Tag Archives: Gamble and Huff
THE JONES GIRLS-GET AS MUCH LOVE AS YOU CAN.
THE JONES GIRLS-GET AS MUCH LOVE AS YOU CAN. Over the years, The Jones Girls have been compared favorably with such luminaries of soul music as The Emotions, The Three Degrees and The Supremes, and their backing vocals have graced albums by some of the biggest names in music, including Betty Everett, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou …
JERRY BUTLER-THE BEST LOVE.
JERRY BUTLER-THE BEST LOVE. Jerry Butler’s role in the Philadelphia International Records story was more than just a singer. Over the years, he wrote songs a number of songs either with Gamble and Huff, or on his own and worked as a producer for the label. This he did during the two periods he was …
BILLY PAUL-ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE.
BILLY PAUL-ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. After Billy Paul released his hugely successful and critically acclaimed Let ‘Em In album in 1977, he was under pressure to deliver a worthy successor to such a great album. By then, Billy had become Philadelphia International Records first male superstar. His star had been in the ascendency since he’d …
THE THREE DEGREES-3D.
THE THREE DEGREES-3D. In previous articles I’ve reviewed the two albums The Three Degrees recorded for Philadelphia International Records, with Gamble and Huff. These albums The Three Degrees and International were both fantastic albums, with some great music on them. They were the most commercially successful albums of the The Three Degrees’ career and to …
LOU RAWLS-ALL THINGS IN TIME.
LOU RAWLS-ALL THINGS IN TIME. By the time Lou Rawls signed for Philadelphia International Records, he’d already had a long and successful career in the music industry. He’d released his debut album Stormy Monday on Blue Note Records back in 1962, and since then, had released over twenty-five albums for a various record companies including …
THE O’JAYS-SO FULL OF LOVE.
THE O’JAYS-SO FULL OF LOVE. Since I first started collecting vinyl in the early seventies, I’ve noticed that with the advent of new mediums like the compact disc, that albums nowadays are much longer. Now albums are sprawling affairs, lasting up to eighty minutes. This new development isn’t necessary a good development. Back when The …
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-LIFE IS A SONG WORTH SINGING.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-LIFE IS A SONG WORTH SINGING. In a previous article I reviewed Teddy Pendergrass’ debut solo album, entitled Teddy Pendergrass. This was his first album since leaving Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, where he’d been the lead singer. His debut solo album, Teddy Pendergrass was released in June 1977, reaching number seventeen in …
BILLY PAUL-WHEN LOVE IS NEW.
BILLY PAUL-WHEN LOVE IS NEW. In a previous article I wrote about one of Billy Paul’s best know albums Let ‘Em In. After his hugely successful 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, released in 1972, which helped make Billy Philadelphia International Records’ first male superstar, 1976s’ Let ‘Em In is one of his best known and …
THE O’JAYS-BACK STABBERS.
THE O’JAYS-BACK STABBERS. Back in August 1972, after Gamble and Huff had previously managed to convince The O’Jays not to quit the music industry, the group released their debut album Back Stabbers. Having already released a series of singles and albums in the sixties for various labels including Minit, Imperial and Bell, nothing could’ve prepared …
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-I MISS YOU.
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-I MISS YOU. Although Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes had originally been formed back in the early fifties, as The Charlemagnes, and became The Blue Notes in 1954, it wasn’t until August 1972, that the group released their debut album, originally entitled I Miss You. However, after the success …
JEAN CARN-JEAN CARN.
JEAN CARN-JEAN CARN. By the time Jean Carn signed for Philadelphia International Records in 1976, she’d been involved in the music business since the late sixties. After studying at Atlanta’s Morris Brown College, Jean became know as a hugely versatile vocalists, with a five octave range and the ability to sing in a variety of …
THE THREE DEGREES-INTERNATIONAL.
THE THREE DEGREES-INTERNATIONAL. Recently, I’ve been looking back at some of the albums released on the Philadelphia International Records label. Now, when many people think of Philadelphia International, they immediately think of artists like The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Billy Paul and Teddy Pendergrass, some of the biggest and most successful artists …
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU.
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU. Unlike many people, I disregard who successful an album was when I buy it. Experience has taught me that a successful album is no guarantee of a good album. Conversely, an album that wan’t a success, doesn’t mean that it’s a bad album. Sometimes, it’s …
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUENOTES-BLACK AND BLUE.
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUENOTES-BLACK AND BLUE. One of my favorite labels of all time is the Philadelphia International label, founded by Gamble and Huff in 1971. For many years, Gamble and Huff sprinkled their magic on many artists that went on to become soul legends. These included Billy Paul, The O’Jays, Lou Rawls, Teddy …
BILLY PAUL-LET ‘EM IN.
BILLY PAUL-LET ‘EM IN. Mention the name Billy Paul to most people, and the response is to say the least predictable, with most of them saying oh yes, he recorded Me and Mrs Jones. This is true, and provided Billy with best known hit single, from his critically acclaimed and commercially successful second album on …
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-WAKE UP EVERYBODY.
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-WAKE UP EVERYBODY. Recently, I mentioned how I was going to review a few of my favorite albums on the Philadelphia International Records label, with my first review being The O’Jays album Ship Ahoy. This got me thinking about which of the many great albums released on that label would …
THE O’JAYS-SHIP AHOY.
THE O’JAYS-SHIP AHOY. Recently, I wrote an article Sweet Soul Music, reviewing some of the best compilation albums which feature Philadelphia Soul. After writing that article, I decided to write some articles about my favorite albums on Philadelphia International Records, the label founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, which released so many great albums. …
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