RhoDeo 1714 Grooves

Hello, US is happy again their president is trigger happy ! Yeah wild west, those good old days (according to Hollywood that is). Anyway infantile... Now i'm certainly no supporter of Assad, but from here i find it difficult to see what he has to gain with a gas attack, more likely some covert bombs got accidentally loaded, or and this could be established on the ground, a terrorist sarin gas factory was hit, alas who's going to find that out, these things take time, time a US president doesn't have if he wants to look decisive and manly in the eyes of his shoot first, think later populace. Anyway by the looks of it the 50 cruise missiles mainly plowed dirt...




The Sound of Philadelphia in the 1970s was the bridge between Memphis soul and international disco and between Detroit pop and Hi-NRG (high energy; the ultrafast dance music popular primarily in gay clubs in the 1980s). African-American-run Philadelphia International Records was the vital label of the era; its sound was a timely mix of swishing high-hat cymbals and social awareness, of growling soul vocals and sweeping strings. The founding fathers were Philadelphian Kenny Gamble and New Jersey-born Leon Huff, writer-producers who had made their way through the collapsing Philadelphia music industry of the 1960s. ..... N'joy

The world renowned Philadelphia Orchestra's string section was often employed to play on many of Philadelphia International Record's tracks. Philly Soul is often considered a producer's genre, the essence of the genre coming mostly out of Gamble, Huff, Bell, and the other producers within PIR. Philly Soul, with its driving rhythms, later became the inspiration from which the disco craze of the 70s was born.

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Philadelphia International Records (PIR) is an American record label based in Philadelphia. It was founded in 1971 by the writer-producer duo, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, along with their long time collaborator Thom Bell. It was famous for showcasing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly soul) that was founded on the gospel, doo-wop, and soul music of the time. This Philly Soul sound later became a prominent and distinct era within R&B itself. During the 1970s the label released a string of worldwide hits which emphasized lavish orchestral instrumentation, heavy bass, and driving percussion.

Some of their most popular and best selling acts included Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, MFSB, Billy Paul, and Lou Rawls. Between 1971 and the early 80s, the label sold over 170 gold and platinum records. Philadelphia International Records has been mostly defunct since 1987, and finally shut down in 2001. As of 2007, Sony Music Entertainment owns all rights to the Philadelphia International Records music catalogue.

Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the founders of Philadelphia International Records, met in 1964 while they were both playing as session musicians for various labels, including Philadelphia based Cameo-Parkway Records, whose building would later become home to Philadelphia International Records recording studio. In 1965, Huff joined Gamble's band, The Romeos, a popular moniker at the time, by replacing future Philadelphia International Records producer and arranger Thom Bell on piano. Kenny Gamble and The Romeos had seen little success up to that point playing for their label, Arctic Records, and split up soon after.

When the Romeos disbanded, Gamble and Huff went on to start one of the first iterations of Philadelphia International Records (which they named Excel and Gamble) after a visit to Motown Records in Detroit, to scope out the Motown setup. The success of their biggest signing, The Intruders, brought attention to Gamble and Huff, which allowed them to create Neptune Records in 1969. Neptune Records, a more ambitious project for the duo, was financed by Chess Records Group, and allowed them to sign later Philadelphia International Records artists The O'Jays and The Three Degrees. When Chess Records Group's management changed hands in 1969, Neptune Records folded. With the collapse of Neptune Records, Gamble and Huff transferred their signed artists onto a new project, Philadelphia International Records. Looking to attract new black acts to their label, but without the in-house know-how, Columbia Records was convinced to sign an exclusive production contract with Gamble and Huff's new Philadelphia International Records.

The label was set up in connection with Mighty Three/Assorted Music, the music publishing company run by Gamble, Huff and another Philadelphia producer, Thom Bell, to showcase their songs. The label's major hits included: "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB, featuring The Three Degrees, 1974 (which was later used as one of the theme tunes for the TV dance-music show Soul Train); "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead (writers and producers with the label), 1979; "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" by The O'Jays, 1972/3; "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1972/3; "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul, 1972; "When Will I See You Again" by The Three Degrees, 1974; and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" by Lou Rawls, 1976.

The label had a distribution deal with CBS Records until 1984. Distribution of the catalog from 1976 onwards was then taken over by EMI, but CBS/Sony Music Entertainment continued to distribute material recorded up to 1976. In 2007, Sony's Legacy Recordings regained the rights to Philadelphia International's full catalog and the following year, PIR/Legacy released a box set titled Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia.

Most of the music released by the label was recorded and produced at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, with chief engineer (later studio owner) Joe Tarsia recording many of the sessions. More than 30 resident studio musicians, known collectively as MFSB "Mother Father Sister Brother", were based at this studio and backed up most of these recordings. Some of these musicians also acted as arrangers, writers or producers for Philadelphia International as well as for other labels recording in the city. They included Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, Thom Bell, Ronnie Baker, Vince Montana and later, Jack Faith and John Usry.

