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Posted

I was just listening to that Angie Stone track in the gallery, which has obviously just lifted the music from The O'Jays - Backstabbers.

This got me to thinking, why don't you ever seem to hear any stuff from the Philadelphia International label played out anywhere? I can only ever remember hearing one Philly track played at an event that I've attended. This was back in the mid to late 80's, at The Old Schoolhouse in Woking, I'm sure it was Love Train by The O'Jays.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the matter?

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Posted

I play the love I lost,... harold melvin and also this time baby - o jays

and you hear where will you go when the party is over .. where are all my friends.... even heard I love music... to tired to think (right bed) party time man... (bed)

oh 80s scooter tune Satisfacion Guaranteed ..

Posted

I was just listening to that Angie Stone track in the gallery, which has obviously just lifted the music from The O'Jays - Backstabbers.

This got me to thinking, why don't you ever seem to hear any stuff from the Philadelphia International label played out anywhere? I can only ever remember hearing one Philly track played at an event that I've attended. This was back in the mid to late 80's, at The Old Schoolhouse in Woking, I'm sure it was Love Train by The O'Jays.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the matter?

I think cause theres so much of it about,does`nt sit very well with the rare soul scene,to me its local disco stuff played by djs with big afro perms,to many main stream hits,the opposite to Shrine maybe? :thumbsup: i got hundreds of the little philli-blighters,some good ones too,some weired,the rest what is mostly crap! :ohmy:
Posted

Think I played 'Let's Clean Up The Ghetto' once or twice last year, and Jean Carn 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head'

And also the 2 other ones mentioned :ohmy:

Probably more to do with my Old Man asking me to play them :thumbsup:

Posted

Here`s one i like,and have played out,3 degrees "i dont know",b side to "when will i see thee again" :thumbsup: on a demo,of coarse.... :ohmy:

Posted

Philly.....gota' be one of my favourite cities for musical output....heres some I can think of on the Philadelphia International label

MFSB

Mysteries of the world

O'Jays

Extraordinary girl

Intruders

Nice girl like you

Rawls, Lou

From now on

Bell, Archie & The Drells

Where will you go when the party is over

Sigler, Bunny

Can't believe that you love me

Rawls, Lou

See you when I git there

Carn, Jean

If you wanna' go back

Paul, Billy

Bring the family back

O'Jays

I can't stand the pain

Jones Girls

Nights over Egypt

O'Jays

Put your hands together

White, Anthony

Hey baby

White, Anthony

I'm so much in love with you

Rawls, Lou

You'll never find another love like mine

Carn, Jean

Free love

Pendergrass, Teddy

Close the door

Carn, Jean

Don't let it go to your head

Futures

Party time man

Futures

Ain't no time for nothing

Silk

I can't stop turning you on

All worthy of a play IMO :thumbsup:

Posted

Come on Philly Int is disco, no more, no less :thumbsup: dont get me wrong some of it is great but has no room in a Northern room IMO, I love music was played at the WIlton near the end, we got up and left.

Join the W.O.D.D weapons of disco destruction, and free our souls of Disco :lol::ohmy:

Posted

There's always plenty of Philly played in modern rooms. The choice is endless. Not many played in northern rooms I suppose because they're not rare and doesn't fit directly with that type of sound, although there have been a few exceptions. It's the 70s equivalent of Motown I guess. The difference is that there isn't loads of quality unreleased stuff in the can because it all got destroyed once they considered the material wasn't quite good enough at the time.

Posted

I was just listening to that Angie Stone track in the gallery, which has obviously just lifted the music from The O'Jays - Backstabbers.

This got me to thinking, why don't you ever seem to hear any stuff from the Philadelphia International label played out anywhere? I can only ever remember hearing one Philly track played at an event that I've attended. This was back in the mid to late 80's, at The Old Schoolhouse in Woking, I'm sure it was Love Train by The O'Jays.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the matter?

