# Music recommendations - 70s soul/funk/pop

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 7, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490 "2011-09-07T11:39:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/41 "2011-09-10T05:06:46Z")

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I cannot believe no one’s yet mentioned Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.

And Martha and the Vandellas??!!

Shame, SHAME on you all!! 😛

Some others not mentioned yet:  
Aaron Neville.  
The Neville Brothers  
Al Wilson  
Booker T and the MGs  
Ike & Tina Turner  
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

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**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/42 "2011-09-10T06:08:28Z")

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[Pick up the Pieces](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnH_zwVmiuE) by the Average White Band.

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**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/43 "2011-09-10T12:18:58Z")

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> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> I cannot believe no one’s yet mentioned Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.
> 
> And Martha and the Vandellas??!!
> 
> Shame, SHAME on you all!! 😛
> 
> Some others not mentioned yet:  
> Aaron Neville.  
> The Neville Brothers  
> Al Wilson  
> Booker T and the MGs  
> Ike & Tina Turner  
> Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Methinks you are (mostly) in the wrong decade sir.

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/44 "2011-09-10T12:30:46Z")

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> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> I cannot believe no one’s yet mentioned Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.
> 
> And Martha and the Vandellas??!!
> 
> Shame, SHAME on you all!! 😛
> 
> Some others not mentioned yet:  
> Aaron Neville.  
> The Neville Brothers  
> Al Wilson  
> Booker T and the MGs  
> Ike & Tina Turner  
> Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

I mentioned the Miracles. I was also going for stuff that was popular with those who listened to the music at the time but not that well known outside of the “urban music” audience.

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**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/45 "2011-09-10T13:16:05Z")

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I would recommend [The Stories](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exl0oSfTSoY) though I am not sure how you would classify this one.

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/46 "2011-09-10T18:55:32Z")

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Try some CCS,

Tap turns on the water

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MqjITYuzdus/hqdefault.jpg "CCS - Tap Turns on the Water") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqjITYuzdus)

CCS- Brother

[CCS-Brother - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1271512tw) this takes a little while but it really rocks when it gets going

CCS - Walking

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gVNeAFx4FlM/hqdefault.jpg "CCS - WALKING") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVNeAFx4FlM)

Blood Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4iNw1Hvcu8)

Blood Sweat & Tears - You’ve made me so very happy

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxWSOuNsN20)

The Ides of March - Vehicle

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRu93TEcSl8)

Bill Withers - Who is he, and what is he to you? - perhaps the greatest expression of paranoid jealousy ever

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FbUGkouIPg)

Bill Withers - Lovely Day

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sYi7uEvEEmk/hqdefault.jpg "Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Original Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYi7uEvEEmk)

Staple Singers - I’ll take you there - more soul than funk, but lordy their stuff just swings.

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D9rh3JTvvlk/hqdefault.jpg "The Staple Singers-- I'll Take You There") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9rh3JTvvlk)

Staple Singers - Respect Yourself

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gjvMAYkq6j8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Staple Singers - Respect Yourself") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvMAYkq6j8)

Average White Band - Pick up the pieces

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I-FSG-4OhE)

Funkadelic - Bring the funk

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gjKFCYzqq-A/hqdefault.jpg "Parliament Funkadelic - Bring The Funk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjKFCYzqq-A)

Earth Wind and Fire - Boogie Wonderland

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLGa4X5H2c)

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/47 "2011-09-11T01:46:51Z")

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Okay, I’ve sat quietly for long enough. A bunch of good suggestions here, but y’al missed a lot too, so I went through my collection of funk/soul/R&B albums and even managed to find videos for some of them on youtube. I hope y’all enjoy this shit as much as I do!

Freddi/Henchi and the Soulsetters!!! Here’s [I Want To Dance, Dance, Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37QI7UlFFaU) and [I Like Funky Music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ5cGD2CSZ4).

How about Lee Fields? He’s fucking awesome! Check out Ladies and [Honey Dove](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvKiGiLCIow) and [Problems](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cseXccnD25k).

