Comments on: Listening Booth: Philadelphia International Records

By: CD Review: Human Nature, “Reach Out” | Popdose

CD Review: Human Nature, “Reach Out” | Popdose — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:58:56 +0000

[...] Thom Bell, who cowrote “You Are Everything” with Linda Creed. Granted, I’ll take Philly soul over Motown and Memphis R&B any day of the week, but Human Nature’s harmonies and soaring [...]

By: Know Your Local Record Store: Laurie’s Planet of Sound | Popdose

Know Your Local Record Store: Laurie’s Planet of Sound | Popdose — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:31:10 +0000

[...] in March I wanted to buy a copy of Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records after reviewing it for Popdose. Laurie’s didn’t have it in stock, but they were more [...]

By: rwcass

rwcass — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:15:53 +0000

Do you have any compilations you'd recommend? I don't hear distortion or compression as well as other people, but I do know that there's a very noticeable glitch in “I Love Music” on “The Ultimate O'Jays” that somebody at Sony/Legacy should've caught.

“A House on Fire” is good as far as being a source of information, because I don't think there are any other books out there about Philly soul in its glory days, but almost every quote ends with an exclamation point, as if Jackson's interviewees yelled everything they said, and the index isn't very thorough. The pictures that are included are very poorly reproduced. Plus Gamble and Huff wouldn't agree to be interviewed, but Sigler and Bell did, so … it's a start.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:18:57 +0000

Much as I love Philly Soul, having grown up on Pine St. from 1969 to 1975, I can't recommend the “Philly Sound” box set. The mastering is awful, with a lot of distortion in the highs, esp. at high volumes. The book “A House On Fire” is very good, though.

By: rwcass

rwcass — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:15:53 +0000

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:18:57 +0000

By: kshane

kshane — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:53:43 +0000

I ordered John Jackson's book on Amazon. They have good used hardcover copies for about $10 with shipping. I've always loved this music and I'm interested in learning more about the story behind it. Thanks for the heads-up.

By: js

js — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:16:33 +0000

Re the comment about the Delfonics' artistry;
I believe William Hart had a background in
classical music which showed up in his
songwriting. They had many great tunes
which weren't hits, a few of which I see
mentioned upthread.

By: Crimson Ghost

Crimson Ghost — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:16:42 +0000

Funny enough, Kenny Gamble's attempt to strongarm the Philly housing authority to buy a vacant lot for public housing redevelopment helped lead to downfall of HUD secretary Alphonso Jackson last week.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-03...

By: kshane

kshane — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:47:02 +0000

That's what I find so great about The Delfonics debut. It's a great
album through and through, not just a collection of singles. Somehow
The Delfonics always seemed more like “artists” to me than the other
vocal groups. Then again, it may have been their post modern
interpretative dance steps that made me think that.