Episode 37: Philly Soul and the Sound of the 70s

PLAY LIST

  1. The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (1972)

  2. When Will I See You Again by the Three Degrees (1973)

  3. Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul (1972)

  4. For the Love of Money by The O’Jays (1975)

  5. Sara Smile by Hall and Oates (1976) 

  6. Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now by McFadden and Whitehead (1979)

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Amy talks about the ear candy that is Philly Soul. There is no single sound that defines the 70s but there is no doubt that Philly Soul, or the Sound of Philadelphia is an essential element. The O'Jays, The Spinners, Three Degrees, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and Billy Paul are just some of the artists that created silky, lush soul records under the direction of "The Mighty Three": Thom Bell, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff. With a distribution deal from Clive Davis at CBS Records, Gamble and Huff were not only the McCartney and Lennon of the 70s, they created Philadelphia's Motown. Their brand of soul, or "funk dressed in a tuxedo" was not just dressed up R&B, but also told stories and spoke to social issues that were part of the fabric of the 70s.In

SOURCES

"'After You Listen, You're Cooler': The Incredible Women of Philly Soul." The Guardian. March 20, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/20/philly-soul-philadelphia-international-records-women.

"About Us." Kennygamble. https://kennygamble.com/pages/about-us.

"The Day the Soul Train Crashed." The Stacks Reader. http://www.thestacksreader.com/the-day-the-soul-train-crashed-teddy-pendergrass-accident/.

Fiorillo, Victor. "A Look Back at the Sound of Philadelphia, in the Words of Those Who Created It." Philadelphia Magazine. April 08, 2021. https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/04/10/the-sound-of-philadelphia-history/.

FitzGerald, Tom. "A Hall of Fame Hitmaker Finds Happiness and Harmony in Bellingham." The Seattle Times. February 15, 2018. https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/thom-bell-a-hall-of-fame-hitmaker-with-more-than-30-gold-records-has-found-happiness-and-harmony-in-bellingham/.

"Founders Of The 'The Sound Of Philadelphia' On 50 Years Of Soul." NPR. September 12, 2021. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/12/1036475274/founders-of-the-the-sound-of-philidelphia-on-50-years-of-soul.

Jackson, John A. A House on Fire the Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul. Oxford University Press, 2004.

King, Bill. “Blue-Eyed Philly Soul?” The Atlanta Constitution. September 30, 1978

Light, Alan. "50 Years Later, Gamble and Huff's Philly Sound Stirs the Soul." The New York Times. February 25, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/arts/music/gamble-huff-philadelphia-international-records.html.

Light, Alan. "50 Years Later, Gamble and Huff's Philly Sound Stirs the Soul." The New York Times. February 25, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/arts/music/gamble-huff-philadelphia-international-records.html.

“Meet Billy Paul, America’s Superstar.” The Pittsburgh Courier. February 3, 1973.

MCCCHumanities. "MASTERCLASS - Sound of Philly." YouTube. January 20, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5hulGQQudE&t=120s.

Magazine, Smithsonian. "Forty Years of Philadelphia Sound." Smithsonian.com. February 18, 2011. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/forty-years-of-philadelphia-sound-326818/.

"'Philadelphia Was the Party with a Tormented Soul' | Paul Lester." The Guardian. March 03, 2011. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/03/philadelphia-philly-soul-1970s.

Rea, Stephen. “Ups and Downs.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 19, 1990. 

Reelblack. "The Philly Sound: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & The Story Of Brotherly Love (1997) | Black Thought." YouTube. May 19, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUKblOmUMx0&t=1s.

Songfacts. "The Rubberband Man by The Spinners - Songfacts." Song Meanings at Songfacts. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-spinners/the-rubberband-man.

Songfacts. "When Will I See You Again by The Three Degrees - Songfacts." Song Meanings at Songfacts. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-three-degrees/when-will-i-see-you-again.

Takiff, Jonathan. “Music Makes Money in Philly.” Philadelphia Daily News. December 14, 1972

TheSignaturesounds. "The Philadelphia Sound." YouTube. August 25, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsDEZI9lQ24.

Wang, Amy X. "Clive's Moving Castle." Rolling Stone. September 09, 2021. https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/clive-davis-at-89-1218776/.

music, music historyAmy Livelyphiladelphia soul, philly soul, philadelphia international records, gamble and huff, thom bell, the ojays, the spinners, 70s music, 70s soul, 70s podcast