I'm sure Philly sounds are played you just don't realise they're on Philadephia, one of the best Philly comps I have is "THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA" on Expansion some superb soul, Little Dooley - Its Got To Be Now or Never/The Invitations-Look On The Good Side/Touch Of Class-I Just Can't Say Goodbye/The Philly Devotions-Hurt So Bad and many more, go on buy it :unsure:

Posted

I'm sure Philly sounds are played you just don't realise they're on Philadephia, one of the best Philly comps I have is "THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA" on Expansion some superb soul, Little Dooley - Its Got To Be Now or Never/The Invitations-Look On The Good Side/Touch Of Class-I Just Can't Say Goodbye/The Philly Devotions-Hurt So Bad and many more, go on buy it :unsure:

Hi

One of the best ever live gigs I went to was the Philadelphia International Package Tour at the California Ballroom in Dunstable around 1975! On the bill that night was - Billy Paul, The Intruders, The O'Jays & The Three Degrees all backed by the MFSB Band!! It was one of the most unbeleivable nights of my youth!

Cheers

Paddy

Posted

Come on Philly Int is disco, no more, no less :P dont get me wrong some of it is great but has no room in a Northern room IMO, I love music was played at the WIlton near the end, we got up and left.

Join the W.O.D.D weapons of disco destruction, and free our souls of Disco :D:unsure:

Spot on. You wouldn't have gotten away playing that sort of stuff in the 70's so why try now? Philly Allstars, Love I Lost, that was about it really. You see to be played at a Northern Soul venue, records have to be Northern Soul :)

Posted

I love Philli Int. The sound is as unique as Motown IMO. There must be a stacks of stuff on the lable worthy of a play at any soul night. :D Dont agree its all disco.Should be played out more Its another dimension in the spectrum of Northern Soul and as such adds to the varity and makes for a more intresting night

:unsure::P:)

Posted

I'm sure Philly sounds are played you just don't realise they're on Philadephia, one of the best Philly comps I have is "THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA" on Expansion some superb soul, Little Dooley - Its Got To Be Now or Never/The Invitations-Look On The Good Side/Touch Of Class-I Just Can't Say Goodbye/The Philly Devotions-Hurt So Bad and many more, go on buy it :unsure:

Ive got this album............ brilliant stuff, i love philly its soul music & just as important as Motown.... just the next stage of its evolution, disco is a word for people who dont like that particular style of soul. Teddy P, Jean Carne, Lou Rawls, O`jays ect ect............... SOUL MUSIC, not disco Baz :)

Posted

I can't believe I'm reading some of these comments. This label released some of the best soul music ever. Full stop.

Records like I Love Music, Backstabbers, Where Are All My Friends, Don't Let Love Get You Down, Can't Stop Turning You On, Ain't No Time Fa Nothing, Was That All It Was, Let's Clean Up The Ghetto, Jam, Jam, Jam All Night Long, I'll Always Love My Mama, Heard It In A Love Song, Keep It Coming, Travelling In Heavy Trafic, Hey Baby, Put Our Heads Together (an absolutely massive 'Northern' record in its day) and countless others are all faultless examples of their particular genre, i.e. soul.

These records were played by fantastically skilled musicians, arranged by geniuses, sung by incredible singers and written by master craftsmen. Each time I listen to classic Philly I know that these records could not be bettered: the take that reached the streets was perfection in almost every case. Philadelphia International may have spawned the bastard offspring 'disco' but to tag any of the records mentioned above as such would be a cruel dis-service. Perhaps the crime committed by this particular record label was to be too good for the Northern scene: the records were uniformly great and sold in reasonably large quantities, by definition disqualifying them from 'rare soul' exposure.

In slagging these records their detractors prove once again that they have no particular feel for soul music, and even less taste.

Posted

Is there any possibility of anyone posting up a couple of philly tracks in the gallery, not including Party Time Man? I'd have a go, but I have neither the records nor the technology! :unsure:


Posted

I can't believe I'm reading some of these comments. This label released some of the best soul music ever. Full stop.

