Philly Creme de la Creme

[Svend]

This is a new(ish) compilation I found through Amazon UK. It seems their recommendations are always much better than the American Amazon!

Anyway, it's fabulous for anyone loving that Philly sound. I've been haunted by all those titles on the early Disco Action charts that I couldn't find (see below). The Sons of Robin Stone are fierce, and there are two from First Choice's Warner Bros album, Major Harris and so much more. The CD title is "Creme de la Creme: Philly Soul Classics and Rarities." The mastering sounds very good, and I've got enough badly mastered versions of "I'll Be Around" to compare it to.

1. Spinners - I’ll Be Around
2. Major Harris - Loving You Is Mellow
3. Bettye Swann - Kiss My Love Goodbye
4. Blue Magic - Welcome To The Club
5. The True Reflection - That’s Where I’m Coming From
6. Vivian Reed - Save Your Love For Me
7. Clyde Brown - You Call Me Back
8. First Choice - Yes, Maybe No
9. The Persuaders - Hold On (Just A Little Bit Longer)
10. Sons Of Robin Stone - Got To Get You Back
11. The Trammps - Can We Come Together
12. Aristocrats - Let’s Get Together Now
13. Dianne Steinberg - One More Time
14. Blue Magic - Maybe Just Maybe (We Fall In Love Again)
15. Major Harris - Love Won’t Let Me Wait
16. Spinners - You’re All I Need In Life
17. Anglo Saxon Brown - Gonna Make You Mine
18. Blue Magic - Sideshow
19. Dionne Warwick - Once You Hit The Road
20. First Choice - I Got A Feeling

The liner notes say that the label, WSM(?), will soon release the entire "Let Us Entertain You" album by First Choice. They also produce the Natural High compilation series, which gives a funk and ballad peak at the vaults. Thank you to all the Brits who keep the 1970's soul/funk/disco torch burning! Let's show them there's an audience for this stuff.

[NickNack]

Hi Svend,

Are these album versions or single edits? Asking because I see 20 tracks on one disk. Always makes me leary.

Also, Amazon US has this but the US version has a release date of 1990 and the import has a release date of September, 2003. Since they're are no track lists on the US site what is the date on yours?

[markydefad]

Here's the AMG review:

Crème de la Crème: Philly Soul Classics and Rarities from the Vaults of Atl
Artist Various Artists
Album Title Crème de la Crème: Philly Soul Classics and Rarities from the Vaults of Atl
Date of Release Nov 17, 2003
AMG Rating
Genre Rock
Type various artists

AMG REVIEW: The Philadelphia soul sound of the early '70s represents an unparalleled zenith in the evolution of urban music — while Detroit's Motown sound typified lush musical sophistication and Memphis Stax-Volt sound embodied deep emotional impact, Philly soul pinpointed and then expanded the middle ground between the two, creating a sweeping, shimmering soul aesthetic that was both playful and profound, as capable of penetrating political commentary as it was smoldering sexual innuendo. While the music produced by hitmakers like Leon Huff, Kenny Gamble, and Thom Bell remains the best-known of the myriad hits coming out of Philly in the pre-disco era, countless other titles were coming out of the city's studios, some of them by superstars and most of them by unknowns, but all possessed of the same silky-smooth universal groove. Crème de la Crème: Philly Soul Classics and Rarities From the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco, & Warner Bros. Records 1972-1976 documents the best Philly soul singles from a label not really associated with its particular time and place, which is not to suggest that this material is remotely subpar — quite to the contrary, some of it ranks alongside the very best of acts like the O'Jays and the Spinners, even though virtually none of it came within miles of reaching the charts. Highlights include the Aristocrats' "Let's Get Together Now," Major Harris' "Loving You Is Mellow," Bettye Swann's "Kiss My Love Goodbye," Vivian Reed's "Save Your Love for Me," and Clyde Brown's "You Call Me Back." — Jason Ankeny

2003 CD WEA 5046680632

______________________________________________

Sounds like a MUST HAVE TO ME!!!! I have at least 6 of the tracks--but there's some interesting other stuff I've never heard. LOVE: "Got To Get You Back"; "Once You Hit The Road"; "Welcome To The Club", "I'll Be Around", "Side Show" and "Can We Come Together".

It would be helpful to know the timings, Svend.

[Svend]

NickNack--The date on my copy is 2003. I'll confess I didn't even look for it on Amazon US, figuring it was a British compilation and anyway, Amazon UK seems to ship faster. I had to have it as soon as possible!

Marky--here are the timings.

