My folks. In the 70s, obviously
Hey folks! It’s been a while since we’ve had one of these so I think it’s high time for another round of music and sex! After our last edition of Doin’ it to the Beat my mom lodged a formal complaint: “I don’t know any of these people. Music existed back in the day too, you know!” I had to admit she had a point and then one day, shortly thereafter I was at work and a client, upon hearing I had chosen that day’s soundtrack remarked “Oh! That’s why it sounds like Chicago in the 70s in here!” and I realized I already knew what needed to go in a sexy-music post that would make my mother proud.
I’m really excited for this set, it’s full of music I just love. Seriously, I find this stuff so sexy that I want to jump all of these men even though 3 of them are dead and the 2 remaining are both more than double my age. Take a listen and see what you think. Is Dr. Spaceman right? Do these men represent the last time we had good “doing it song”s?
Let’s Stay Together– Al Green, 1972
So, this is really a love song rather than a sex one but, come on, how hot is this song? It really pulls off that perfect balance of romantic and sexy. It’s one of my all time favorites. I’m not alone in this feeling: Rolling Stone ranked this the 60th greatest song of all time, it held the #1 spot on the Billboard Year-End chart in 1972 and it has been covered by everybody and their mother- seriously, everyone has covered this.
Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul, 1972
This is an incredibly sexy song where there seems to not be any sex. They meet every day at the same cafe. Am I being naive here? I think there’ s no sex. An affair, clearly, but I think no sex. Am I wrong? Anyway, sex or not the eponymous “Mrs Jones” is clearly engaged in some kind of affair with our singer and it’s pretty freaking intense. All I know is that “holding hands” and “making plans” never sounded quite so sexy.
Let’s Get It On– Marvin Gaye, 1973
This one was a tough call because, you know, Sexual Healing and all but, in the end, I went with Let’s Get it On because, frankly, I find it to be hotter. Also, I’m a sucker for wordplay and the repeated request to “stop beating around the bush” is just awesome.
Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe– Barry White, 1974
Imagine you have a roommate. You are in the kitchen and you hear them enter the apartment with a date. You hear them talking in the living room. Then you hear Barry White music. Are you coming out of the kitchen? Yeah, probably not. I feel like, in private, the music of Mr. White is the universal code for “we’re doing it in here”. In public however, it’s a whole other story- folks just bug out to Barry White in public! I have witnessed this twice in the last week and both occasions were fairly amazing. One involved my lovely british coworker belting it out seemingly unaware of the presence of myself and a client and the other involved the staff of my local bar getting down in a way that one usually only sees in films where newly empowered women sing into hairbrushes. That’s the power of Barry.
Turn Off the Lights– Teddy Pendergrass, 1979
Teddy Pendergrass… The first time I heard this song I got a little uncomfortable. I was like “Wait, what? Did he just ask me to take a shower with him?” Mr. Pendergrass pulls no punches. Dude knows what he wants. I always find it noteworthy that another one of his hits is called “Close the Door”. I feel like the was an opportunity for a whole album here, Close the Door, Turn Off the Lights, Take Off Your Pants, Get on the Bed, Hold On To Your Ankles etc… I think it would have sold.
So that’s all for this time folks! Did I forget anything? Do you have a favorite that my mom might know? Let’s hear it!
Love you, mom!
