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Believe it or not, Motown wasn't the only record company in Detroit cranking out million-selling #1 hits during the '70s.
For example, over at Hot Wax Records, 1971 was a "Great Year!"
It all started when the group Honey Cone recorded a song called "Stick Up," written by Greg Perry, Norman Johnson and Barney Perkins. No one seemed to think it was very good, so they regrouped to come up with something else. (Note: The song was later retooled, and became a hit in its own right. But first...)
While Greg and Norman were in the studio trying to think of some-thing new, Barney was looking through a newspaper and somewhat jokingly suggested they should put an ad in the "Help Wanted" section.
Before you know it, Greg and Norman had written the lyric: "Wanted! Young man, single and free..." and the song "Want Ads" was born.
Oddly enough, the new tune was first recorded by another Hot Wax group, Glass House, but they didn't care for the final mix, so lead singer Scherrie Payne re-recorded it with her sister, Freda ("Band of Gold") Payne...and they didn't like it either!
So it came back around to Honey Cone. This time, EVERYONE liked the final mix, and it was released as a single. Nine short weeks later, "Want Ads" was at #1 on both the Hot 100 and Soul Charts, selling more than a million copies!
In 1988, "Want Ads" was covered by Taylor Dayne on her debut al-bum, and in 2005, the song was sampled in Mary-Mary's gospel hit, "Heaven," which spent a record-setting 9 weeks at the Top of Billboard's Gospel Chart!
"Want Ads" by Honey Cone: some Hot Wax from the Motor City, and a "Great Song of 1971!"
Honey Cone:
Taylor Dane:
Mary-Mary ("Heaven”):
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