The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits

by Sound Of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huffs G.H. / Var

Overview

The songwriting, arranging, and production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff defined and prefigured the landscape for disco and contemporary urban R&B in the early '70s with their strings, horns, and sugary groove approach to making records, and although by the end of the decade the formula began to wear thin and feel tired, uninspired, and stale, the fact remains that the duo's Philadelphia International Records imprint was to the 1970s what Berry Gordy's Motown Records was to the 1960s -- a hitmaking machine. This 14-track collection proves the point, although it really only scratches the surface of Gamble & Huff's impressive catalog. Included here are inescapable classics like the O'Jays' "Love Train" and "Use Ta Be My Girl," the Three Degrees' silk-perfect "When Will I See You Again," and Billy Paul's melodramatic confectionary -- but absolutely infectious -- "Me and Mrs. Jones," all of which are undeniable pop culture artifacts burned into the memory of any soul who has ever been within earshot of a radio. It's an impressive legacy, really, and this set makes for a fine introduction to it. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	03/04/2008
Label:	Legacy / Philadelphia International/Emi / Philadelphia/Legacy
UPC:	0886972108728
Rank:	34620

Tracks

1. Love Train  -  O'Jays
2. Back Stabbers  -  O'Jays
3. If You Don't Know Me by Now  - Harold Melvin  - Teddy Pendergrass  -  Melvin
4. The Love I Lost  - Teddy Pendergrass  -  Melvin
5. T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)  -  Three Degrees  -  MFSB
6. Me and Mrs. Jones  - Billy Paul
7. When Will I See You Again  -  Three Degrees
8. Do It Any Way You Wanna  -  People's Choice
9. I'll Always Love My Mama  -  Intruders
10. Use Ta Be My Girl  -  O'Jays
11. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine  - Lou Rawls
12. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now  -  McFadden & Whitehead
13. Close the Door  - Teddy Pendergrass
14. If Only You Knew  - Patti LaBelle

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The O'Jays   Primary Artist
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes   Primary Artist
The Three Degrees   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
MFSB   Primary Artist
Billy Paul   Primary Artist
Harold Melvin   Primary Artist
McFadden & Whitehead   Primary Artist
Teddy Pendergrass   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Patti LaBelle   Primary Artist
People's Choice   Primary Artist
Lou Rawls   Primary Artist
The Intruders   Primary Artist
Victor Carstarphen   Keyboards
Charlie Collins   Drums
Anthony Bell   Guitar
Lenny Pakula   Organ
Ron Kersey   Keyboards
Roland Chambers   Guitar
Jerry Cohen   Keyboards
James Williams   Bass
Dexter Wansel   Keyboards
Bobby Eli   Guitar
Kenny Gamble   Vocals (Background)
Larry Washington   Bongos,Congas,Percussion,Handclapping
Earl Young   Drums
Dennis Harris   Guitar
Vince Montana   Vibraphone
Thom Bell   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Michael "Sugar Bear" Foreman   Bass
Cecil Womack   Guitar
Carla Benson   Vocals (Background)
Ronnie Baker   Bass
Barry J. Eastmond   Keyboards
Leon Huff   Piano,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes,Vocals (Background)
Joseph B. Jefferson   Vocals (Background)
Norman Harris   Guitar
Karl Chambers   Drums
Bob Babbitt   Bass
Keith Benson   Drums
Evette Benton   Vocals (Background)
Barbara Ingram   Vocals (Background)
David Cruse   Bongos,Congas,Percussion,Handclapping
Sam Reed   Saxophone
Quinton Joseph   Drums
Carl Heim   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Jim Parham   Project Director
Micaela Boland   Design
Gene McFadden   Producer
Joe McEwen   Producer
John Whitehead   Producer
Joe Tarsia   Engineer
Leo Sacks   Producer
Rob Santos   A&R
Mark Wilder   Mastering
Don Renaldo   Performer
Don Hunstein   Photography
Jessica Lizzio   Project Coordinator
Jeffrey Cohen   Producer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Kenny Gamble   Producer,Executive Producer,Original Recording Producer
Jack Faith   Arranger
Craig White   Tape Transfer
Jeremy Holiday   Package Design
Thom Bell   Arranger
Dexter Wansel   Producer
Leon Huff   Arranger,Producer,Executive Producer,Original Recording Producer
Sam Reed   Performer
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
Frankie Brunson   Arranger
Bobby Martin   Arranger
Zak Profera   A&R