Rock The Boat – The Hues Corporation (1974)

Description

Additional information about this, UB40 vinyl art.

The Hues Corporation – The Artist

The Hues Corporation was an American pop and soul trio, formed in Santa Monica, California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 single “Rock the Boat”, which sold over two million copies, hit No. 1, and helped establish disco as a sound.Before achieving mainstream success they were the opening act for a list of headliners that included Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell. The original band had a lineup of three singers and three sidemen. The sidemen were Joey Rivera from the Checkmates; Monti Lawston; and Bob “Bullet” Bailey, formerly of the Leaves. Bailey, Rivera, and Lawston left the band to form Goodstuff. The group’s name was a pun on the Howard Hughes Corporation, with the ‘hue’ (a synonym of ‘colour’). The band’s members at the time of their first album were St. Clair Lee (born Bernard St. Clair Lee, April 24, 1944, San Francisco, California; died March 8, 2011), Fleming Williams (born December 26, 1943, Flint, Michigan; died February 15, 1998) and Hubert Ann Kelley (born April 24, 1947, Fairfield, Alabama; died July 20, 2023).

Rock The Boat – The Song

Rock The Boat  is a song by American trio The Hues Corporation, written by Wally Holmes. “Rock the Boat” was first featured on their 1973 debut studio album Freedom for the Stallion (the single edit later appeared on certain editions of the band’s 1974 second album Rockin’ Soul). “Rock the Boat” is considered one of the earliest disco songs. The song became a gold record. It is a heavy airplay favorite on oldie and adult contemporary stations today.

The Ships Wheel – The Shape

This record has been modelled into a ship or boat wheel. A ship’s wheel or boat’s wheel is a device used aboard a water vessel to change that vessel’s course. Together with the rest of the steering mechanism, it forms part of the helm. It is connected to a mechanical, electric servo, or hydraulic system which alters the vertical angle of the vessel’s rudder relative to its hull. The boats that went along the Mississippi river were known as paddle boats or steam boats and had a large paddle in the middle or at the back of the boat.

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