I Wanna Get Next to You -Rose Royce (1976-77) 2/2/22

Back on 10/20/20, we highlighted 1975's "Car Wash," a "Great Disco Song" from the soundtrack of a racially-integrated comedy/drama with several subplots that dealt with issues that are still relevant today. You can read my original post by clicking here:

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCuuuk/posts/220811199392335 "Car Wash" was sung by the group Rose Royce--and became a Top 5 song on several charts in several countries. Today, we're highlighting their follow-up hit: another "Great Song" from the film's soundtrack: "I Wanna Get Next to You." It's a sexy and soulful ballad that sounds like something right out of Motown...and there's a good reason for that. "I Wanna Get Next to You" was written and produced by Norman Whitfield, who spent the '60s at Motown Records, working with everyone from Marvin Gaye to the Temptations. In 1975, after Motown moved their headquarters to Los Angeles, Norman stayed in Detroit and started Whitfield Records. The "Car Wash" soundtrack was his first project with the new label. In late 1976/early 1977, "I Wanna Get Next to You" became a Top 10 song on THREE Billboard Charts: #10 on the Hot 100, #9 on the Easy Listening Chart, and #3 on the Soul Chart. It was also a hit in Canada, the UK and New Zealand. "I Wanna Get Next to You" by Rose Royce: perfect for a romantic evening, and just a "Great Song" overall.