The Ghetto by Donny Hathaway

“The Ghetto” is one of Donny’s biggest solo hits. Ironically, he had another song called “Little Ghetto Boy”. His life ended in suspicion and tragedy. Some of “The Ghetto” endings is how he ended. The song was so popular, it had a part 1 and part 2 which was the “A” and “B” side of the ’45. The song had a nice groove and most of the words were just talking about the ghetto filled with a lot of instrumental breakdowns and jive talking on the streets.

So, though it repeats ‘The Ghetto’ over and over, it really doesn’t tell what happens in the ghetto – unlike Stevie’s classic, but it was a bad song nonetheless (in a good way).

The World Is A Ghetto by War

“The World Is A Ghetto” released in 1973 made WAR a household name. First of all, who could forget that album cover which showcased a Harlem-like brownstone with clothes hanging out on the line and a very rich car being repossessed.

“Wonder when I’ll find paradise/ Somewhere there’s a home, sweet and nice/ Wonder if I’ll find happiness/ Never give it up now I guess. Don’t you know that it’s true/ That for me and for you/ The world is a ghetto.”

Little Child Running Wild (originally titled “Ghetto Child”) by Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield rounds out this special with a cut that really had two different titles. On some of the ’45s, it was titled “Ghetto Child” and some it was “Little Child, Runnin’ Wild”. We remember hearing it in the SUPERFLY movie and soundtrack. This was so typical of Curtis’ writings where he hit hard with reality. Like the WAR cut, I can easily see a hip-hop artist sampling this over and over.

“Little child/ Runnin’ wild/ Watch a while/ You see he never smiles. Broken home/ Father gone/ Mama tired/ So he’s all alone.”

Now, it’s your turn ILOSM family. Tell us who had the best ghetto soul song? Curtis, War, Stevie Donny, or other?