1. Spinners - I’ll Be Around 3.09
2. Major Harris - Loving You Is Mellow 4.25
3. Bettye Swann - Kiss My Love Goodbye 3.21
4. Blue Magic - Welcome To The Club 5.09
5. The True Reflection - That’s Where I’m Coming From 2.32
6. Vivian Reed - Save Your Love For Me 5.09
7. Clyde Brown - You Call Me Back 3.02
8. First Choice - Yes, Maybe No 2.49
9. The Persuaders - Hold On (Just A Little Bit Longer) 3.13
10. Sons Of Robin Stone - Got To Get You Back 3.10
11. The Trammps - Can We Come Together 5.33
12. Aristocrats - Let’s Get Together Now 3.03
13. Dianne Steinberg - One More Time 3.09
14. Blue Magic - Maybe Just Maybe 4.17
15. Major Harris - Love Won’t Let Me Wait 3.47
16. Spinners - You’re All I Need In Life 4.27
17. Anglo Saxon Brown - Gonna Make You Mine 6.26
18. Blue Magic - Sideshow 4.08
19. Dionne Warwick - Once You Hit The Road 4.01
20. First Choice - I Got A Feeling 5.15

...for a total of 79 minutes, so they're no cheapskates! I don't know, but it seems like they probably used the longest available versions. #13-16 are slow grooves and excellent. My memory of "Sideshow" was that it was corn, and I guess it is, but still so lovely. And then Bettye Swann sings "Til it's a cold cold day in you-know-where, you can kiss my love goodbye" but there's a catch in her throat--so good. I am so crushed out on this CD!

[originalbigm]

My memory of "Sideshow" was that it was corn, and I guess it is, but still so lovely.

From AMG
"The single that put Blue Magic on the map was "Sideshow," a hit ballad that is as clever as it melancholy. "Sideshow" describes a circus, but not an ordinary circus ? a circus in which all of the attractions are noteworthy because of their terrible luck when it comes to romantic relationships. The tune is simply brilliant; like so many great blues and country gems, "Sideshow" finds a very witty way to talk about romantic disappointments. But even though "Sideshow" is one of Philly soul's all-time classics, it isn't the only song that makes this LP worth owning. "

Marky,
I'm surprised you haven't heard Sideshow or Welcome To The Club by Blue Magic.These were from the self titled debut Lp Blue Magic.Highly recommend it as a must have for any serious collector of the philly sound.Sideshow was huge at the time.

From AMG
" The tender, melancholy ballad "Sideshow" took about four months to finish. One night around midnight, Eli and Woolfolk were watching TV in Eli's apartment when producer/guitarist Norman Harris came by. The two let Harris hear "Sideshow" and Harris said that he'd like to record the song with the group Blue Magic. Beginning with a circus barker's invitation, the airy slow jam is one of pop music's most affecting ballads. From the Blue Magic LP, "Sideshow" sold over a million copies, going to number one R&B and number eight pop in the summer of 1974."

The original Lp is out of print and not on CD however all these great hits can be found on their compilation.
The Magic Of Blue: Gteatest Hits. Check out AMG's review which I notice contains a remix of Look Me Up that would be interesting to hear.

[Nano]

Well, I didn't know of that ones either... For me, the Blue Magic hit was "I just don't wanna be lonely", a GREAT love song. But of course Rosko made this one available to everybody.

[markydefad]

My memory of "Sideshow" was that it was corn, and I guess it is, but still so lovely.

Marky,
I'm surprised you haven't heard Sideshow or Welcome To The Club by Blue Magic.These were from the self titled debut Lp Blue Magic.Highly recommend it as a must have for any serious collector of the philly sound.Sideshow was huge at the time.
.

--------------------------------------------
Sorry, you misunderstood. The songs I listed, including "Sideshow", were ones that I DO have--not ones I didn't know.

[originalbigm]

Sorry my mistake.

[NickNack]

The self-titled album is a real classic.

SIDESHOW
LOOK ME UP (huge Gallery song)
JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONEY
STOP TO START
WELCOME TO THE CLUB(another Gallery fave)
SPELL 8)

These are the six 'known' songs. The other three cuts: WHAT'S COME OVER ME, ANSWER TO MY PRAYER and TEAR IT DOWN are just as good. There is no filler on the album. A true Philly work of art with contributions from Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Ron Kersey, Ronnie Baker, Earl Young, Larry James, Larry Washington, Vince Montana, Don Renaldo and others. Why this is not on CD astounds me.

