in july of '97 i devoted a radio show to the sounds of detroit from late july '67...marking the 30-year anniversary of the riots...played what you might have heard on, say, wjlb the day the rioting began...did lots of playlist research beforehand but also relied on anecdotal evidence on a couple ("man, they stopped playing my record on the radio when the riots hit," someone had quoted cecil washington as saying, because of what might be interpreted as some kind of black-power sentiment in the lyrics)...
DOWNTOWN SOULVILLE with Mr. Fine Wine
Fridays 6PM-7PM, WFMU - FM 91.1 East Orange, NJ
July 25, 1997
Detroit Riot soundtrack!
Gladys Knight & the Pips, "Everybody Needs Love"
Marvin Gaye, "Your Unchanging Love"
Andre Williams, "Pearl Time"
Jimmy Delphs, "Almost"
Jean & the Darlings, "How Can You Mistreat the One You Love"
The "Group" Featuring Cecil Washington, "I Don't Like to Lose"
The Miracles, "More Love"
Bunny Sigler, "Let the Good Times Roll/Feels So Good"
Lewis Clark, "Dog (Ain't a Man's Best Friend)"
The Parliaments, "(I Wanna) Testify"
Kris Peterson, "Mama's Little Baby (Is a Big Girl Now)"
The Esquires, "Get On Up"
Bonnie Brisker, "Someone Really Loves You (Guess Who)"
The Isley Brothers, "That's the Way Love Is"
Jr. Walker & the All Stars, "Shoot Your Shot"
Jimmy Ruffin, "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby"
Slim Harpo, "Tip On In (Pt. 1)"
Jimmy Mack, "My World Is on Fire"
Willie Horton & the Supremes, "Detroit Is Happening"
i'm doubting "shoot your shot" had much longevity on the local playlists after that week! same with "detroit is happening," which was a public service message for summer youth programs but had lines like "detroit is HAPPENING this summer!!"...then there's "my world is on fire"...