When I was growing up Soul Train was the only real option for us. On Saturdays, me and my sisters would gather around the television waiting to see who was coming on to sing. We also oohed and aaahed over the fashion and saw how easy the Soul Train Scramble Board was even as children. Today’s  New York Times reports that Mr. Love, Peace and Soul himself, Don Cornelius sold the 38-year old brand to a production company called MadVision Entertainment. Did you know that it was still on the air? Apparently, it is, albeit in the best of form. The Soul Train Awards became sort of sad when the award winners didn’t show up in recent years.

The new owners have grand plans for Soul Train, like DVDS and video-on-demand. Sure, it would be fun to watch old episodes but do they have the same appeal as say the lost episodes of Julia I keep clamoring for? I am not so sure. 

I want to say that Soul Train lost its appeal just as videos started to rise (and long before Cornelius gave us Shemar Moore as the eye-candy/host). Now all we are going to notice is how apparent it was that the artists were lip synching. Instead a good movie about the show would be much more fun. Wasn’t someone doing one?

Resurrecting this franchise, however,  makes me wonder if BET should package Donny Simpson’s early shows for release or DJ Ralph McDaniel’s Video Music Box is worth a second look. Sure, I’d be interested, but would I want to drop a few dollars on it, doubtful. 

In the midst of Black Music Month, I prefer to have glorious memories of the brand in its heyday and what it represented to all of us who respected its importance to black folks.  

CLASSIC SOUL TRAIN DANCE LINE

MARVIN GAYE - KEEP GETTIN IT ON