THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

356-The Hues Corporation-Rock the Boat.

1974-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. Due to it’s popularity in the nightclubs, the radio finally began to play it, leading to what many people cite as the first ‘Disco’ record to become a Billboard Number 1 single.

The Hues Corporation were formed in 1969 in Santa Monica, California, United States, by Wally Holmes, (1928-2021) and Bernard St. Clair Lee, (1944-2011) they were soon joined by Hubert Ann Kelley, (1947-2023) and Karl Russell. The group initially wanted to call themselves ‘The Children of Howard Hughes,’ but their record label wouldn’t allow it, so they settled on ‘The Hughes Corporation,’ naming themselves after the business magnate Howard Hughes, (1905-1976) which was a pun on the ‘Howard Hughes Corporation.’ The Hues Corporation’s first big break occurred in 1972 when asked to appear in, and provide three songs for the ‘blaxploitation’ film ‘Blacula,’ after which Karl Russell was replaced in the band by Fleming Williams (1943-1998.) This new lineup were signed to ‘RCA Records,’ and recorded their debut studio Album ‘Freedom for the Stallion’ in 1973, which included the original version of this song. The Hues Corporation were active until around 1980, but were reformed in the 1990’s by Bernard St. Clair Lee, with new members, in order to tour.

The discography of The Hues Corporation includes five studio Albums released between 1973-1980, and 17 singles released between 1970-1982, there are also five official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, two of their singles have reached the top 40, ‘Rock the Boat,’ (1974) making Number 1, and the follow up ‘Rockin’ Soul,’ (1974) reaching Number 18. In the UK those same two singles have also provided their only two top 40 entries, peaking at Number 6 and Number 24. ‘Rock the Boat’ was also a major international hit, notably reaching Number 1 in Canada, Number 2 in Belgium, Number 4 in the Netherlands, and Number 7 in Germany.

‘Rock the Boat’ was the third of four singles released from ‘Freedom for the Stallion,’ which was the debut studio Album by The Hues Corporation, from December 1973, the song was written by band member Wally Holmes, with the production being by John Florez. It was Florez who remixed the song, which led to it’s popularity in the nightclubs, the new remix was one of the tracks to feature on the bands second studio Album ‘Rockin’ Soul’ released in 1974. Some very famous musicians were brought in for the original recording of the song, including Joe Sample, (1939-2014) (keyboards) Wilton Felder, (1940-2015) (bass) and Larry Carlton (guitar) of the ‘Jazz Crusaders’ (see also best songs 588.) The star line up also included the session drummer Jim Gordon (1945-2023) (see also best songs 846-795-639 and 417.) Fleming Williams who provided the songs lead vocal would leave The Hues Corporation shortly after the song was recorded.

‘Rock the Boat’ failed to make much impact on it’s initial release in May 1974, as weeks went by without it receiving any radio airplay or sales activity. It was a different story in the Disco’s in New York where it was proving very popular on the dance floor. This led to the song entering the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100, and the radio stations finally getting on board. It took off from there, and within six weeks, on July 6th, 1974, it had reached Number 1. ‘Rock the Boat’ is considered to be one of the earliest ‘Disco’ songs. Some music writers proclaim it to be the first ‘Disco’ song to reach Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while others give that distinction to ‘Love’s Theme,’ by Love Unlimited Orchestra, or ‘TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia,’) by MFSB, both of those songs had been Billboard Number 1’s earlier on in 1974.

Whether ‘Rock the Boat’ was the first ‘Disco’ Number 1 song or not, it certainly has played a part in the development of the genre. Richard Finch of KC & The Sunshine Band (see also best songs 893-375 and 64) has said that ‘Rock The Boat’ played a partial role in inspiring the hit ‘Rock Your Baby,’ (see also best songs 64) which he wrote with Harry Wayne Casey. Finch explained, ‘Harry and I were also paying attention to the chart actions at clubs, because club records, according to Harry’s direction, were doing better than just regular ‘R&B’ Records. Back then you could sneak into a club and they didn’t check your ID, so Harry and I would once in a while go sneak into the local clubs. There was one on Southwest 8th Street in Miami, Florida, that played dance music. We’d go in there for about an hour or two until it got to be way too late for us to be there. And we’d pay attention to what brought the people to the dance floor, and what made them sit down. So we started gearing ourselves to writing more in that direction. ‘Rock Your Baby’ was inspired by the gathering of all that information.’

Bernard St. Clair Lee, of The Hues Corporation has spoken about the songs universal appeal, ‘It was a song that you could do anything on. You could cuddle, or you could get crazy if you wanted to. It was a love song without being a love song. But, it was a disco hit and it happened because of the discos.’ In 1982 the American-Dutch singer Forrest Thomas (1953-2013) took his version of ‘Rock the Boat’ to Number 4 in the UK, it also made Number 7 in the Netherlands, and Number 33 in Australia.

‘Ever since our voyage of love began, your touch has thrilled me like the rush of the wind, and your arms have held me safe from a rolling sea. There’s always been a quiet place to harbour you and me.’