Records like I Love Music, Backstabbers, Where Are All My Friends, Don't Let Love Get You Down, Can't Stop Turning You On, Ain't No Time Fa Nothing, Was That All It Was, Let's Clean Up The Ghetto, Jam, Jam, Jam All Night Long, I'll Always Love My Mama, Heard It In A Love Song, Keep It Coming, Travelling In Heavy Trafic, Hey Baby, Put Our Heads Together (an absolutely massive 'Northern' record in its day) and countless others are all faultless examples of their particular genre, i.e. soul.

These records were played by fantastically skilled musicians, arranged by geniuses, sung by incredible singers and written by master craftsmen. Each time I listen to classic Philly I know that these records could not be bettered: the take that reached the streets was perfection in almost every case. Philadelphia International may have spawned the bastard offspring 'disco' but to tag any of the records mentioned above as such would be a cruel dis-service. Perhaps the crime committed by this particular record label was to be too good for the Northern scene: the records were uniformly great and sold in reasonably large quantities, by definition disqualifying them from 'rare soul' exposure.

In slagging these records their detractors prove once again that they have no particular feel for soul music, and even less taste.

Yes, great records. No, not great northern soul records, which is what the original question was "why aren't they played at venues". Just gives you another chance to be holier than thou with your fantastic taste in music by the looks of it.

Posted

Hi

One of the best ever live gigs I went to was the Philadelphia International Package Tour at the California Ballroom in Dunstable around 1975! On the bill that night was - Billy Paul, The Intruders, The O'Jays & The Three Degrees all backed by the MFSB Band!! It was one of the most unbeleivable nights of my youth!

Cheers

Paddy

Twas a good night :unsure:

Posted

In slagging these records their detractors prove once again that they have no particular feel for soul music, and even less taste.

Sorry Gareth but what a load of Bollocks!!! Just because they are sung by a black artist doesnt make them soul :unsure: and what i was saying was they should not be played in a northern soul venue, there is some great stuff put out on Pilly Int. but the more dancable stuff is disco and has no room in a northern room IMO, And to say i have no particular feel for soul music and even less taste is crap you dont know me you dont know my tatse's. If you have such fantastic tastes why dont you play these records at venues your self :)

Posted (edited)

Just taking it back to March 1973, I got a Tenner to spend for my 15th birthday. Train from Burscough to Preston, into the record shop on Preston bus station and bought amongst others Reissues/pressings of Right track on Okeh(both the vocal & instru on identical records I believe). The Charge TKOs. But also 2 brand new releases "Love Train" the O'Jays On CBS and Timmy Thomas "Why Can't We Live Together". Probably the lst time I bought a new recording. (In those days I liked both types of music, Northern and Soul)

Just though I'd mention it :unsure:

Paul

Edited by Paul r
Posted

As requested

Harold Melvin - Where are all my friends

O Jays - 992 Arguments

O Jays - Backstabers

Philly Int All Stars - Lets clean up the ghetto

Just click the links above 

Posted

Philadelphia International don't really need me to be their PR man: Ralph Tee and Searling have done a pretty good job on that front for the last few years. All the tunes I listed above have been played at Northern Soul venues at one time or another, and as I stated some were pretty big records.

I'm sorry if they don't fit in with your personal perameters as to what constitutes a good NS record, Baz, but to say they are not soul strikes me as ludicrous. I'm puzzled as to how you would classify the output of the Philadelphia International-era Blue Notes or O'Jays: black, but 'not soul'? I'm sure many more people would disagree with your analysis than would agree.

Posted

Philadelphia International don't really need me to be their PR man: Ralph Tee and Searling have done a pretty good job on that front for the last few years. All the tunes I listed above have been played at Northern Soul venues at one time or another, and as I stated some were pretty big records.

