Doing it to Death (Part 4)

Let's move into 1971

“Stoned Love,” the Supremes (12/26/70)
Their first and last #1 without Diana Ross — Jean Terrell got the lead vocal — concluded 1970, a common-for-the-times “we’re all siblings” peon. Frank Wilson’s production does a lot of work. B

“Groove Me,” King Floyd (1/2/71)
Recorded at Malaco Studios in the same session as Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” (which we’ll get to in short order), this New Orleans R&B is a little too greasy for my tastes. C

“If I Were Your Woman,” Gladys Knight & the Pips (1/23/71)
The first appearance here by the #4 R&B act of the ‘70s is a stately ballad that keeps moving; it never calcifies. Part of that is credit to the elegant arrangement, but even more thanks to Knight’s strong, assured vocal. How could any man turn her down after hearing this? A

“(Do the) Push and Pull Part I,” Rufus Thomas (2/6/71)
Thomas’s sole #1 is a very Stax-y record, with horns answering nearly every one of his lines. This is like alt-universe James Brown (who’s mentioned in the lyrics!), much more country, and it’s just as great as that sounds. A-

“Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone,” Johnnie Taylor (2/20/71)
You likely know Taylor for 1976’s “Disco Lady,” a crossover #1, but this funky soul record about the other man might be even better. This has lots of horns but also a Greek chorus responding to Taylor; it’s similar to Thomas’s preceding #1 in many ways, including its quality. A-