-Mate! LOL! I love that Intruders album - Energy of Love. I was telling the Chancellor not to long ago that I felt like the only person who bought that album. On that album I enjoyed the cuts LONELY/ENERGY OF LOVE/EVERYONES A STAR/BE ON TIME Eli is that you on the guitar in Everyones a Star? or Norm Harris? I love that song! William DeVaughn's record is an all time 'in the hood' classic...and still one of my favrites to listen to tillthis day...it helps define the what the TSOP sound was all about. Anyone remember Martin Lawrence's 'Jerome' version of this song on the episode 'The Playa's Ball?' Just brilliant...lol.... |
