by Andrew Hamilton
William DeVaughn, a native of Washington, D.C., beat the odds when &Be Thankful for What You Got,& scaled the charts and sold a million copies. You see, DeVaughn paid for the session. All artists who signed with Omega Productions paid to record. The title track, with its cool, shuffling beat and Biblical-influenced lyrics, was the summer jam of 1974. &Diamond in the back, sunroof top, digging the scene with a gangster lean& was the buzz phrase. The rest of the songs are charming and have merit, but lack the impact and timing of the title track.