Thomas East’s [Sister Funk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak0T7C3Htoc) and [Funky Music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwBsC8FhuYE).

Timothy McNealy’s [Funky Movement No. 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loo3SuVsz6Q)

The Black Exotics’ [Theme Of Blackbyrds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozAHnETpDU)

Communicators & Black Experience Band with [The Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czP3-U-F30I).

The Soul Drifters’ [Funky Soul Brother](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbpFPSga2xU)

The Majestics’ [Funky Chick](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prAkAbY5g7g)

A lot of GREAT funk/soul/R&B was only released regionally, and if you aren’t a record collector, chances are there’s hours and hours of great music you may never have heard just because it was fairly hard to find. Thankfully, that’s changing somewhat.

In the last few years, there’s been a big movement to preserve and re-distribute a lot of this stuff, with a handful of companies doing nothing but putting together terrific compilation albums of regional music that would otherwise have never been available to millions and millions of people. Plus, it’s awesome because now crazy people like me who’ve been scouring the planet for these hard to find gems can relax and listen to them over and over again knowing that we aren’t going to inadvertently scratch a 45rpm that might be one of only 300 copies left in existence that we somehow managed to unearth somewhere.

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**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/48 "2011-09-11T02:12:53Z")

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[Freddie’s Dead](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9nwcpGZE6A&feature=related) - Curtis Mayfield

[Will It Go Round in Circles?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un63LEAN22E&feature=related) - Billy Preston

[Nothing from Nothing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DV54ddNHE&feature=related) - Billy Preston

[Everybody Plays the Fool](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQ0GkGN3yM) - The Main Ingredient

[If You Don’t Know Me By Now](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p65sBNxoLbA&feature=related) - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Sporting some of the most egregious outfits in 70s fashion history. And that covers a lot of territory.)

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/49 "2011-09-11T02:57:46Z")

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:smack:  
I just discovered that i fucked up the link for Lee Fields’ [Ladies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epu97rNb9F8) in my post above.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/50 "2011-09-11T03:31:47Z")

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> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#):
>
> Then at the end of that decade Chic rocked. Anything they did, plus their production on Sister Sledge’s and Diana Ross’ albums is off the hook.

[Slash gets funky with Chic on “Le Freak”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjsH5mT33Pg)

> [@Spoke](#):
>
> What 70s collection would be complete without some goooood 70s cheese:
> 
> [Float On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvAmTkJmT5c) - The Floaters
> 
> [Come and Get Your Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7eloXr2iak) - Redbone

[Play That Funky Music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe1ScoePqVA) - Wild Cherry

[Star Wars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh4Lu02amG8) - Meco

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**Author:** ![Jaguars](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaguars/32/5879_2.png) [@Jaguars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaguars)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/51 "2011-09-11T07:50:37Z")

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Buddy Miles: [Them Changes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w05CYrXe4p4)

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**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/52 "2011-09-11T20:26:20Z")

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Forgot that Jimmy McGriff has a bunch of stone funk albums made in the 1970s – try “Electric Funk” to start or “Let’s Stay Together” (they’re both albums). FWIW I finally learned to play “Let’s Stay Together” on keys off McGriff’s album – that’s a funkin nice tune.

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/53 "2011-09-11T21:47:09Z")

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> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> A lot of GREAT funk/soul/R&B was only released regionally

Good point. On that note (ha), the local funk star of DC is [Chuck Brown, whose style of funk is named gogo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO-vB_OiylM). He’s also known nationally, but mainly he’s been long beloved of DC.

**picker** picked Chuck back in post #13. Props.

This music really strikes a chord (ha) with me. Free your ass and your mind will follow.

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**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/54 "2011-09-15T23:13:56Z")

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Oh, and if you spin “Electric Funk” – if someone asks you, “Whatcha listening to, dude?” You can say, stone-faced “Electric Funk!” (In the manner of Sam. Jackson in “Pulp Fiction” – “It’s the one that says ‘Bad Motherfucker’!”)