I'm sorry if they don't fit in with your personal perameters as to what constitutes a good NS record, Baz, but to say they are not soul strikes me as ludicrous. I'm puzzled as to how you would classify the output of the Philadelphia International-era Blue Notes or O'Jays: black, but 'not soul'? I'm sure many more people would disagree with your analysis than would agree.

It's very commercial sounding soul and it was made that way purposely, so where exactly does this fit into the northern soul scene's values? Most of Philly Int is soul-pop music and of little interest to the majority. IMO.

Posted

Philadelphia International don't really need me to be their PR man: Ralph Tee and Searling have done a pretty good job on that front for the last few years. All the tunes I listed above have been played at Northern Soul venues at one time or another, and as I stated some were pretty big records.

I'm sorry if they don't fit in with your personal perameters as to what constitutes a good NS record, Baz, but to say they are not soul strikes me as ludicrous. I'm puzzled as to how you would classify the output of the Philadelphia International-era Blue Notes or O'Jays: black, but 'not soul'? I'm sure many more people would disagree with your analysis than would agree.

The likes of 'I Love Music' to me is not soul no! Most of the stuff put out on Philly is Disco, and i will stand by that comment, How ever there is also some great titles on Philly Int, Its the same as Motown in the sixtys most of that was IMO not very good, The first post in the thread was about these 'disco' records being played at Northern Soul venues, if i wanted to hear disco i would go to a disco night! my reason for posting was making a simple statement 'why do we have to water down these nights with this wishy washy stuff' And im sure there is a fair few who feel the same :unsure:

Posted

No doubting Philly Internationals credentials as soul music IMHO - just as Motown was pop / soul selling to the masses in the 60's - PIR was one of the labels at the top end of soul music in the 70's. Because of the sheer output of these labels there was always going to be the ' misses ' that found favour in northern / rare soul rooms.

The ' I Love Music 's ' of the label personally wouldn't sit right in a rare / northern room for me but as posted, there are many many great 45s / LP cuts that sit perfect in modern rooms etc

Plus - for me Motown / Philly / Atlantic / Stax - the big 4 so to speak got me into this whole thing of rare soul in the first place . The perfect stepping stone from the big commercial end to delving deeper into soul..

Cheers

Rich

Posted

The likes of 'I Love Music' to me is not soul no! Most of the stuff put out on Philly is Disco, and i will stand by that comment, How ever there is also some great titles on Philly Int, Its the same as Motown in the sixtys most of that was IMO not very good, The first post in the thread was about these 'disco' records being played at Northern Soul venues, if i wanted to hear disco i would go to a disco night! my reason for posting was making a simple statement 'why do we have to water down these nights with this wishy washy stuff' And im sure there is a fair few who feel the same :)

Yeah there are mate, but stick your head above the parapet and you will get shot down by the right-ons and soul police. I've got bullet holes everywhere :unsure:

Posted

Think I played 'Let's Clean Up The Ghetto' once or twice last year,

I heard that also, front room at Sheridans :unsure:

Posted

Surely the point is that we got into this music - northern soul - to get away from the music that all the herd listened to at the youth club disco - it was something a bit different, it wasn't commercial, and it was exciting. This rules out most of the Philly Int label which at that time was dominating mainstream discos.

Posted

this wishy washy stuff' And im sure there is a fair few who feel the same :)

Perfect description :unsure:

Even if it were soul music, it's soul music with no balls.

Posted (edited)

I take issue with calling much of this music wishy-washy. The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Anthony White, McFadden & Whitehead, Don Covay and so on were all really great soul singers, and I can't agree with categorising it as 'watered down' pure and simple. The commercial uptown 60s soul that forms the blueprint of Northern Soul is surely a watered-down version of something earlier, more primal, more bluesy, more gospelly etc. Yes, the musical backing on the Philly records is lush and polished, but then again isn't it on many major-label 60s records that are classed as holy-grails of the northern oldies circuit? A degree of production sophistication shouldn't necessarily bar a record from northern soul scene acceptance: we wouldn't have things like The Velvetts, Shawn Robinson, Tony Middleton and thousands more like them which utilise kitchen-sink arrangements from musical directors who later on that week may have been scoring a Hollywood film.

