Song of the Day 9/10: The Three Degrees, “Givin’ Up, Givin’ In”

King Charles might be new to the throne, but he’s been living under Fleet Street’s microscope for a long time, and seldom given much respect.

At best he’s treated as an eccentric, the kind of guy who embraced crackpot causes like sustainable farming, global warming and classical architecture back when doing so made one a figure of derision (the last one still does). He’s mostly been a good sport about it, so when he was asked during the pandemic to compile a playlist of his favorite tunes for a charity hospital event, he complied.

As is usually the case when public officials release such playlists, some of the choices indicated political considerations — I question how much Welsh music he enjoys in his spare time — but one choice seems truly personal. He said this song gives him “an irresistible urge to get up and dance,” and I can’t imagine he’d make that up. What constituency would be impressed by his reference to a minor disco-era hit by the Three Degrees?

To be fair, the trio had many more hits in the UK than in their homeland. “Givin’ Up, Givin’ In” didn’t reach the Hot 100 in the US, but made it to No. 12 on the British chart, the same position it reached on the US dance chart.

The Three Degrees started out in Philadelphia in 1963, but had only one single reach the Top 40 before signing with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International label a decade later. Within a year they reached No. 2 with “When Will I See You Again” and No. 1 as featured vocalists on Gamble and Huff’s “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),” used as the theme music for “Soul Train” for several years.

That’s is the one that should give people an irresistible urge to get up and dance, but if Charles chose it, it might come off as pandering.