104 Comments
User's avatar
Clark's avatar

Aretha for the win!

Expand full comment
adrienneep's avatar

Yes. But Aretha in the race = unfair competition.

Expand full comment
Todd Sumner's avatar

I was only 5 yrs old when I saw Al Green on Soul Train. I did not even understand what I was seeing but I felt it and I still feel it. Al Green is the rhythm of my heart and soul. I found it on Soul Train as a five-year-old white boy.

Expand full comment
Ms.JP's avatar

Al green was something.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

The reverand himself!

Expand full comment
Gunnar Miller's avatar

Normal citizens used to really be able to dance https://youtu.be/X5oUhUyLqow .

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Ain’t that the truth

Expand full comment
adrienneep's avatar

Indeed. In fairness, American Bandstand couldn’t compete because Dick Clark tightly controlled the dancers. Such is not the case on Soul Train. Our very culture withered away when we stopped being able to dance to the music. No one dances to Heavy Metal.

Expand full comment
adrienneep's avatar

OMG… Sex Farm Woman and Fred Willard at the military base.

Expand full comment
Gunnar Miller's avatar

It was your comment about attempts to dance to heavy metal that jogged my memory.

Expand full comment
adrienneep's avatar

Now you’ve really done it. We have never seen this clip and thought we knew SCTV. Doing punk Sex Pistols even—this going into our heavy rotation for laughs.

Expand full comment
Gunnar Miller's avatar

I live to serve.

Expand full comment
Martha Bright Anandakrishnan's avatar

Love this! I used to watch Soul Train when I was a tween—white girl from rural Appalachia. I have a Marvin Gaye story. I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the day I entered the student union “Sexual Healing” was playing on the jukebox. I looked around at all the students, more people of color than I had ever seen, drinking pitchers of beer and getting down to that fabulous song. I knew I’d found my place. That was 1982.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Wow what a moment 🤩 thanks for sharing!

Expand full comment
Ms.JP's avatar

Wow . Did I enjoy this. Thank you! Such good break from the chaos fest of rump and his demonic clowns. Really restored a lost piece of the history of dance and fashion for me.

Expand full comment
Sean's avatar

Marvin Gaye. A superstar and no one pushed forward or tried monopolise. What a great crowd.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

True legend 😍

Expand full comment
Barbara Faigen's avatar

Livened up my night! Thanks.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

🙌🙌

Expand full comment
Rebecca Rinker's avatar

Janet and Elton! Dang! Tempted to skip a party today. Feeling a bit down in the dumps at the prospect of another Minnesota Winter, and another beautiful October gone.

Then my email and substack brought me this. Guess I'd better go get ready, Thank you!

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Amazing — thanks for reading!

Expand full comment
Bloviaticus's avatar

Danced with my mom, circa 1975, to Soul Train on Saturday!

5 year old me learned a little bit o' rhythm from the greats. It still holds up.

Expand full comment
MsRachel77 🎗️🧡's avatar

I won’t even say it was a much simpler time, but people were able to take a break from the crazy, and get down. Thank you, Matt.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

Well said. Thanks for reading!

Expand full comment
Catya Mandt's avatar

Thanks so much!! We had the best music!!…..and the moves!!

Expand full comment
Rebecca Rinker's avatar

When dancing was still a group activity. Maybe we need a bit more of that in this country.

Expand full comment
Ottalie's avatar

Thanks. I needed that.

Expand full comment
Matt Fish's avatar

💙💙💙

Expand full comment
Beans's avatar

What a sweet blast from the past!! Loved it. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Laura's avatar

Thank you

Expand full comment
Kjames's avatar

Miss those days

Expand full comment