Category Archives: Philadelphia Soul
SALSOUL 30TH.
SALSOUL 30TH. One thing I find quite ironic about the music industry is the importance certain bands and labels place on anniversaries. If you take bands like The Beatles, Beach Boys or labels like Motown, then it seems anniversaries give record labels the chance into go into marketing overdrive. Take The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely …
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY.
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY. Mention the name Dexter Wansel, and many people think of the music herwrote, arranged and produced for artists on Philadelphia International Records. The artists that Dexter worked with during his time at Philadelphia International Records reads like a who’s who of Philly Soul. Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Lou Rawls, The …
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD.
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD. Two of my favorite labels are Philadelphia International Records and Salsoul Records. Both labels were hugely important during the seventies, producing some of the greatest music of the decade. Even forty years later, the Philly Sound’s inimitable sound is still as popular and influential. Similarly, Salsoul Records’ music …
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE.
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE. This year has been a good vintage for anyone who loves Philly Soul. First came the release of Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits, then came the release of Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes. Then just two weeks ago came the Magnus Opus, the Philadelphia International: 40th Anniversary Box …
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME.
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME. Recently, when reviewing The O’Jays’ Message In the Music, I mentioned how that 1976 was a pivotal year for Philadelphia International Records and their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. From the very first album Philadelphia International Records released, M.F.S.B. provided the album’s heartbeat. These musicians included bassist Ron Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young. …
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY.
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY. Although many people remember Jackie Moore for her million selling single Precious, Precious released in 1970 on Atlantic Records, there’s much more to her career than just one track. Jackie’s career started in 1968, with Dear John, released in 1968 on Shout Records. Two years later, in 1970, came Precious, …
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER?
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER? One of the many highlights on Tom Moulton’s recent Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton Remixes was Tom’s remix of Archie Bell and The Drells’ Where Will You Go When the Party’s Over? Of the thirty-one remixes, that was one of my favorites. That set …
BILLY PAUL-EBONY WOMAN.
BILLY PAUL-EBONY WOMAN. Billy Paul played a hugely important role in the success of Philadelphia International Records. Not only was his 1972 album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul the first album released on the newly founded Philadelphia International Records, but his classic single Me and Mrs Jones gave the label their first number one single. …
THE DELFONICS-LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU.
THE DELFONICS-LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU. When Stan Watson, manager of The Delfonics, and owner of Philly Groove Records, met novice producer Thom Bell in 1967, this would be the start of a relationship that saw The Delfonics not only pioneer the Philly Sound, but become one of the most successful soul groups of …
THE FUTURES-THE GREETINGS OF PEACE.
THE FUTURES-THE GREETINGS OF PEACE. I thought that since the Philadelphia International Records-The 40th Anniversary Box Set was due out on 21st May 2012, that I’d revisit a few of the artists that’ll feature on the box set. This has included The Jacksons, first post-Motown album The Jacksons, which gave them the most successful album …
THE JACKSONS-THE JACKSONS.
THE JACKSONS-THE JACKSONS. After the release if their 1975 album Moving Violation, it was all change for The Jacksons. They’d left Motown, the record company they’d called home for seven years, since the release of their first album Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 in 1969. That was the first of ten studio albums for …
BILLY PAUL-GOING EAST.
BILLY PAUL-GOING EAST. After releasing Feelin’ Good At the Cadillac Club on Gamble Records in 1968 and Ebony Woman on Neptune in 1970, Billy Paul signed to a newly formed label in Philadelphia, founded by two songwriters, musicians and producers. The label was Philadelphia International Records and the two founders were Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. …
THE MANHATTANS-THE MANHATTANS.
THE MANHATTANS-THE MANHATTANS. By the time The Manhattans were about to release their seventh album The Manhattans, success had eluded the group. The most successful of their six previous albums had been their previous album 1974s There’s No Me Without You, which reached number 150 in the US Billboard 200 and number nineteen in the …
PHAROAH SANDERS-LOVE WILL FIND A WAY.
PHAROAH SANDERS-LOVE WILL FIND A WAY. During a solo career that started in 1964, with the release of his debut album Pharoah’s First, Pharoah Sanders has released over thirty solo albums. As if this isn’t impressive enough, he’s accompanied jazz legends John and Alice Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Don Cherry. Pharoah’s other collaborations have included …
THE FUTURES-PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURES.
THE FUTURES-PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURES. While reviewing the forthcoming Philadelphia International Records-The 40th Anniversary Box Set and the recently released Philadelphia International Records-The Tom Moulton Remixes, I came across tracks by The Futures, a group who were one of Philadelphia International Records’ nearly men. They released two albums for Philadelphia International, 1978s Past, Present …
THE DELLS-LOVE CONNECTION.
THE DELLS-LOVE CONNECTION. After the release of The Harris Machine produced They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, But We Did It! in 1977 The Dells regrouped to record the follow-up album Love Connection which will be rereleased on SoulMusic.com on 16th April 2012. They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, But We Did It! had reached …
dereksmusicblog
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