This is a song that was a hit in the NY clubs first that forced radio to start playing it. The disco revolution was quickly gathering steam and this singalong romp was the perfect vehicle.
The fates were smiling kindly on the Hues Corp, who after a few years of recording songs for schlocky blaxploitation flicks, somehow managed to get a crack team of musicians in the studio who were actually the accomplished band members of the legendary Crusaders (Street Life) and a stellar guest vocalist in Fleming Williams.
It's a success story in the same vein as William DeVaughn whose "Be Thankful For What You Got" became a success when he inadvertently garnered the band soon to be known as MFSB and crafted an unforgettable song, both one in a million shots.
The group became a sensation in Las Vegas when they were gigging at Circus Circus attracting the attention of other acts on the strip who came to see the talented group. They then clinched a record deal with RCA Records and The Hues Corp recorded the album "Freedom For The Stallion". "Rock The Boat" was tucked away on side one and was not considered for single release as the band considered the song a throwaway.
Three singles were issued, "Freedom For The Stallion" and "Miracle Maker (Sweet Soul Shaker) with "Freedom" peaking at #63 in 1973. "Rock The Boat" was issued in February, 1974 but sank without a trace by mid March. The LP was being cutout as a failure when it suddenly sold 50,000 copies in NYC. It was ignited by a NYC DJ who championed "Rock The Boat" and played it in his club, other DJ's scrambled to find the song and the rest is history.
Once radio picked up on the buzz it took six weeks for the song to top the Hot100 and set up the one/two disco punch when George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby" knocked it off the top the chart the following week. The disco phenomenon was going mainstream and it seemed everybody was dancing!
19 авг 2021
