More than five decades ago, a groovy soul anthem helped bring legendary singer Ben E. King back to the top of the charts.
In March 1975, his disco-soul hit “Supernatural Thing” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, according to BirthdayJams, marking a major comeback moment in the singer’s long and influential career.
The upbeat track, released in January 1975 through Atlantic Records, blended smooth soul vocals with the rising disco sound of the mid-1970s. Its success proved that King’s voice, already famous from classic hits like “Stand by Me,” still had the power to connect with a new generation of music fans.
Singer Ben E. King performs during the 34th Annual John Lennon Tribute Benefit Concert at Symphony Space on December 5, 2014.Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage
“Supernatural Thing,” often listed as “Supernatural Thing, Pt. 1,” also climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming King’s highest pop-charting single since the early 1960s.
By 1975, King was already known as one of the most important voices in rhythm and blues. Born Benjamin Earl Nelson in North Carolina in 1938, he first rose to fame as the lead singer of The Drifters.
Per Britannica, King helped deliver major hits such as “There Goes My Baby” and “Save the Last Dance for Me,” during his time with the group from 1958 to 1960.
After leaving the group, he launched a successful solo career. His early solo hits included “Spanish Harlem” and the beloved classic “Stand by Me,” which he co-wrote and recorded in 1961.
But as music trends shifted during the late 1960s, King’s chart presence slowed. The arrival of the British Invasion and changing pop styles made it harder for many earlier soul artists to stay on top. That changed when “Supernatural Thing” arrived in 1975.
Written by songwriters Patrick Grant, also known as Patrick Adams, and Gwen Guthrie, the track mixed funky bass lines, bright horn sections and disco rhythms. King even sang the song in a higher vocal register than his usual deep baritone, showing how he could adapt to the evolving sound of the decade.
The gamble paid off. The single became one of the biggest hits of his later career and reintroduced his voice to radio listeners across the country.
“Supernatural Thing” did more than reach No. 1 on the R&B chart. It also became a staple on dance floors and soul playlists thanks to its infectious groove.
The track appeared on King’s 1975 album Supernatural, which featured the song split into two parts. Combined, the full version runs for around seven minutes, highlighting the extended grooves popular in disco-era recordings.
The album also included tracks such as “Your Lovin’ Ain’t Good Enough” and “What Do You Want Me to Do,” further showcasing King’s blend of classic soul and emerging disco influences.
The success of “Supernatural Thing” helped launch another strong single from the same era, “Do It in the Name of Love,” which also landed in the Top 5 on the R&B chart.
The recognition didn’t stop with the charts. “Supernatural Thing – Part I” later earned King a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in 1976.
Across his career, King recorded dozens of hits and helped shape the sound of modern R&B and soul music. From the late 1950s through the 1980s, he scored five No. 1 songs, 12 Top 10 hits and 26 Top 40 singles.
King’s influence was also formally recognized when Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted The Drifters in 1988. The singer passed away in 2015 at age 76, but his music remains a cornerstone of soul and R&B history.
And while “Stand by Me” is often the song most people remember first, the success of “Supernatural Thing” in 1975 showed that Ben E. King’s talent could shine across different eras of music.
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