To Philly or Not To Philly

[Disco Funk]

Being the Philly fanatic that I am, I'm not surprised that it was a sound that appealed to a lot of the disco music public in the early to mid 70s. Towards the end of the 70s, not so many labels were approaching Philly producers with their musical acts to see if they could make disco gold.

So I thought I'd start a thread to see how many labels had a Philly tune, and how many didn't bother calling on Sigma Sound studios for some hits. I'm going to list a bunch of labels and see if you guys can name any artists and their tunes that were philly oriented (i.e. made at Sigma or by the same group of people - but not "philly sounding" like 'Pain Reliever' by Sister Sledge, for example). I'm going to automatically omit the obvious philly labels like Philadelphia International (and sub labels like TSOP), Salsoul (Gold Mind, etc...), Philly Groove, Gamble, North Bay and lesser known philly labels like Philomega, Melomega, Virtue, Marmaduke, etc...

Mercury
Polydor
Casablanca (Chocolate City, Millenium, etc...)
Warner
20th Century
TK (Glade, Alston, etc...)
AVI
West End
Event
Westbound
Motown
Atlantic (Atco, etc...)
Hugo&Luigi
RCA
Turbo, Vibration, Stang
Prelude
Chelsea
A&M
Curtom
DeLite
Marlin
ABC
Pyramid
Sam
United Artists
CBS (Epic, etc...)
Fantasy
Stax
Buddah
RSO
Red Coach

Feel free to add any labels to the list. The more obscure the philly disco tune, the better in case there are others like me who are looking for tunes they might have overlooked.

I'll start with four:

AVI - no philly disco; mainly West Coast artists, I think, such as Rinder & Lewis
Event - eg. Jay & The Techniques - Number Onederful (great philly disco produced by Jerry Ross, but sounds like a Ritchie Family record)
RCA - eg. Blanche Carter - Rain b/w My Man (produced by Jacques Morali/Henri Belolo, if I'm not mistaken, still using MFSB before they found the studio band they'd use with Village People onward); Solar Flare - Boogie Fund (I forget who produced this; it was definitely someone in philadelphia)
Vibration, Stang, All Platinum - no philly disco. Sylvia Robinson kept things close to New Jersey, using house bands Rimshots and Wood Brass Steel as backing group.

Disco Funk

[ashley_k]

How about Chuck Brown's "Bustin' Loose" LP on Source Records not obscure but a great album recorded at Sigma Sound Studios Philadelphia it has some very nice soulful/funky Philly tunes on it.

[Simon White]

Not sure I understand ( bit slow this week with heavy cold) but -


RCA had 'Delicious' by The Duprees

Flip 'Number Onederful, over..very Philly

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by ashley_k

How about Chuck Brown's "Bustin' Loose" LP on Source Records not obscure but a great album recorded at Sigma Sound Studios Philadelphia it has some very nice soulful/funky Philly tunes on it.

Good call, I didn't realize that they had recorded Bustin Loose at Sigma. They're a Go Go band (Washington DC?) but that counts. I can think of an even more philly production on that label:

Source - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - The Blue Album (half of the songs, including the big hit Prayin were written by McFadden & Whitehead)

and another label I forgot to write down:

MCA - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - All Things Happen In Time (philly regulars played on this like Baker, Harris and Young, and it was recorded in Alpha International studios)

I give out a few more from the list above to show other labels that adopted the Philly sound on a production or two:

ABC - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - Reaching For The World & Now Is The Time LPs; and Four Tops - At The Top (the one with H.E.L.P.)

DeLite - Philadelphia Ambassadors - Girl (this is the only Philly production I've been able to come across on that label)

20th Century - Ritchie Family - Brazil LP (I think this was also the only Philly production on this label)

Vanguard - no philly productions on this label as far as I can tell.


Simon: Thanks for that example. I hadn't heard of it. I already gave some examples on RCA, but if there are others that I didn't list, feel free to mention them! I'm guess Number Onederful is the same song as the one done by Jay & The Techniques.

Disco Funk

[ashley_k]

I suggested the "Bustin' Loose" album as I was surprised how much of the Philly sound had been captured in it, it has less of a Go-Go feel to it than I expected.

