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The Underground Anthems of Philadelphia Soul 1973-1981
Disc One
1. M.F.S.B - Love Is the message
2. Billy Paul - East
3. Trammps - Trusting Heart
4. The O'Jays - This Air I Breathe
5. Billy Paul - The Whole Town's Talking
6. Archie Bell & The Drells - Where Will You Go When The Party's Over
7. The O'Jay's - Give The People What They Want
8. Lou Rawls - See You When I Get There
9. Archie Bell & The Drells - It's Hard Not To Like You
Disc Two
1. Jean Carn - We Got Some Catchin'
Up To Do
2. The Futures - Ain't No Time Fa Nothing
3. The Jacksons - Blues Away
4. Anthony White - Where Would I Be Without You
5. Monk Montgomery - Bump De Bump
6. Norman Harris - In Good Faith
7. M.F.S.B. - Let's party Down
8. Teddy Pendergrass - Set Me Free
9. The O'Jays - Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)
10. The Jones Girls - This Feeling's Killing Me
"Sometimes I Feel Like A Man Blessed..."
Over the years, I have been involved in many compilation projects covering most aspects of dance and black music. But when the opportunity came to compile a CD from the back catalogue of a label so close to my heart, I felt daunted and over-awed. But not for long, I soon felt a powerful surge of enthusiasm, relishing the thought of compiling an album containing some of my all time favourite tracks from a label whose influence on black music in America, and around the world was immense. One of the main reasons I got into black music was because of this label. I started going to clubs and discos because of this label. My inspiration and motivation to become a DJ, first in the clubs and then on radio was because of this label and the power of its music.
The Sound Of Philadelphia (T.S.O.P.) was an integral part of my musical upbringing and it still remains as important to me today as it did back then. It was through first hearing the likes of The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Intruders, the fabulous Three Degrees (Prince Charles's favourite group), Archie Bell & The Drells and my favourites M.S.F.B. (Mother Father Sister Brother), that I was drawn to the exciting new sound emanating from the City of Brotherly Love, courtesy of the label's two founder foundling fathers and extraordinarly gifted songwriters, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
I was too young to experience the Motown explosion in the 60's but, young as I was, I understood its importance in helping to establish black music as a major force in mainstream white America. Fortunately for me, I was around at the birth of a label which saw Gamble and Huff build on those early ideals taking them to a another level, setting new industry standards in musicianship, songwriting and arrangement augmented by their understanding of revolutionary new recording techniques.
In the 70's, the music had now become more polished and sophisticated, full of optimism as the songs, with their gospel tinged messages of hope, love, peace and unity began to seep into the conciousness of a people still struggling with the harsh reality of life in the ghetto, facing routine poverty, the continuing fight for civil rights in the aftermath of Martin Luther Kings's brutal assassination, coping with the final years of the war in Vietnam where a disproportionately high percentage of black Americans served and died, all punctuated by outbursts of civil unrest in the major cities.
At that time, I slavishly bought every release I could afford on that famous green label as by then the whole Gamble and Huff Philadelphia International records empire (P.I.R.) was exploding with talent and hits. They had signed a major worldwide distribution deal with the mighty CBS corporation thus enabling the repertoire to be released in the UK. Thank goodness!
Thanks to these releases, I was able to discover the mesmerising talents of the legendary Thom Bell and Linda Creed, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, Bundino"Bunny"Sigler, Ron Baker, Norman Harris and Earl Young plus, of course, the magical Dexter Wansell, all new names to me back then but whose careers I've followed with interest ever since. Not only were they great songwriters and producers, penning hits for the other great artists on the roster including Billy Paul, The Jones Girls, Jean Carn, Teddy Pendergrass, Archie Bell & The Drells, Lou Rawls and the legendary Trammps (another of my personal favourites), some were performers in the own right, helping them all to become household names on the r&b and pop charts of the time and helping to establish the Philly Sound as THE sound of the 70's
"To All Mothers, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers worldwide"
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