ETA I was wrong about Herbie – that ain’t no eponymous album, it _is_ called “Chameleon.” I play “Sly” everyday when I get on the Rhodes, so I shoulda remembered. At least the funkateers above me did. And, no, I transcribed the fast part, but I can’t play it.

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**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/55 "2011-09-16T09:20:16Z")

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Hmmm… This sounds like a Youtube marathon w/beer and then a trip to Amazon.

_i.e._ an expensive weekend :eek:

Thanks again!

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/56 "2011-09-16T15:14:49Z")

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‘Why can’t we live together?’ - Timmy Thomas

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGoN1qjs8QY)

‘Shaft’ - Isaac Hayes

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHbYLjWEEQA)

‘Papa was a rolling stone’ - Temptations

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yg0Crmhiw8)

‘Across 110th street’ - Bobby Womack

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQn5-gFe2lI)

‘The revolution will not be televised’ - Gil Scott Heron -

This song is about the internal change that has to take place in ones own values before the physical revolution takes place - and arguably its this internal revolution that is the most fundamental - the physical revolution is merely the idea whose time has come - its the idea itself that is the real revolution.

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGaoXAwl9kw)

‘I’ve been lonely for so long’ - Frederick Knight

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_dkfrgaLg4)

‘I’m so tired of being alone’ - Al Green

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tdw7kxD8eUc/hqdefault.jpg "Al Green - Tired of Being Alone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdw7kxD8eUc)

‘It’s a thin line between love and hate’ - The Persuaders

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Pdov7l1V8xk/hqdefault.jpg "The Persuaders - Thin Line Between Love and Hate") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdov7l1V8xk)

‘Are you my woman’ - Chi Lites,

you maybe have heard the intro before - proof that modern music is shite and full of talentless no-hope unoriginal copy hackers

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hm2YjDENPPU/hqdefault.jpg "Chi-Lites - Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2YjDENPPU)

‘Clean up woman’ - Betty Wright

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOTOnFKKx7M)

‘Me and baby brother’ - War

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQGPj1h1E5c)

‘Lowrider’ - War

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUT46ZR5CC8/hqdefault.jpg "War Low Rider (High Quality Sound)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUT46ZR5CC8)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/57 "2011-09-17T05:03:44Z")

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I used to work a little straight job at a Home Depot that was, literally, “Across 110th Street” – the tune helps if you’re a bit of a movie buff.

2nd time for Jimmy McGriff, “Let’s Stay Together” (album) and “Electric Funk” – but thanks to citalopram I had an odd dream last night about Jimmy Smith’s album “Root Down.” Sampled famously by the Beastie Boys, though that was before my time. He has a killer cover of “Let’s Stay Together” as well on that same album, but “Root Down (And Get It)” is some classic funk.

Also, some love for the Pointer Sisters, please! “Yes We Can Can”! Oh, yeah, baby.

Billy Preston, like … can’t remember the name of the hit single one where he’s all over the Clavinet. His big vx hits were huge and I play those often on jobs – nobody except old people remember them, but that don’t mean they ain’t good music.

Throw in some James Booker off “Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah” and you’re set, man! (Toss in “Junco Partner” for good measure). And, of course, Mac Rebennack like the Toussaint-produced albums.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-70s-soul-funk-pop/595490/58 "2011-09-17T16:20:00Z")

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How could I forget about “Stuff” – a “supergroup” with Richard Tee covering keys, Steve Gadd, everybody. They put out some stone funk. I like to cover “Do You Want Some of This” to wake up people in the crowd – that’s one bad little tune IMO.

“Outta Space” – that’s the Billy Preston hit with the clav work (I think). “Nothing From Nothing”'s fun, and so is the…that one in Ab…“I got a song ain’t got no melody…gonna sing it to myself…” got it “Will it Go Round in Circles”! Yes, good memory, Jack (that’s my name)! I rule!

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