The mostly instrumental track called "Game Seven" on the album sounds very much like a funky M.F.S.B. but without the strings, it also has two soulful slow tempo tunes with strings, one of them a nice version of Jerry Butler's "Never Give You Up" written by Gamble/Huff/Butler.

If you like the Philly sound I'd suggest checking out the album.

[remicks]

******

MOTOWN:

Posted by: Bernie (3332)

Eddie Kendricks

Goin' Up In Smoke (LP)

RECORD LABEL (COUNTRY) / YEAR / CATALOGUE # / FORMAT / SPEED:
Tamla Records (US) 1976 / T6-346S1
LP 33 1/3 rpm vinyl
PRODUCTION / RECORDING / MIXER / STUDIO & BAND CREDITS:
Producer(s) : Norman Harris
TRACKLISTING:
Side A
Goin' Up In Smoke (4:30)
The Newness is Gone (4:40)
Sweet Tenderoni (4:15)
Born Again (3:26)
Don't You Want Light (3:47)

Side B
Muscle Man (4:43)
Thanks For the Memories (4:56)
To You From Me (3:00)
Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow (3:53)
Skelton In Your Closet (2:36)


In 1976 he teamed up with Philadelphia producer Norman Harris (Trammps, Salsoul Orchestra...) on the "Goin' Up In Smoke" album on Motown's Tamla sub-label.

The credits on this album read like a "who's who" of Philly Disco greats. If it wasn't for Eddie's name one would say it was another MFSB, Salsoul Orchestra or Trammps release. With names like Bobby Eli, Vince Montana, Larry Washington, The Sweetherts of Sigma... it's easy to think that.

Now bulleting up Marky's current chart :

THE BILLBOARD NATIONAL DISCO ACTION TOP 40

October 30, 1976
Billboard Disco Action Top 40: Chart #10
Disco Compilation Consensus Chart #106 (volume 2: (1976 = #44 )

[BIGGEST UPWARD CHART MOVEMENT OF THE WEEK [+14 ]:
14) GOIN' UP IN SMOKE/ MUSIC MAN/ * THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES - Eddie Kendricks
(Tamla LP: 4:30/5:33/5:28; 12" promo on Goin' Up In Smoke: 4:30)



*****

has anyone tried to segue GOIN' UP IN SMOKE with BURN BABY BURN: DISCO INFERNO ????

[originalbigm]

Never Had A Love Like This-Tavares on the Capitol Label

"If you notice that much of Madame Butterfly is very Philadelphia-sounding, it's no coincidence, this excellent LP was produced by Bobby Martin, a Philadelphian who was highly regarded in Philly soul circles. Anyone who has spent hours and hours listening to the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and the Intruders should have no problem getting into solid offerings like "My Love Calls," "Straight from the Heart," and the major hit "Never Had a Love Like This Before."-Allmusic

[Disco Funk]

Thanks guys, keep 'em coming!

Here's a few more:

Wand/Scepter - Ultra High Frequency - We're On The Right Track
CBS/Columbia - Philly Devotions - Just Can't Say Goodbye

I really am digging that Duprees track. When I was perusing the net for more info, I discovered that there was a Disco International remix of 6:30 in length.

I think this might be it (someone posted it on the net, not me): Delicious

Disco Funk

[remicks]

******

whu- hoo !
I thought of one on a label not already on your list !

On SPRING :




*******

[Simon White]

I'm still not sure I understand the concept DF, are we looking for Philly styled production on the labels you listed?

'Cos if we are I know its going to be a looooong list ! I agree on the All Platinum/ Turbo, Vibration, Stang labels tho', all very 'in house' sounding productions but try 'Falling Out Of Love' by Derek Martin and 'Rain In My Backyard' by The Moments both on the CD "Flying High (the Modern End Of Northern Soul' on Castle/Sanctuary.

As you like The Duprees 'Delicious' there's another by them under the name IAPG 'Check Yourself' on Collossus a version of the Intruders song on Gamble and available on the CD 'On The Real Side' also on Castle/Sanctuary -

H & L - The Softones 'Thats What Love Can Do' is a galloping 1978 Philly Disco dancer, also like The Duprees on 12" I think.

You should also check out two CD's called 'The Spirit Of Philadelphia' on the Expansion label. All awesome tracks from various labels that sound as though they belong on PIR or TSOP but aren't !

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by Simon White

I'm still not sure I understand the concept DF, are we looking for Philly styled production on the labels you listed?

