A Critical History of Soul Train on Television by Christopher P. Lehman

Author:Christopher P. Lehman [Lehman, Christopher P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Ethnic Studies, American, General, dance, African American & Black Studies, Performing Arts, General Fiction, Television
ISBN: 9780786436699
Google: XlWQBQAAQBAJ
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2008-04-16T00:13:29.886539+00:00

6

“Still the Hippest Trip”

Soul Train Loses Preeminence and Grows Older

In 1980 Soul Train began its second decade on a very high note. The series continued to feature R&B acts with successful crossover singles despite the disco backlash of the previous year. The show still attracted Hollywood stars for cameos; actresses Kim Fields of the NBC situation comedy The Facts of Life (1979–88) and Jayne Kennedy of the same network’s “human interest” show Speak Up, America (1980) made appearances in the 1980–81 season. The program also boasted a new theme song by The Whispers, which Cornelius used for three years—the longest tenure for a theme since King Curtis’ “Hot Potatoes.”

The same year, Cornelius himself enjoyed success in the entertainment industry outside of Soul Train. In June, United Artists released the movie Roadie to theaters. Reviewers were kind to the film. Variety stated that Cornelius “slickly embodied” his character, concert promoter Mohammed Johnson. The Los Angeles Times identified actors by name instead of the characters they played; it referred to the tour the title-character joined as “Don Cornelius’ Rock ’n’ Roll Circus.” The critics accepted his portrayal of a character involved in “white” rock music—quite an accomplishment, because to television audiences he still embodied “soul,” not “rock.”1

Cornelius understood the limitations of his character’s appeal and, therefore, did not exploit the movie on his television series. Roadie, after all, was a different kind of movie than Cleopatra Jones, which was a film marketed to African American audiences. In that movie Cornelius played himself, and he promoted the film by allowing an R&B singer to perform a song from it on Soul Train. In contrast, his program did not feature Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper, Blondie or any other musical act from the “rock ’n’ roll movie” as guest stars. Pop music had effectively become re-segregated. Whereas only five years earlier, three white acts boarded the “train,” only Teena Marie crossed the musical color line onto Soul Train in the 1980–81 season.

Cornelius did promote movies as the decade began—just not his own. Moreover, he booked acts that had worked in major motion picture releases, not just those targeted to urban demographics. In 1980, Irene Cara sang the theme to her movie Fame. The film presented an ethnically diverse group of students pursuing stardom while training at the New York High School of the Performing Arts. Soul Train’s promotion of the movie was ironic, considering that high school students once performed on the television show and sought fame from television exposure.

Another large-budget movie Soul Train promoted did not fare as well as Fame. In 1980 the Village People performed the theme to their movie Can’t Stop the Music. The members starred as themselves—stereotypical male icons—and fictitiously depicted their rise to fame; the other leading characters were white. Few people saw the film. It was released one year after Chicago’s “Disco Sucks” rally, and the movie did not have major stars or well-respected actors supporting the group. The studio had merely counted on disco music and the Village People to draw the audiences.

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