The "Greatest Hits" CD has 8 of the 9 but "Look Me Up" is the remixed version, which is nothing more than the intro being formatted for dance (i.e., 'DJ friendly') and a correction to the number of beats in the break. It fades early rather than ending cold like the album version.

[Keith RS]

No surprise that Philly has such a rich history, especially in the70's. I grew up listening to these Philly groups:

Blue Magic
Stylistics(one of the singers lived on my street)
The O'Jays
Brenda & Tabulations
Billy Paul
Dee Dee Sharp
Patti Labelle & The Bluebells(she lived 3 blocks from me in the 60's)
Harold Melvin & Bluenote feat. Teddy Pendergrass
Futures
3 Degrees
MSFB
Major Harris
Norman Connors
Jean Carne(the song, "Was That All It Was" was a big hit in discos the summer of '80)
Intruders
Norman Connors
Edwin Birdsong
and many more....

Philly Int'l Records was huge, Kenny Gamble is now very active in the South Philadelphia Community, so it is nice to see a success story who has not forgotten his roots. 8)

[efunk_adelic]

I recently saw Blue Magic in concert as part of a Valentines Day show last year... Had a lot of fun watching them perform... They still do dance steps while they perform just as tight as they did back in the day! :D

I remember them singing:


Sideshow
Three Ring Circus
Just Don't Wanna Be Lonely
Stop To Start

[DISCODISK]

Philly Int'l Records was huge, Kenny Gamble is now very active in the South Philadelphia Community, so it is nice to see a success story who has not forgotten his roots. 8)

doing what KEITH ? helping people?

[Keith RS]

Philly Int'l Records was huge, Kenny Gamble is now very active in the South Philadelphia Community, so it is nice to see a success story who has not forgotten his roots. 8)

doing what KEITH ? helping people?

Gamble has turned a neighborhood in South Philly that was run down and crime infested to something that anyone can be proud of. He is also involved in a lot of community projests with kids and seniors and schools. You don't hear anything negative about him in Philly. 8)

[DISCODISK]

Gamble has turned a neighborhood in South Philly that was run down and crime infested to something that anyone can be proud of. He is also involved in a lot of community projests with kids and seniors and schools. You don't hear anything negative about him in Philly. 8)

thanks for reply KEITH i just knew you were going to say something like that :P cos you know from the music he has to be that type of guy with all those messages in those songs right from the early days of neptune records with the corner boys-'gang wars [dont make no sense]' and right through the years,not the only person to put messages in music by a long shot but he did it in a clever way with big uplifting songs that you couldnt ignore the words.theres the well known love train and lets clean up the ghetto and the not so well known,anyone who owns the lets clean up the ghetto album dig it out and check archie bells 'old people'[its a rare 7" Too] and listen to a real uplifting message song one of the best ever records released on philly int :P KENNY GAMBLE WHAT A GUY 8)

[markydefad]

You know I love the Gamble/Huff oeuvre, but didn't Tom Moulton say they weren't very nice or at least, were very difficult to work with? I thought I read that in the liner notes to the last issue of the "Philadelphia Classics". Am I wrong? :o

[Keith RS]

You know I love the Gamble/Huff oeuvre, but didn't Tom Moulton say they weren't very nice or at least, were very difficult to work with? I thought I read that in the liner notes to the last issue of the "Philadelphia Classics". Am I wrong? :o

Hey, I honestly don't know what it was like to work with them since I'm not in the music business. However, actions speak louder than words. In the modern day of mega recording artists buying $350,000 cars and million dollar pieces of jewelry and not giving nothing back to the people who made them stars, it is nice to see anyone in the business giving their time money and energy to a worthy cause.

Check it out: another nice cd available is "From Philly With Love". It has some tunes from Billy Paul, Dee Dee Sharp, O'Jays, Three Degrees and others. Some of the songs are ones you don't normally get on a compilation. It's available on amazon, but I got my copy at Tower Records a few years ago. 8)

Also, a double cd "The Sound Of Philadelphia"(DBP 102017 1996)s filled with Philly classics. Also available on line and at most big record stores. 8)

[Svend]

Keith RS:

Thanks for the links! They led me right to Philadelphia Uncovered, which features the full 6+ minutes version of Jean Carn's "Was That All It Was," which has long been on my CD Want List. Much appreciated!

[Keith RS]

Keith RS:

Thanks for the links! They led me right to Philadelphia Uncovered, which features the full 6+ minutes version of Jean Carn's "Was That All It Was," which has long been on my CD Want List. Much appreciated!

Wow!! I love that Jean Carn Song! 8) Thanks for the info!