Claudine soundtrack: A definitive guide to every song in the movie

Claudine is an American romantic comedy-drama and a must-watch for anyone who wants a look back at the late James Earl Jones, the man who voiced Darth Vader.

Jones recently passed away and left a legacy that spanned genres, mediums, and generations. Among his famed works, like Star Wars and The Lion King as a voice actor, dramatic roles like his character Roop in the movie Claudine stand out as well.

But besides James Earl Jones' hidden gem performance, the drama also boasts an anthem for working-class Black America. It features songs from Gladys Knights and The Pips' Claudine album, like Hold On, The Makings of You, and To Be Invisible, which Curtis Mayfield wrote.

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Mr. Welfare Man and all the songs in Claudine

Curtis Mayfield and 10-time Grammy-winning singer and "Empress of Soul" Gladys Knight created the Claudine soundtrack together. It features songs that offer a refreshing insight into the lives and struggles of black women and their children in 1970s America. Mayfield wrote and produced most of the songs, and Gladys Knight and The Pips performed them.

Claudine opens with Knight singing On and On over the scene of a single mother's hectic morning schedule as she gets her kids ready for their bus to school, which they almost miss. Knight brings vocal earthiness that complements the nuances of a black single mother's struggle and enduring nature depicted in the movie.

Meanwhile, The Makings of You serves as the movie's love song, which sets the mood for the main characters' first date. It was originally a Mayfield-recorded song and was part of his 1970 solo debut, but Gladys Knight and The Pips performed the track for the film.

Here's a complete list of all the songs in the movie:

• Mr. Welfare Man
• To Be Invisible
• On and On
• The Makings of You
• Hold On
• Make Yours a Happy Home

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What is Claudine all about?

The film, which has a 91% Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes, follows the life of the titular single mother (played by Diahann Carroll). She lives in New York City and has to endure a long and exhaustive commute to go to work as a maid of wealthy, opulent families.

Meanwhile, she takes care of six feisty children. Despite working hard, she can't make ends meet and has to depend on welfare to take care of her kids. She doesn't have time for self-care, and even more for a love life. However, she meets Roop (played by James Earl Jones), who is a charismatic but irresponsible garbage collector.

While romance blossomed between the overworked single mother and the blue-collar worker, they both have doubts about their relationship. Claudine isn't sure that being in a relationship with Roop is any good for her children. Meanwhile, Roop, despite his good nature, feels intimidated and is reluctant about the idea of becoming a father to six kids.

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Directed by John Berry, the film brings a unique insight into the life of a poor urban Black family in the early 1970s. It promises socially relevant romance, drama, and comedy with a serious look at relevant issues like poverty, religion, and social and political challenges in a relationship.

Claudine doesn't appear to be on streaming but is available on DVDs.