Gamble and Huff worked as independent producers with a series of artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including Jerry Butler, Wilson Pickett and Dusty Springfield. They also produced The Jacksons' first two albums for Epic/CBS after the group had left Motown in 1976. The first, titled The Jacksons featured the platinum-selling single "Enjoy Yourself", and a second album, Goin' Places followed in 1977. Although on CBS subsidiary Epic, both albums and the singles also carried a Philadelphia International logo.

In 1965, Gamble and Huff started an independent label, Excel Records. It was soon renamed Gamble Records and in 1972, was folded into Philadelphia International as a subsidiary. In 1974, the subsidiary's name was changed to TSOP Records, from the aforementioned 1974 hit single, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)". Artists for Excel/Gamble/TSOP included Dee Dee Sharp, and Archie Bell & the Drells. Later signings to the Philly International roster in the 1980s and 1990s, included Patti Labelle, The Stylistics, Phyllis Hyman, and The Dells.

Between 1973 and 1975, Gamble and Huff also distributed a boutique label called Golden Fleece, set up by musicians Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker and Earl Young, which released the second album by The Trammps. G & H also had a short-lived subsidiary called Thunder Records. Created by Thom Bell, it only had two singles from Derek & Cyndi (You Bring Out the Best in Me/I'll Do the Impossible for You) who were produced by Bell, and Fatback Band member Michael Walker whose single (I Got the Notion, You Got the Motion) was produced by The Spinners' member Philippe Wynne.

By the mid 1980s, Philadelphia International Records ended their distribution deal with Columbia, who they had worked with since their inception. The label was soon after picked up by Capitol/EMI records. They continued to make hits, including Shirley Jones' "Do You Get Enough Love," but their most successful years were behind them. In the 1990s, Philadelphia International launched a new subsidiary, Uncensored Records. Featuring Damon and No Question, this label releases hip hop music. Philadelphia International now largely concentrates on licensing its music catalog worldwide and has issued few new recordings since the mid-80s, when Gamble and Huff wound down their studio work together.

In 1989, Gamble and Huff were awarded their first Grammy Award. Simply Red's cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now," written by Gamble and Huff, won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. 10 years later in 1999, Gamble and Huff were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 2008, the duo were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category, joining their band the O'Jays who were inducted in 2005.

In November, 2009, PBS aired the two-part special, Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia, which celebrates the legacy of Gamble & Huff and the family of Philadelphia International Records artists. The concert was shot in front of a live audience on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, and showcased TSOP artists. In February 2010, Gamble and Huff suffered a setback when fire swept through parts of their offices on Philadelphia's Broad Street. The building was previously the home of another iconic part of the city's musical heritage, Cameo-Parkway Records, based there during the 1950s and 1960s, and has become a tourist attraction. The fire was started deliberately by a man who had broken into the offices while so intoxicated by alcohol (in excess of four times the legal limit for driving a vehicle) that he had no recollection of the crime afterward.

In August 2011, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the company, Philadelphia International Records launched TSOP Soul Radio, an online radio station that allows fans from all around the world the chance to tune in and listen to music and interviews from the legendary Gamble and Huff catalog. The building that housed Philadelphia International Records located on Broad & Spruce Street was damaged by arson in 2010 and was effectively shut down. It was sold to local developer Dranoff Properties in 2014. On Saturday April 18, 2015 demolition started on the building. The new owners Dranoff Properties plan to build an SLS International Hotel at the site of the building which plans to open in Fall 2017.

Gamble and Huff have written over 3000 songs throughout their careers, making them two of the most efficient and productive songwriters of all time. They continue to write songs together from their homes in South

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The 40th Anniversary Box Set, released in 2012 by the U.K. label Harmless, sticks to PIR but goes ten discs deep. Naturally, there is a significant amount of overlap; 29 of the 71 songs featured on Love Train, including every big PIR single, appear here. In addition to featuring all the popular classics -- "Me and Mrs. Jones," "Wake Up Everybody," "T.S.O.P.," "Love Is the Message," "Love Train," "Back Stabbers," "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," "Only You," and on and on -- the box showcases the label's stylistic breadth. There was neither one Philly sound nor one PIR sound. Picking five songs at random from five different artists will likely demonstrate the label's range from perfectly shaped soul-pop to progressive and experimental rhythm & blues, as well as its relevance beyond the '70s. Billy Paul's rollicking and explosive take on "Compared to What" (1971), Yellow Sunshine's eponymous Santana/War-like funk-rock hybrid "Yellow Sunshine" (1973), Dexter Wansel's jazz-funk floor burner "Life on Mars" (1976), the Jones Girls' transportive "Nights Over Egypt" (1981), and Phyllis Hyman's plush "Ain't You Had Enough Love" (1986) have their own placement as significant events in the PIR time line. (One minor quibble, possibly explained by a licensing issue: Edwin Birdsong's "Cola Bottle Baby" or "Phiss-Phizz" should be here.) This is a slick black box, albeit one prone to dulled and whitened corners, with a thick booklet stuffed with photos, liner notes, and detailed track information. There are meticulous singles and albums discographies, too. It's a lavish treat for anyone with serious interest in the label, and it should manage to stun hardcore PIR fans as well. No one has done such a loving job with the entirety of the label's catalog. An absolute must for all Philly collectors and especially Philadelphia International archivists as there has never been an officially printed full discography before. All recordings - fully re-mastered to the highest quality.