'Wishy-washy' to me sums up lame attempts at soul like Melvin Elling, Sherlock Holmes, The Vondells, The Antellects, The Spidells etc. Compared to these a record like I Love Music sounds powerful, focussed, concentrated and, not that it should really matter, Black.

Edited by garethx
Posted

Perfect description :unsure:

Even if it were soul music, it's soul music with no balls.

So whats soul music with balls

If Clean up the gheto aint got ball I dont know what has, Back stabers Well weve all met are fair share of them and the words of the song some it up perfectly' I Know ive been there, 992 Arguments, just listen to the words if you aint been there your a lucky man,


Posted

'Wishy-washy' to me sums up lame attempts at soul like Melvin Elling, Sherlock Holmes, The Vondells, The Antellects, The Spidells etc. Compared to these a record like I Love Music sounds powerful, focussed, concentrated and, not that it should really matter, Black.

Sherlock Holmes and The Vondells are better than the entire Philadelphia International catalogue put together...well the Vondells is

Posted

Sherlock Holmes and The Vondells are better than the entire Philadelphia International catalogue put together...well the Vondells is

And the Antellects eh Pete? :unsure:

Posted
Simsy said:
You need me to tell you? :)

A perfect example Ian :D

I suppose at the end of the day it boils down to prsonal taste, Mine of which thinks that disco should be left for disco dances, im supprised at some of the comparisons you mention Gareth Sherlock Holmes is a great Nothern soul record as is the Antelects and Vondells the Spidells-Pushed out of the Picture is a soulful group outing all of them are far superiour to 'I love music' IMO of course.

Posted

I was just trying to make the point that we each approach our soul music from a different angle. In the past I've owned records like the Melvin Elling and Sherlock Holmes 45s (not The Vondells or the Antellects, which would have been nice from a financial point of view if nothing else) but I now find them a bit trite, amateurish and lightwieght.

I'm not advocating that rare soul playlists become wall-to-wall Philly, merely pointing out to the original poster that a lot of PIR discs have been spun in the past and that successive generations of the northern soul scene have seen a place for them. I firmly believe there should continue to be a place for them, because they are soulful and dancable. I'm sorry that Party Time Man muddies the waters on this topic somewhat, as most people appear to hate it with a passion. I would say that it's not actually that bad a record, and that, in avoiding oldies venues in the main, one I've seldom actually heard out.

Guest Richard Bergman
Posted (edited)

To label the Phily output as "non soul" is ludicrous especially with the amount of "white pop" and imitators that get big spins on the Northern Soul scene....If Lou Rawls and Harold Melvin are not soul singers what are they......It's just a different angle as Gareth rightly pointed out.

Harold Melvin's " wake up everybody" carries great social comment and black awareness and the Ojay's " I love music" is one of the most glorious uplifting pieces of music you'll ever find.

Edited by Richard Bergman
Posted

You gorra larf really. Philly International is the absolute epitome of Sophisticated Soul music and made by geniuses. To use Don Varner- a gruff voiced Southern souler who made a few uptempo records-one of which is a (fantastic) desirable record on the notoriously strange Northern scene -as a comparison to a whole labels worth of product is great.

The sheer artistry of 98% of Philly Internationals output is there to anyone with any interest in Black music and with ears to hear. Gamble & Huff's legacy is awesome. To dismiss it as "Disco" is hilarious! They worked with the most incredibly soulful and talented singers, writers, musicians and producers.

