Tag Archives: Vince Montana Jr
WILSON PICKETT IN PHILADELPHIA.
WILSON PICKETT IN PHILADELPHIA. By 1970, when Wilson Pickett released Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia, his recording career was eight years old. He’d released his debut single If You Need Me in 1962, and since then, had enjoyed four number one US R&B singles. The first of these was his 1965 classic In The Midnight Hour, …
BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE.
BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE. In 1975, Ben E. King had resigned to Atlantic Records. His first album for Atlantic Records was Supernatural, which was produced by Bert De Coteaux and Tony Silvester. Supernatural had proved a commercial success, reaching number thirty-nine in the US Billboard 200 and number thirteen in the US R&B …
B.B. KING-TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU.
B.B. KING-TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU. In 1973, B.B. King decided to head to Philadelphia, to work with some of the city’s greatest musicians on his album To Know You Is To Love You. Many of these musicians were members of M.F.S.B, Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house-band. Among the members of M.F.S.B. which …
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 …
MONTANA-I LOVE MUSIC.
MONTANA-I LOVE MUSIC. 1978 marked the start of the next chapter in the long and successful career of Vince Montana Jr. Just a few months earlier, one chapter closed and the next began. The chapter that had just finished lasted three years. It began in 1975, when Vince Montana Jr. founded The Salsoul Orchestra. Vince …
EDDIE KENDRICKS-HE’S A FRIEND.
EDDIE KENDRICKS-HE’S A FRIEND. Eddie Kendricks was one of the founding members of The Temptations back in 1960. He then spent the next eleven years as one of The Temptations’ lead singers. Then in 1971, Eddie Kendricks decided to leave The Temptations and embark on a solo career. By 1976, Eddie had released six solo …
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 …
THE WHISPERS-BINGO.
THE WHISPERS-BINGO. It’s almost ironic that when The Whispers released Bingo in 1974, which was arguably the best album of their career so far, its success was derailed by a lack of promotion. Bingo was The Whispers’ fourth album, and their first foray outside of their native California. It also saw a change of producer. …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-MAGIC JOURNEY.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-MAGIC JOURNEY. By 1977, The Salsoul Orchestra had established their reputation as disco’s premier orchestra. They’d been formed in 1975, and had already released a trio of albums, where disco, Philly Soul, funk, jazz, Latin and classical music were seamlessly fused. Much of the emphasis was on individual members stepping into spotlight and …
GOODY GOODY-GOODY GOODY.
GOODY GOODY-GOODY GOODY. Often, looking back through musical history, one decision can change forever change a group or label’s future. Whether it was Gamble and Huff’s decision to allow their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. to leave Philadelphia International Records following a dispute with money, or Harold Melvin’s decision not give give Teddy Pendergrass equal billing in …
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-BRAZIL.
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-BRAZIL. In the seventies, Philadelphia was a musical hotbed, with the City of Brotherly Love giving the world some of the greatest groups of the decade. Everyone remembers artists like Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass and Barbara Mason, plus groups like The O’Jays, The Three Degrees, M.F.S.B, The Trammps and Harold Melvin and The …
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 …
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER.
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER. In the early seventies, Philadelphia had become the soul capital of America. Forget about Detroit or Memphis, Philly was where some of the greatest soul music was being produced. Philly was a hive of musical creativity, with the Philly Sound providing the soundtrack to much of the seventies. This soundtrack came courtesy …
THE TRAMMPS-WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO.
THE TRAMMPS-WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO. After a series of modest hit singles, The Trammps contract with Buddah Records ended. Baker, Harris, Young decided to form their own label, Golden Fleece Records, which would release their debut album, Trammps. Released in 1975, Trammps reached number 159 in the US Billboard 200 and number thirty in …
BLUE MAGIC-BLUE MAGIC.
BLUE MAGIC-BLUE MAGIC. Having left The Delfonics, Randy Cain started working with Ted Mills, a Philadelphia-based songwriter. The pair would cowrite songs for the Philly-based WMOT production company. Not long after they started collaborating, Randy and Ted met Shades of Love, a Philly vocal group yet to make their commercial breakthrough. Featuring Keith Beaton, Richard …
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’ …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-UP THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-UP THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. For Salsoul Records and The Salsoul Orchestra, Up The Yellow Brick Road would prove to be the end of an era. Up The Yellow Brick Road proved to be last Salsoul Orchestra arranged, produced and featuring the sound of vibes virtuoso Vince Montana Jr. It also proved to …
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