Rock The Boat A Signature Hit
Freedom for the Stallions next single was Rock the Boat, written by Wally Waldo Holmes who also penned some of Blaculas songs. The song gave the Hues Corporation their biggest hit. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. It also went to #2 on the R& B singles chart, #12 adult contemporary, #5 dance and #6 on the British chart. With its danceable tune, Rock the Boat is considered one of the first-ever disco hits.
In the wake of Rock the Boats success, some personnel shifts occurred with Tommy Brown replacing Fleming Williams.
The success of Rock the Boat brought the album Freedom for the Stallion to #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #59 on the Billboard black albums chart.
The Hues Corporations Early Showbiz Career
Artists St. Clair Lee , Fleming Williams , and Hubert Ann Kelley formed the Hues Corporation in Santa Monica, California in 1969. The group also had three side musicians: Joey Rivera , Monti Lawson and Bob Bullet Bailey. All of their three sidemen later formed their own act called Goodstuff.
They used to be the opening act for many stars, including Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Milton Berle, Flash Cadillac, Ike Turner and Delaney Bramlett. Their group devised their name Hues Corporation, a play on the word Hughes Corporation. This denoted the groups African-American lineage.
Later Career Disbandment And Reunion
In the wake of Rock the Boats success, some personnel shifts occurred with Tommy Brown replacing Fleming Williams.
The success of Rock the Boat brought the album Freedom for the Stallion to #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #59 on the Billboard black albums chart.
In 1974 the Hues Coporation released their sophomore effort Rockin Soul, which featured its title track as a single. It went to Billboard top 20 at #18, and #5 on the dance chart, and #6 on the R& B singles chart. It also went to #6 on the UK singles chart.
Their following efforts seemed clear that they were having difficulty in duplicating the success of Rock the Boat. Another change in the lineup occurred, with Brown leaving and Karl Russell taking his place.
From their following singles Love Corporation and I Caught Your Act, it is clear that the band was losing steam, so to speak. The Hues Corporation disbanded in 1977. They got together again in the 1990s as interest in the disco genre re-ignited
Original group member Fleming Williams died in 1998, and founding member St. Clair Lee passed away in 2011. Although that they had no more major hits during their heyday, at least they left one great legacy to the music industry their classic hit Rock the Boat.
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So I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat babyEver since our voyage of love beganYour touch has thrilled me like the rush of the windAnd your arms have held me safe from a rolling seaThere's always been a quiet place to harbor you and meOur love is like a ship on the oceanWe've been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat babyUp to now we sailed through every stormAnd I've always had your tender lips to keep me warmOh, I need to have the strength that flows from youDon't let me drift away my dear, when love can see me throughWe've been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat, baby, don't tip the boat over ooh-ooh rock on with you, baby rock on with you, baby rock on with you, baby
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So I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat babyEver since our voyage of love beganYour touch has thrilled me like the rush of the windAnd your arms have held me safe from a rolling seaThere's always been a quiet place to harbor you and meOur love is like a ship on the oceanWe've been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat babyUp to now we sailed through every stormAnd I've always had your tender lips to keep me warmOh, I need to have the strength that flows from youDon't let me drift away my dear, when love can see me throughWe've been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notionSo I'd like to know where, you got the notionSaid I'd like to know where, you got the notion, don't rock the boat baby, don't tip the boat over, don't rock the boat, baby, don't tip the boat over ooh-ooh rock on with you, baby rock on with you, baby rock on with you, baby
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Soundtrack Work On The Film Blacula And Their First Album Freedom For The Stallion
The Hues Corporations big break came in 1972 when they were invited to record three songs for the soundtrack of the blaxploitation film Blacula: There He Is Again,What the World Knows, and Im Gonna Catch You.
Through their work in the film, the Hues Corporation signed a recording deal with RCA Victor. They released their first single on that label, Freedom for the Stallion, written by renowned artist Allen Toussaint. The single was also the title track of the bands first LP, released in 1973.
Freedom for the Stallion was a a minor pop hit, at #63. It fared much better on the adult contemporary chart, at #9.
Group Name And Background
Before achieving mainstream success they were the opening act for a list of headliners that included Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell. The original band had a lineup of three singers and three sidemen. The sidemen were Joey Rivera from the Checkmates Monti Lawston and Bob “Bullet” Bailey, formerly of the Leaves. Bailey, Rivera, and Lawston left the band to form Goodstuff.
The group’s name was a pun on the Howard Hughes Corporation, with the ‘hue’ . The band’s members at the time of their first album were St. Clair Lee , Fleming Williams and Hubert Ann Kelley . The original choice for the group’s name was The Children of Howard Hughes, which their record label turned down.
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Introduction To The Hues Corporation
The Hues Corporation were an American soul/pop/disco act known for their #1 1974 hit Rock The Boat, which were one of the earliest disco hits. They started out in their career as three singers and three side musicians. 1972 was an eventful year for the band when a big break came they were asked to appear in the movie Blacula, as well as record a handful of songs for its soundtrack. Later on they were signed to RCA Records, where they released the first single Freedom For The Stallion which turned out to be a modest success.
The follow-up single Rock The Boat, however, became a massive hit in 1974, leading to its highest peak of the Hot 100 that year as well as a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America . Their subsequent singles Rockin Soul, Love Corporation and I Caught Your Act went nowhere near the achievement as Rock The Boat did, although they became a big hit on the dance and R& B charts. The Hues Corporation split up in 1978, but got together again in the 1990s as interest in the disco genre re-ignited.
About The Hues Corporation
A Los Angeles vocal trio, the Hues Corporation enjoyed two big hits in the mid-’70s, notably “Rock the Boat” in 1974 for RCA. While it was lightweight, mainly pop work, it did take The Hues Corporation to number two on the R& B charts and get them their lone pop chart topper. The next single, “Rockin’ Soul,” peaked at number six on the R& B charts and number 18 on the pop charts. They had their final R& B hit the next year with “Love Corporation,” which reached number 15, but it was evident that the audience was losing interest in their material. “I Caught Your Act” was the last release in 1977. H. Ann Kelley, Flemming Williams, and Bernard “St. Clair Lee” Henderson were the original lineup. Tom Brown replaced Williams in the wake of “Rock the Boat’s” success. He was then replaced by Karl Russell in 1975. ~ Ron Wynn
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