http://www.buzzine.com/20...this-fall/

71 tracks! In addition to the artists who recorded for Philadelphia International Records,the set also includes songs by The Delfonics,The Stylistics,The Spinners and others who were a part of the "sound of Philadelphia".This box set is already on my Christmas list,lol.

[Edited 9/22/08 3:56am]

In 1996,Gamble and Huff released this 3-CD box set but it felt incomplete:


It begins in 1966 but ends in 1976! So,it's missing all the great Philly songs that were released in the late 70s..."You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (Lou Rawls),"You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" (Jones Girls),"Used Ta Be My Girl" (Ojays),"Close The Door" (Teddy Pendergrass),etc.The new box set promises to give us the COMPLETE anthology of the Philly sound.

As if that's not enough,on October 14th,the following remastered CDs will be released:

Leon Huff 'Here To Create Music'
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 'Wake Up Everybody'
The Ojays 'Back Stabbers'
Billy Paul '360 Degrees Of Billy Paul'
Teddy Pendergrass 'Teddy Pendergrass'
Teddy Pendergrass 'Life Is A Song Worth Singing'

You guys know that I go CRAZY over Philly Soul! I'm ecstatic!

SoulAlive said:

Looks cool!

Only problem is that it will most likely just be a big collection of tracks I already own

This could be a selling point for me, though...

"A deluxe edition includes rare photos, discographical annotations, a cultural timeline, and historical essays by Lynell George, James Miller, and Gerald Early, plus conversations with Gamble, Huff, and Bell.

In 1971, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records (PIR) launched and became “the second-largest African-American-owned enterprise, second only to Motown” in the 1970s, according to Los Angeles Times writer Lynell George’s liner notes. The evolution of the City of Brotherly Love from a decaying urban landscape into a modern mecca of soul music recording, production, songwriting, and artist development is detailed in the various essays."

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Yeah,there isn't too much Philly soul music that I don't already have.Still,this set looks promising and I think it'll be better than the previous box set.I hope they include a few rarities.

FuNkeNsteiN said:

yeah,I can never resist the huge booklet that comes with these sets Rare photos,new interviews....I love this stuff!

I'm gonna buy a jacket like this!

SoulAlive said:

All of these albums have been reissued and remastered within the last 10 or so years. I have a feeling they are just going to re-release them. The only ones I see that may be a little different are the Teddy P. reissues. Those were issued when Gamble and Huff worked with The Right Stuff/Capitol records. Maybe the new issues will sound better and issue the original packaging.

I'm on pins and needls.

Please post a reminder of that when it hits the streets, man

Harlepolis said:

Will do I think I'm gonna give out a few of these sets as Christmas gifts.I know my dad would love this.

daPrettyman said:

Let's hope that there are some bonus tracks on these new remasters! Can you believe that all of the Ojays CDs have been remastered except for 'Family Reunion' which just happens to be my favorite Ojays album?! What's going on there?

I`ll have to get it if they include some rare stuff. I would love to hear unreleased songs by Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne & Teddy!!

SunnySkies said:

I just found out that there will be some B-sides and rare tracks included It won't be just another hits compilation.

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

That's so true. I don't know what's up with that. That is one of my favorites from them (along with Ship Ahoy). Every track is pure bliss.

daPrettyman said:

I'm not gonna rest until we get a fresh,remastered copy of 'Family Reunion'!

SunnySkies said:

Teddy's 'Life Is A Song Worth Singing' contains these two bonus tracks:

"Only You" (single edit)
"Get Up,Get Down,Get Funky,Get Loose" (extended disco version)

Not quite what I was expecting,but oh well

Here's the tracklist of the reissues according to CD Universe:

Teddy Pendergrass:
1. You Can't Hide From Yourself
2. Somebody Told Me
3. Be Sure
4. And If I Had
5. I Don't Love You Anymore
6. Whole Town's Laughing at Me, The
7. Easy, Easy, Got to Take It Easy
8. More I Get, The More I Want, The
9. And If I Had - (remix)
10. Whole Town's Laughing at Me, The (Single Version)
11. Teddy Speaks From the Heart


Teddy Pendergrass - Life Is A Song Worth Singing:
1. Life Is a Song Worth Singing
2. Only You
3. Cold, Cold World
4. Get up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose
5. Close the Door
6. It Don't Hurt Now
7. When Somebody Loves You Back
8. Life Is a Song Worth Singing - (live)
9. Close the Door - (live)
10. Get Down, Get Funky (12 Inch Disco Single)

Here's the official press release from Legacy Recordings:

After Motown There was "Philly Soul"
8/6/2008 9:48:00 PM

Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia will be available at physical and digital retail outlets starting October 21, 2008, through PIR/Legacy.

