Stick Up - Honey Cone (1971) 5/7/23

Today we're highlighting the best Jackson Five song never recorded by the Jackson Five.

In 1970, when when the Jacksons burst on the scene with *four #1 songs in a row, courtesy of Motown, it didn't take long for other record companies--especially those in Detroit--to try their hands at copying The Jackson's unique new style.

(*Note: For the record, those songs were: "I want You Back, "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "Ben.")

In 1971, over at Hot Wax Records, Honey Cone had just scored a #1 "Great Song" with "Want Ads," which we highlighted back on 4/12/21.

To follow it up, they released "Stick Up," which sounded exactly like a lost Jackson Five record.

It was up tempo, with fun lyrics and a cool bassline, and it reached #1 on Billboard's Soul Chart as well as #11 on the Hot 100.

Honey Cone may have "robbed" the Jackson Five's style (See what I did there?), but they made it their own and acquitted themselves quite nicely with "Stick Up," a "Great Song of 1971!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKG5Fx4H2tM

Tomorrow: From Radio Sales to Radio Hit. Coming Soon: Great Songs of the '80s