The seven best on-screen moments from "Soul Train"

Everything associated with "Soul Train" in the 1970s -- outrageous fashions, hot-dog dance steps, Afro Sheen commercials and lip synching -- is on display in the three-DVD set "The Best of Soul Train" that Time Life released yesterday (8/31).

The bulk of the material comes from "Soul Train's" golden era -- 1971-1979 -- featuring more than 50 performances, far too many of which are lip synched. Stage outfits can be horrifying, especially the gut-revealing multi-colored track suits worn by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. (Fortunately the idea of cutting fabric to reveal men's nipples did not catch on).

Host Don Cornelius is seen doing his trademark interviews -- ask the band members to introduce themselves, then get them to say how long they have been together, then fawn over their new record with backhanded compliments such as "I've listened to all of it!" Two of the clips make you wonder what the producers were thinking: Cornelius interviews the Commodores' manager (far more interesting than their performance) and discusses the weather in Chicago with Lou Rawls, their chat slathered with hepcat lingo. (Whether singing or speaking, it was always a thrill to hear Rawls' baritone.)

Here are the seven best on-screen moments from the "Soul Train" set.

7. The Jackson 5 lip-synching "Corner of the Sky" (Oct. 21, 1972)
Unlike most other acts, the J5 brought their instruments with them and mimed their performance to the song from the musical "Pippin." They are also seen performing "I Want You back" -- it's a clip that has been used over and over -- but on "Corner of the Sky" there's still an engaging element of innocence about the boys that would soon disappear for good.

6. Barry White singing "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" (May 25, 1975)
The collars on Barry's shirt look large enough for a smaller man to use as wings. The jewels on the lapel of his smoking jacket could fill a boxing champion's belt. The rings he wears are so large it is difficult to distinguish between the handkerchief he carries and the jewelry. But, man, when he sang he could summon soul music's roots regardless of the setting, even with a disco beat and a full orchestra.

5. Don Cornelius and the kids interviewing Marvin Gaye (Feb. 16, 1974)
Marvin Gaye had given up performing for years and had only recently started to return to the stage when this performance was televised. He opens up a bit, admitting he is not very good at lip synching and has no hobbies besides sex.

4. Bill Withers performing "Use Me" (Nov. 4, 1972)
A change of pace from the usual dance mix, Bill Withers brings his acoustic guitar and a four-piece band to deliver a funky version of one of his landmark tunes. He tells the gang he has no interest in scoring movies with hustlers and drug dealers and that he hoped his next project would be a live album of all new songs recorded in Carnegie Hall -- a concert that had actually occurred a month before the show was taped.

3. Sly & the Family Stone performing "Dance to the Music" (June 29, 1974)
An example of how well Sly Stone could get an audience to eat out of his hands. The performance, which segues into "I Want to Take You Higher," demonstrates how a great artist can alter a hit record to make it fresh in the live experience. "Dance to the Music" was 6 years old at the time of this performance and his recent albums -- "Fresh" and "Small Talk" -- were not the funk-driven affairs of his earlier work. It drives home the point that Sly, even with new musicians such as violinist Sid Page, could be the funkiest cat in show business.

2. James Brown performing "Get on the Good Foot" (Feb. 10, 1973)
The full hour of "Soul Train" is devoted to Brown and he delivers the goods -- the splits, the shuffle, the microphone stand as dance partner -- in a purple jumpsuit and platform shoes. (He changes clothes for each of his four performances). His JB's at the time included some of his greatest musicians, among them Pee Wee Ellis, John "Jabo" Starks and Fred Wesley; riveting as the performance is, it truly catches fire once they glide into "Make It Funky." The Godfather of Soul answers questions and makes broad statements about his commitment to elevating the quality of the curriculum at black colleges -- and his support of Richard Nixon.

1. Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson performing "Ooo Baby Baby" (Dec. 1, 1979)
Quiet and intimate, it's just the Queen of Soul and Smokey alone at the piano. Aretha plays and takes the lead while Smokey harmonizes. It's as pretty a performance as one might imagine, two giants in a rare pairing with no artifice.