Wishy Washy? Teddy Pendergrass? Jean Carn? The O'Jays? Intruders? Bunny Sigler? Don Covay? The Futures ("Party Time Man" accepted !) Anthony White ? Peoples Choice? Archie Bell? The Ebonys? :unsure:

Guest Richard Bergman
Posted

You gorra larf really. Philly International is the absolute epitome of Sophisticated Soul music and made by geniuses. To use Don Varner- a gruff voiced Southern souler who made a few uptempo records-one of which is a (fantastic) desirable record on the notoriously strange Northern scene -as a comparison to a whole labels worth of product is great.

The sheer artistry of 98% of Philly Internationals output is there to anyone with any interest in Black music and with ears to hear. Gamble & Huff's legacy is awesome. To dismiss it as "Disco" is hilarious! They worked with the most incredibly soulful and talented singers, writers, musicians and producers.

Wishy Washy? Teddy Pendergrass? Jean Carn? The O'Jays? Intruders? Bunny Sigler? Don Covay? The Futures ("Party Time Man" accepted !) Anthony White ? Peoples Choice? Archie Bell? The Ebonys? :)

Gamble and Huff :unsure:

Posted

Oh for f*** sake :unsure: Since when did i call the likes of Teddy, Jean and all the rest wishy washy or even say that they were bad singers, musicians or what ever for that matter, a high percentage of the Philly lable was put out as pop/disco end of party time man is Disco 'i love music is Disco and so on......i said in earlyer posts that there was some really class stuff on the philly lable, A lot of the stuff on Philly is wishy washy yes, Just because they are some of the most talented black artists doesnt mean they cant make a pop or disco record.

A quick example of a good philly tune is 'aint got time fa nothin' IMO

Posted (edited)

I think this is a really interesting discussion. On the one hand we have Garethx championing the Philly sound and pointing out that it was really only their popularity and status as hits that disqualifies them as Northern. I think this is basically right. Although their slickness and fullness does set them apart from the more 'jagged' often dissonant, and indeed at times superficiallly lightweight sound, that can often be a hallmark of a Northern sound, can anyone deny that they are great records? Is it not just that they were 'herd' fodder, as Pete S reminds us, that sets them outside our interest?

To me, this debate has highlighted a fundamental weakness in the rare soul scene. Simply put, the yardstick of rarity as an essential component of a desirable record is crass. Unfortunately, there is no way round that one ,at this point in time at least.Perhaps when those of us who remember the afro- haired -deejays have passed on to the big allnighter in the sky, a new generation of soulies can be free to relish, without prejudice, the wonderful sound of Philly International

Edited by Billy Freemantle
Posted (edited)

You gorra larf really. Philly International is the absolute epitome of Sophisticated Soul music and made by geniuses. To use Don Varner- a gruff voiced Southern souler who made a few uptempo records-one of which is a (fantastic) desirable record on the notoriously strange Northern scene -as a comparison to a whole labels worth of product is great.

Great? Think I know what you are driving at and I think your being a little unfair. Don Varner was given as an example of a northern soul record with balls and not a comparison to a whole labels worth of product. That was all, don't need to disappear up one's own jacksy with 'Philly International the absolute epitome of Sophisticated Soul music'.

Edited by Simsy
Guest pete salland
Posted

To me, this debate has highlighted a fundamental weakness in the rare soul scene. Simply put, the yardstick of rarity as an essential component of a desirable record is crass. Unfortunately, there is no way round that one ,at this point in time at least.Perhaps when those of us who remember the afro- haired -deejays have passed on to the big allnighter in the sky, a new generation of soulies can be free to relish, without prejudice, the wonderful sound of Philly International

Posted

Alright, on my right I've got a pile of ten singles on Thelma, on my left I've got a pile of ten singles on Philly Int. Which one do you choose? If it's the one on the left, you are in the wrong place. The mainstream soul forum is elsewhere.

Posted

Alright, on my right I've got a pile of ten singles on Thelma, on my left I've got a pile of ten singles on Philly Int. Which one do you choose? If it's the one on the left, you are in the wrong place. The mainstream soul forum is elsewhere.

Nice one Pete,great example....... :unsure:

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