10 Landmark R & B Albums Turning 50 This Year

An excerpt from People -

The Sound of '74: 10 Landmark R&B Albums Turning 50 This Year

Learn more about the making of iconic albums by Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and more.

By Jordan Runtagh 

PHOTO: Getty

The year 1974 saw a host of legendary Black performers reach the peak of their powers, with icons like Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Millie Jackson and Aretha Franklin releasing works that defined both their careers and the decade through bold sonic innovations or powerful social commentary. It was a transitional time for the sound of Black America, as the ever-expanding scope of R&B grew to include emerging genres including funk, disco and even early hip-hop. In celebration of Black History Month, learn about — and listen to! — these landmark works by some of the greatest Black artists of all time. 

01 'Perfect Angel' by Minnie Riperton

'Perfect Angel' by Minnie Riperton.

Released: Aug. 6, 1974

Standout Tracks: "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” "You're the First, the Last, My Everything"

Far more than just a velvet-voice, White was a writer, producer, arranger and key pioneer of the developing disco sound thanks to his run of early ‘70s solo albums that fused Memphis funk, Philly Soul, lush strings, and infectious four-on-the-floor beats with his unmistakable stage-rattling croon. Can’t Get Enough, his third solo disc, is the maestro at his peak. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” the lead single, became his first No. 1 under his own name, and “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” — which began life as an unreleased country song from the 1950s before White reworked it — remains a sultry R&B standard half a century after its release.

The amped-up romance came from a real place for White. While producing the R&B group Love Unlimited, he fell in love with their singer, Glodean James. During one sleepless night, he poured his passionate sweet nothings for James into a song that became the title track. They were married by the time it topped the charts that September. 

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