'Cos if we are I know its going to be a looooong list ! I agree on the All Platinum/ Turbo, Vibration, Stang labels tho', all very 'in house' sounding productions but try 'Falling Out Of Love' by Derek Martin and 'Rain In My Backyard' by The Moments both on the CD "Flying High (the Modern End Of Northern Soul' on Castle/Sanctuary.

As you like The Duprees 'Delicious' there's another by them under the name IAPG 'Check Yourself' on Collossus a version of the Intruders song on Gamble and available on the CD 'On The Real Side' also on Castle/Sanctuary -

H & L - The Softones 'Thats What Love Can Do' is a galloping 1978 Philly Disco dancer, also like The Duprees on 12" I think.

You should also check out two CD's called 'The Spirit Of Philadelphia' on the Expansion label. All awesome tracks from various labels that sound as though they belong on PIR or TSOP but aren't !

I guess what I was going for was trying to see how many (dance) labels embraced the philly sound by releasing tracks produced by Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, etc.. and which labels were able to get through the 70s without going to Philadelphia to look for a hit.

I was hoping that by listing the labels above, people could point out which ones had a philly tune (by citing the record and artist) and which ones never put out a philly production. In the process, some of us philly disco fans might learn about a record we may have overlooked or not heard about in the past. The Duprees track was a pleasant surprise, produced by Jerry Ross. I'll check out the other ones you mentioned.

I also wanted to avoid the whole 'philly sounding' mentions, because that would be too subjective. Just anything that was recorded at Sigma, Alpha, with the typical philly producers and musicians. I'll have to check out my copy of Bustin Loose, which I didn't realize was recorded at Sigma. I bought the CD over a decade ago, but only listened to it once because I only liked the title track.

I've got the Spirit Of Philadelphias. I've been hoping a Vol 3 would come out! I've pretty much bought all CD compilations that have all Philly or a few Philly productions. It's so much fun, kinda like discovering a brand new song just released by a current artist, except these tracks are 30 years old or more.

Disco Funk

[Nano]

The problem is, around 1975 it seems everybody who wanted a hit paid a visit to the Sigma Sound Studios, from David Bowie on down...

[Simon White]

I think you're right Nano (except I would have said 'From D*vid Bowel on UP' my keyboard won't type his name)... a lot of records were recorded at Sigma or used the same musicians to get the sound.

Another of my favourites is 'I L-O-V-E Y-O-U' by Terry Collins on Kwanza a dancer which gives Teddy P. a run for the money and has what must be First Choice on back ups.

As for Spirit Of Philadelphia 3 DF, watch this space... and look out for another compilation from Expansion that will knock your socks off !

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by Simon White

Another of my favourites is 'I L-O-V-E Y-O-U' by Terry Collins on Kwanza a dancer which gives Teddy P. a run for the money and has what must be First Choice on back ups.

That's a great song. Kind of reminds me of 'Love Train' (the chord progression in the verses of both songs). But I really like his 'Action Speaks Louder' track, which was on one of the Creme De La Creme comps. Funky mid tempo disco groove!

As for Spirit Of Philadelphia 3 DF, watch this space... and look out for another compilation from Expansion that will knock your socks off !

Don't tease me like that! What's the inside scoop? Can you spill some beans?

Going back to the topic, I made a mistake with Sylvia Robinson's labels. Actually there was at least one 'visit' to Philadelphia for a song:

All Platinum - 'Love Is Strange' by Donnie Elbert. If you listen to the track, the drums are definitely Earl Young, even though the other instruments don't sound philly (no jazzy chords; or fuzz/wah guitar courtesy of Bobby Eli). But it's clearly Earl on drums. And the producer of that record was Leon Mitchell, a Philly producer/arranger.

Disco Funk

[ashley]

.. don't forget the Chess label .. back in 1974 they had a few philly club hits .. "Tell me what you want" by Jimmy Ruffin ( everyone's favourite ) .. Free Spirit "Love you as long as I can" .. and the T.N.J.'s "Don't forget about me" .. the T.N.J.'s 45 became popular on the British northern soul scene .. and is much prized today by British soul collectors, who will pay 200 dollars for a copy .. it's now one of the rarest & most expensive of all the early philly disco records .. let's hope it appears on CD soon