JUKEBOX: The Unhooked Generation
After leaving Motown, famed writer-producers Holland-Dozier-Holland (best known for their work with the Supremes and the Four Tops) started the labels Invictus and Hot Wax in 1969. While both labels had their share of hits — Freda Payne’s “Band of Gold,” Chairmen of the Board’s “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” and Honey Cone’s “Want Ads” among them — most of their releases never lived up to the success they deserved. Below are ten Invictus/Hot Wax singles that have been unjustly overlooked.
Freda Payne – “The Unhooked Generation” (1969)
The debut single by the First Lady of Invictus Records — as well as the namesake of our seven-part series on HDH, “The Unhooked Generation” — allowed Holland-Dozier-Holland to go in a funkier, racier direction than they could have taken the Supremes at Motown.
The Glass House – “I Can’t Be You (You Can’t Be Me)” (1970)
This coed quartet scored a minor hit with “Crumbs Off the Table,” the first single ever released by Invictus, but had less success with their follow-up single. “I Can’t Be You,” from its funk-soul harmonies, to its self-actualizing lyrics, to its zodiac references, is the epitome of 1970 in the best possible way.
Chairmen of the Board – “Hanging on to a Memory” (1971)
A far cry from the lightweight angst of the Chairmen’s early hits like “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” “Hanging on to a Memory” takes the dark-and-stormy formula that HDH devised for the Four Tops with “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Bernadette” and scalds it with acid rock.
The Barrino Brothers – “I Had It All” (1971)
Despite being the Invictus act that sounded closest the most like classic Motown, The Barrino Brothers never quite took off. Nevertheless, the gorgeous, heartrending ballad “I Had It All” proves that the Brothers could have been HDH’s version of The Temptations.
Parliament – “Come In Out of the Rain” (1972)
George Clinton’s P-Funk empire was still in the embryonic stages when Parliament signed to Invictus. Their final single for the label, the protest song “Come In Out of the Rain,” is more straightforward than most of the group’s future material, but it’s strikingly powerful, with a soulful lead by 100 Proof frontman Steve Mancha.
100 Proof (Aged in Soul) – “Everything Good is Bad” (1972)
100 Proof’s million-selling single “Somebody’s Been Sleeping” spawned a string of innuendo-laden soundalikes to diminishing returns. The group switched gears with “Everything Good is Bad,” a haunting, angst-ridden struggle against temptation – proof (no pun intended) that they didn’t need a gimmick to score a hit.
Honey Cone – “Sittin’ on a Time Bomb (Waitin’ for the Hurt to Come)” (1972)
This girl group was one of the most popular acts to come out of the Invictus/Hot Wax roster, but “Sittin’ on a Time Bomb” somehow managed to miss the success of hits like “Want Ads” and “Stick Up.” It’s not the fault of the song, though – a slinky, cool groove with an appropriately explosive chorus.
Holland-Dozier – “Don’t Leave Me Starving for Your Love” (1972)
After a decade of writing and producing for other artists, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier returned to their roots as performers. The duo’s best single, “Don’t Leave Me Starving for Your Love,” borrows more from Philly soul and Al Green than from the classic HDH sound; nevertheless, it’s a gorgeous ballad that finally allowed the trio to net a hit with their own names front and center.
Earl English – “Wanting You” (1974)
As more and more groups broke up or artists left, Invictus/Hot Wax turned to licensing records from smaller labels in order to meet their distributors’ demand for material. Philly singer Earl English’s “Wanting You” is one of the best of these, providing a jazzy, Bill Withers-ish counterpoint to the HDH house style.
Eloise Laws – “Touch Me” (1974)
The last single released on the original incarnation of Invictus Records, post-Lamont Dozier’s departure, the funk-soul-disco-rock blend “Touch Me” proves that the Holland hadn’t lost their knack for crafting records that sound like hits, even if the label’s faltering financial situation meant it never had the chance to become one.
Unfortunately, most of the Invictus/Hot Wax catalogue is missing from Spotify. However, we managed to gather all the singles and B-sides that are available into the playlist below, from star acts like Honey Cone and Freda Payne, to bizarro soft rock one-off “Solo” by Billie Sans. Enjoy!
