Genius on the Black Side (MP3s)

1. Where Is the Love?
2. Shame
3. Le Freak
4. Up From the Skies
5. You Stepped Into My Life
6. Soul Man
7. Higher and Higher
8. Don't Cost You Nothin'
9. I'm Just Wild About Harry
10. This Will Be
11. Ain't No Sunshine
12. I'm Every Woman
13. September

Here's a baker's dozen of PSAs circa 1980 for you soul and Motown fans. Created by the Social Security Administration, Genius on the Black Side was a series of five-minute radio fillers that met the FCC requirement for public service programming and threw a little bit of current rock into the mix. Narrated by James Earl Jones, each episode gives you some background on the artist, a highlight of Social Security benefits, and a piece of a hit song.

The production values on this are well above anything that was coming out of PSA production circles at the time, and it's easy to hear how seamlessly this would have flowed into urban- or rock-formatted stations. They're well-researched, interesting, and slick. In short, someone loved this project.

I love the Energy Hogs as much as the next DJ who has to work PSAs into a show, but I love these a lot more. The album identifies these tracks as Shows 53-65, which means there's more to be found out there somewhere.

That's Jimi Hendrix doing "Up From the Skies." Until next time, don't forget, Social Security benefits do not arrive automatically. You need to apply for them.

Comments

[macedonia]

these are wonderful. only heard the first seven so far, but i'm enthralled. that and you get to hear james earl jones say "le freak." what's not to like?

[Kathryn Jensen]

Any idea what the music is under Jones's voice overs? I like it.