Tag Archives: Gamble and Huff
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY.
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY. In August 1972, when The O’Jays’ released Back Stabbers, little did they realize how important an album it would become. Back Stabbers was certified gold, and fourteen years after The O’Jays were formed, were on their way to becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups in the …
LAURA NYRO-GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE.
LAURA NYRO-GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE. Recently, I’ve been reviewing albums which although not strictly Philly Soul, feature many of the musicians, songwriters, arrangers and producers who were architects of the Philly Sound. This include Ecstasy, Passion and Pain’s Ecstasy, Passion and Pain, Joe Simon’s Drowning In A Sea of Love, Dusty Springfield’s A Brand New …
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD-A BRAND NEW ME.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD-A BRAND NEW ME. For Dusty Springfield, her 1970 album A Brand New Me proved to a hugely significant album for three reasons. A Brand New Me was the followup to what is seen as Dusty’s finest album Dusty In Memphis, released in 1969. Another reason was that A Brand New Me featured what …
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. It had been founded by two songwriters, musicians and producers. The label was Philadelphia International Records. Its two founders were Kenneth Gamble …
DICK JENSEN-DICK JENSEN.
DICK JENSEN-DICK JENSEN. When most people think of Philadelphia International Records, they think of The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Billy Paul, The Three Degrees and Teddy Pendergrass. However, there’s much, much more to Philadelphia International Records than just these artists. Granted they were among Philadelphia International Records’ most successful artists, but they …
M.F.S.B.-UNIVERSAL LOVE.
M.F.S.B.-UNIVERSAL LOVE. When eventually, someone decided to write a proper, comprehensive history of Philadelphia International Records, I hope that they separate the music into two parts. The first part was what I’d call Philadelphia International Records’ golden period, between 1972 and 1975 and then the second part, from 1976 onwards. There’s a good reason for …
JOE SIMON-DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE.
JOE SIMON-DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE. Although Joe Simon had been around since the 1959, releasing his debut album Joe Simon in 1963, for the next ten years, he struggled to make a commercial breakthrough. Granted Joe enjoyed a string on minor hit singles on Vee Jay Records and the Sound Stage label. Unfortunately, …
INTRUDERS-SAVE THE CHILDREN.
INTRUDERS-SAVE THE CHILDREN. Although the Intruders weren’t the most successful group Gamble and Huff discovered, they played an important part in Philadelphia International Records’ history. When Gamble and Huff were considering leaving the Cameo Parkway label to form their own label, it was the Intruders that Gamble and Huff chose to risk their money and …
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. Ever since Teddy Pendergrass left Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, the success he’d enjoyed with his former group kept on coming. By 1981, Teddy had released five albums since his solo career started in 1977. From his 1977 debut album Teddy Pendergrass was certified platinum, Teddy cemented his reputation …
THE EBONYS-THE EBONYS.
THE EBONYS-THE EBONYS. During the seventies, Philadelphia International Records was one of the most successful record labels in America. Without a doubt, it was one of Philly Soul’s greatest label. Between 1972 and 1975, it seemed Philadelphia International Records could do no wrong. Artists like The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, The Three …
THE O’JAYS-SURVIVAL.
THE O’JAYS-SURVIVAL. That The O’Jays released an album in 1975 entitled Survival, is almost ironic. 1975 would prove to be a traumatic year for The O’Jays’ label Philadelphia International Records. During 1975 Gamble and Huff were locked in a dispute with many of the members of their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. over money. Eventually, after the …
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B.
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B. By 1973, Philadelphia International Records was well on the way to becoming one of the most successful record labels of all time, whilst supplying the soundtrack for the seventies, and a generation. Critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums started flowing out of Philadelphia. This included The O’Jays’ Backstabbers, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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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