Philadelphia International Records - 40th Ann. 02    (flac  498mb) re-upped 11th

01 The Intruders - Win Place Or Show (She's A Winner) 2:27
02 The O'Jays - 992 Arguments 2:21
03 The Three Degrees - Dirty Ol' Man 3:12
04 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back) 3:26
05 The O'Jays - Love Train 6:15
06 MFSB - Get Down With The Philly Sound 4:29
07 People's Choice - Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long) 3:37
08 The Intruders - A Nice Girl Like You 3:28
09 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now 3:23
10 Billy Paul - Me & Mrs. Jones 4:47
11 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody 7:31
12 The O'Jays - For The Love Of Money 3:32
13 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Don't Leave Me This Way 6:05
14 The O'Jays - Livin' For The Weekend 2:52
15 Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine 4:27
16 Jean Carn - Free Love 4:02
17 Billy Paul - People Power 4:17
18 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Nobody Could Take Your Place 5:01

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Philadelphia International Records - 40th Ann. 03   (flac  439mb)

01 The Ebonys - You're The Reason Why 3:03
02 Bobby Bennett - Days Go By 2:38
03 Dick Jensen - New York City's A Lonely Town 3:07
04 The Trammps - Stop And Think 3:08
05 Love Committee - One Day Of Peace 2:49
06 Robert Upchurch - The Devil Made Me Do It 2:40
07 The Ethics - Who In The World 3:59
08 The Ebonys - Do You Like The Way I Love 3:04
09 Anthony White - Never Let You Get Away From Me 4:33
10 Kaleidoscope - I'm A Changed Person 3:13
11 Carolyn Crawford - If You Move, You Lose 2:53
12 The Ebonys - I'm So Glad I'm Me 3:01
13 Bunny Sigler - Can't Believe That You Love Me 3:53
14 Derek & Cyndi - You Bring Out The Best In Me 3:07
15 Anthony White - Hey Baby 2:52
16 The Trammps - Where Do We Go From Here 3:43
17 Carolyn Crawford - Good And Plenty 2:45
18 Yellow Sunshine - Yellow Sunshine 4:07
19 The Intruders - To Be Happy Is The Real Thing 3:28
20 The Ebonys - It's Forever 4:32

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Philadelphia International Records - 40th Ann. 04    (flac  521mb)

01 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Where Are All My Friends 3:20
02 MFSB - Summertime And I'm Feeling Mellow 4:04
03 The O'Jays - Let Life Flow 4:29
04 Jean Carn - If You Wanna Go Back 3:20
05 Archie Bell & The Drells - It's Hard Not To Like You 3:59
06 The Futures - Party Time Man 5:13
07 The Intruders  Everyone's A Star 5:41
08 Bunny Sigler - Your Love Is Good 2:52
09 Billy Paul - The Whole Town's Talking 4:44
10 Instant Funk - So Glad I'm The One 3:15
11 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Keep On Lovin' You 3:40
12 Anthony White - Yes You Need Love 3:32
13 Instant Funk - It Ain't Reggae (But It's Funky) 3:44
14 The Futures - (You're The One) Someone Special 4:16
15 Bunny Sigler - Keep Smilin' 5:55
16 Jean Carn - I'm In Love Once Again 5:53
17 Teddy Pendergrass - The Whole Town's Laughing At Me 4:27
18 Billy Paul - Sooner Or Later 5:35

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Philadelphia International Records - 40th Ann. 05  (flac 451mb)

01 Billy Paul - Let's Make A Baby 3:48
02 The O'Jays - Now That We Found Love 3:07
03 The Jacksons - Blues Away 3:12
04 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - I Believe In Love 3:56
05 Teddy Pendergrass - Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy 4:53
06 Jean Carn - I Bet She Won't Love You Like I Do 3:16
07 The O'Jays - Used Ta Be My Girl 3:21
08 The Jacksons - Strength Of One Man 3:54
09 Lou Rawls - See You When I Git There 3:07
10 Teddy Pendergrass - Only You 5:05
11 Jean Carn - Intro - Love Don't Come Easy 5:07
12 Bunny Sigler - Come On And Dance Dance Dance 5:28
13 The Jones Girls - This Feeling's Killing Me 3:30
14 Billy Paul - Let 'Em In 3:32
15 Bunny Sigler - Picture Us 2:34
16 The Jones Girls - Life Goes On 4:29
17 Lou Rawls - Lady Love 4:00
18 Archie Bell & The Drells - Where Will You Go When The Party's Over? 4:07

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