Category Archives: Philadelphia Soul
M.F.S.B.-THE GAMBLE AND HUFF ORCHESTRA.
M.F.S.B.-THE GAMBLE AND HUFF ORCHESTRA. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been charting the rise of Salsoul Records and then the changes in personnel that ensued from 1978 onwards. The story of Salsoul Records wouldn’t have happened without Philadelphia International Records and Gamble and Huff. M.F.S.B. were Philadelphia International Records legendary house-band, and in 1975 …
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-FOURPLAY.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-FOURPLAY. Before changing their name to Double Exposure, the Philadelphia quartet of James Williams, Joseph Harris, Charles Whittington and Leonard “Butch” Davis were known as United Image. The group had formed back in the sixties, whilst the four members of United Image were still in high school. Through their lifelong friendship with legendary Philadelphia …
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES.
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES. By the time First Choice signed to Gold Mind Records in 1976, they’d already released three albums since forming in Philadelphia 1972. First Choice would go on to release three albums for Gold Mind Records, a subsidiary of Salsoul Records. Their first release was 1977s Delusions, which contained two tracks that …
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. Having signed Loleatta Holloway to Gold Mind Records in 1976, Loleatta’s producer and mentor Norman Harris set about giving Loleatta a makeover. He started transforming the Southern Soul singer in the a disco diva on her debut album Loleatta. After her Sasloul debut Loleatta was released, Loleatta Holloway’s makeover to …
DEXTER WANSEL-VOYAGER.
DEXTER WANSEL-VOYAGER. For any label, losing many members of their house-band, plus some of their best songwriters, arrangers and producers could’ve proved fatal. This is what happened at Philadelphia International Records in 1975. Many of M.F.S.B. were locked in a dispute with Gamble and Huff over money. When the dispute couldn’t be resolved many of …
M.F.S.B.-PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM.
M.F.S.B.-PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM. Often, when I’m either writing about Philadelphia International Records or Salsoul Records, I mention M.F.S.B. Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house-band. M.F.S.B.’s role in the Philly Sound can’t be underestimated. They played on literally every album the influenced and shaped what became known as the Philly Sound. Whether it was working with Thom Bell …
JACKIE MOORE-WITH YOUR LOVE.
JACKIE MOORE-WITH YOUR LOVE. It was during the recording sessions for Jackie Moore’s 1973 album Sweet Charlie Babe that Jackie first met Philly guitarist and producer Bobby Eli. In 1973, Bobby was a member of M.F.S.B., Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house band. Two years later, after a dispute over money, Bobby Eli and other members …
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I DO.
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I DO. When Jerry Butler signed to Philadelphia International Records in 1978, it was a homecoming of sorts. Seven years previously, in 1971, Gamble and Huff and Jerry Butler ended what had been a fruitful working relationship. Now seven years later, the three men were older and wiser. …
BILLY PAUL-360 DEGREES OF BILLY PAUL.
BILLY PAUL-360 DEGREES OF BILLY PAUL. Sometimes, an artist releases a single that becomes a huge commercial success and regardless of whatever else they release, they’re forever be known as the artist that recorded “that single.” For Billy Paul, ever since he released Me and Mrs Jones as a single back in October 1972, he’s …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-NICE ‘N’ NASTY.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-NICE ‘N’ NASTY. When I realized that this would my 500th review, I decided that to mark the occasion, by reviewing a really special album, one of my favorite albums. Now with the best part of two-thousand albums to choose from, I’ve plenty of choice. Regular readers of this blog will have realized …
PRIVATE WAX.
PRIVATE WAX. When the Disco Sucks movement tried to kill disco back on 12th July 1979 at Comiskey Park, Chicago, disco never died, and take it from me, never, ever will die. Instead, disco went underground. Out of disco came boogie, before disco went on to play a huge part in the development of house …
TAVARES-MADAM BUTTERFLY.
TAVARES-MADAM BUTTERFLY. Between 1974 and 1977, Tavares enjoyed a trio of million selling US R&B number one singles with She’s Gone, It Only Takes A Minute and Whodunnit. These were just three of ten of Tavares’ ten singles that have Tavares a top ten US R&B single. That’s not forgetting the Grammy winning More Than …
THE O’JAYS-WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN.
THE O’JAYS-WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN. Any group that celebrate twenty-five years in the music business must be doing something right. For The O’Jays, they’d been formed in 1958 and released their debut album Comin’ Through in 1965. It was when The O’Jays signed to Philadelphia International Records and released their first album for …
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-T.P.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-T.P. By 1980, Teddy Pendergrass was at the height of his commercial success. Teddy has released three studio albums since leaving Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. This trio of albums, 1977s Teddy Pendergrass, 1978s Life Is A Song Worth Singing and 1979s Teddy had all been certified platinum. Such was Teddy’s popularity, that …
MY SALSOUL MARSHALL JEFFERSON PRESENTS:THE FOUNDATIONS OF HOUSE.
MY SALSOUL MARSHALL JEFFERSON PRESENTS:THE FOUNDATIONS OF HOUSE. Often when writing about Salsoul Records, I’ve mentioned how important a part Salsoul played in the development of house music. Salsoul’s music wouldn’t just influence the first generation of house DJs, but several generations of producers. Even now, that influence is apparent, with producers paying homage to …
JOHN MORALES-THE M & M MIXES.
JOHN MORALES-THE M&M MIXES. Over the past few months, I’ve reviewed a number of compilations of remixes from some of the best and highest profile remixers in the history of disco. Recently, I’ve reviewed Mixed With Love-The Walter Gibbons Anthology and Larry Levan-The Definitve Salsoul Remixes 1978, while previously, I reviewed Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton …
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT.
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT. A year after The O’Jays released Message In the Music, their final album to feature William Powell, The O’Jays would release Travellin’ At the Speed of Thought, their first album featuring their new vocalist Sammy Strain. Given how successful The O’Jays had been since releasing their first album …
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR.
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR. After the success of Harmless Records’ Disco Discharge series, which celebrated the release of four further volumes in 2012, taking the total to sixteen volumes of the Disco Discharge series, Harmless have launched another new label and series, Disco Recharge. The Disco Recharge series sees Harmless rerelease long out of print classic …
DENIECE WILLIAMS-NIECY.
DENIECE WILLIAMS-NIECY. From the release of her debut album This Is Niecy in 1976, Deniece Williams embarked on an eight year musical adventure, where she released seven solo albums, two of which were certified gold and one platinum. During that period, Deniece worked with some of the most successful producers of that time. This included …
THE JACKSONS-GOIN’ PLACES.
THE JACKSONS-GOIN’ PLACES. Just eleven months after The Jacksons had released the most successful album of their career thus far, 1976s The Jacksons, they released the followup album Goin’ Places. This was the second album of a joint venture between where Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records, with Gamble and Huff in charge of the …
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