(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
The Hues Corporation - "Rock the Boat"
Hit Number 1: July 6, 1974
Stay at Number 1: 1 Week
No one had any idea yet. No one knew that the explosion of disco was on the horizon, but you could find some early glimpses if you knew where to look. There were a few scattered dance clubs around New York City that played all kinds of this newfound fun music, but it didn't have a name yet. It was simply just "dance music." The Hues Corporation, though, found out the hard way that this kind of music was tough to make hits with yet. To this point, the only kinds of dance music people loved were the philly soul songs that we've seen pop a few times up on this blog. But the Hues Corporation were about to give the world something that they couldn't resist. They gave the world the first true disco smash in "Rock the Boat". But again, the song seemed like it was going to be yet another failure, and that was something the band was getting all too used to.
The Hues Corporation were a musical trio that had been around for a few years even before "Rock the Boat" was made. They were lucky enough to have a producer who was more than happy to write all their songs for them, and he was patient with the group, but for whatever reason the hits just wouldn't come for them. "Rock the Boat" looked like it was going to be another giant disappointment. The song went months without getting any radio airplay, and though it was available for purchase in record stores (when those were still a popular thing obviously), it didn't sell. Clearly, people didn't buy the record because they didn't know who the hell the Hues Corporation was. But their luck would finally change after "Rock the Boat" became a favorite in the New York dance clubs. Any time your song becomes a hit in only New York, it still stands a chance to become a nationwide hit. And that's exactly what happened to "Rock the Boat". The sudden popularity in those dance clubs forced the radio's hand to start playing the song.
The one thing that's important to realize about disco is that it's similar, but still different from philly soul. Philly soul is dominated by string sections and sometimes there's lyrics in those songs about true love or, like in the case of "Love Train", they can have lyrics that are pretty serious. Disco is never serious. Disco is strictly about having fun and, lord forgive me for using this word, "boogying" on the dance floor. We haven't reached the invention of the word "boogie" yet, but we're getting close. "Rock the Boat" is a pretty silly song about comparing a love relationship to a cargo ship. The ship has cargo that's full of "love and emotion." It's clearly a pretty stupid song in that regard, but it's full of fun harmonies and a horn section that gives the song a lot of life. And that's the appeal of "Rock the Boat". It's a lively song that's easy to dance to. That's exactly what disco would become later on. And that's what made "Rock the Boat" a popular song with some staying power.
To me, "Rock the Boat" is one of those songs that helps put you in a better mood. I have a playlist with a few songs that help me whenever I feel like I'm low on energy or I just need something to help get me going. As you probably have guessed, "Rock the Boat" is on that playlist. It's one of those songs that moves. It's got a fun, yet calming presence about it that I like. The Hues Corporation's harmonies blend perfectly, and the opening line "So I'd like to know where you got the notion!" is a great precursor to the rest of the song. Everything about "Rock the Boat" is fun. Everything has energy.
It might have looked like the Hues Corporation were about to break into superstardom, but their lead singer, Fleming Williams, left the band right after "Rock the Boat", and that pretty much ruined any chances of that happening. They released a few more singles that missed the charts entirely and they finally disbanded, officially giving up, but being content with their one hit. And it's certainly a song to feel content about.
GRADE: 8/10
IN POP CULTURE:
I'm actually surprised to see that "Rock the Boat" wasn't featured in any movies or TV shows that I can find. So instead, here's a 1982 new wave remix that an artist by the name of Forrest Thomas did with "Rock the Boat".
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