A lot of 70s music, no matter the genre, was full of optimism, sweetness and love. “Too Late to Turn Back Now” by Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose is a dip into the soulful side of the 70s, when R&B had some of the most beautiful love songs ever written. Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose was comprised of siblings Eddie, Carter, Rose and Billie Jo. Cleveland E. Barrett, who was a childhood friend, was also a member but he tragically died in a car accident before they had any songs chart. The group formed in the early 70s and Eddie was the main songwriter. And, what a gift with words he had. Their first two singles were certified gold by the RIAA in a short span of time.
On the heels of their debut hit single “Treat Her Like a Lady” was “Too Late to Turn Back Now,,” which came out in 1972. It flew up the charts to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the U.S. R&B. It has all of the elements of a hit: ravishing string arrangements, silky harmonies, poignant lyrics and from-the-gut soulful delivery. The message is about falling in love and embracing those feelings and the situation. Simple, strong, timeless meaning. Like many songs of the 70s, this taps into an emotional level that everyone can relate to and it sounds sublime.
You can learn more about Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose here:
About the Curator – Sonya Alexander
After graduating from UCLA, Sonya trained to be a talent agent. After realizing she belonged on the creative end, she started freelance writing, covering film festivals for Los Angeles local papers. She’s written about film, video games, global affairs, wildlife conservation and, most recently, music. She specializes in classic rock, classic soul, blues, classic country, classical and world music and is tri-coastal, residing in Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.