In 1971, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records (PIR) began its odyssey to become "the second-largest African-American owned enterprise, second only to Motown," in the 1970s, according to Los Angeles Times writer Lynell George's opening liner notes essay. The evolution of the City of Brotherly Love from a decaying urban landscape into a modern mecca of soul music recording, production, songwriting and artist development, is explored in full panoramic depth on LOVE TRAIN: THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA. This deluxe 4-CD boxed set will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting October 21st through PIR/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

LOVE TRAIN arrives with 71 tracks, an appropriate homage to PIR, which was launched by Gamble & Huff in 1971. Some 48 tracks represent the scope of PIR during its hitmaking prime, from the familiar sounds of the O’Jays, the only act to be found on all four discs (“Back Stabbers,” “Love Train,” “Time To Get Down,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For The Love Of Money,” “Give The People What They Want,” “Let Me Make Love To You,” “I Love Music,” “Livin' For The Weekend,” “Use Ta Be My Girl”) to less frequently anthologized PIR artists including the Ebonys, Johnny Williams, the Futures, Bunny Sigler, People's Choice, Dee Dee Sharp, Jean Carn, the Jones Girls, and Leon Huff himself (“I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin'”).

In between is an indispensable collection of multiple tracks – hit singles, B-sides, album cuts – by PIR’s flagship artists between 1971 and 1983: The Intruders, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Billy Paul, MFSB, The Three Degrees, Lou Rawls, the Jacksons, Teddy Pendergrass, McFadden & Whitehead, and Patti LaBelle, the artists who shaped the PIR dynasty and sent its commercial success into the stratosphere.

Fully one-third of the tracks on LOVE TRAIN are non-PIR recordings, broadening the scope magnanimously. The Delfonics, Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Joe Simon, the Stylistics, the Spinners, William DeVaughn, Trammps, the Manhattans, and Deniece Williams all utilized the talents of Gamble & Huff and their associates. Starting with 1967’s “Expressway (To Your Heart)” on the Crimson label, the Top 5 pop/R&B crossover classic by the all-white psychedelic rock band Soul Survivors (written, produced and arranged by Gamble & Huff), the chronological program proceeds with a repertoire that is truly unique amongst collections of this kind.

The chronology is placed in the context of a three-and-a-half-decade timeline that opens the lavish full color booklet accompanying LOVE TRAIN. In addition to the timeline and extensive, complete discographic annotations on every track, the 15,000-word booklet includes nine sections of historic essays, memoirs, recollections, and interview conversations by a host of luminaries.

Along with Lynell George, whose primary four-part 2,000-word opening essay is entitled “You Can Still Stand Tall: The Sound Of Philadelphia,” the other notable contributors include:

• British writer and lecturer Maurice Bottomley (“The Next Stop That We Make Will Be England”);
• English and African American Studies professor Gerald Early of Washington University in St. Louis (“Am I Black Enough For You?”);
• veteran Philly session guitarist-producer Bobby Eli (“A Day In The Life”);
• Russell Hall of Performing Songwriter magazine (who conducts a conversation with Gamble & Huff);
• New York area radio personality Felix Hernandez, host of “Rhythm Revue,” who discovered his cousin was Sigma Sound Studios mastermind engineer Joe Tarsia (“Family Reunion”); and
• Political Science professor James Miller of the New School for Social Research, former music critic for Rolling Stone and Newsweek (“Love Is The Message”).
• Leo Sacks, the Grammy-nominated producer who has supervised more than 200 historic album projects, conducts a conversation with Thom Bell.
• Grammy Award-winning veteran A&R man and former music journalist Joe McEwen’s essay is entitled “Conquer The World,” named for the recent PIR rarities anthology he co-produced with Sacks.

The story of Philly soul reaches beyond the dozen or so years that PIR reigned supreme. As pointed out by several of the liner note writers, the innate social conscience and consciousness of Gamble & Huff and their many associates reflected the times they lived in, the socio-political climate, and the changes in the human condition as the ’60s gave way to the ’70s. PIR’s most profound and lasting ‘message’ songs – “Back Stabbers,” “Wake Up Everybody,” “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” “For The Love of Money,” “Give The People What They Want,” “Where Are All My Friends,” and so many more – were imbedded into the psyches of black and white listeners alike because they shared the same brilliant studio underpinnings as “T.S.O.P.” (the Soul Train theme), “Love Is the Message,” and “Bad Luck,” club anthems all.

“Kayne West, 50 Cent, OutKast, Jay-Z have paid their respects,” Lynell George concludes. “A snip of a tumbling Earl Young drum solo or a lacy ruffle of strings may be stitched into new melody, but these samples – or examples – have also found their way into a mindset: L.A. Reid and Babyface were influenced by the quality of writing. So, too, were Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.”


About Philadelphia International Records:

In 1971, Gamble and Huff founded PIR as the outlet for their creative vision. Building a stable of Philly-based talent, PIR reached the tops of the charts from day one. In one memorable nine month period during 1972-73, they sold over 10 million records as Billy Paul’s Grammy-winning “Me & Mrs. Jones,” the O’Jays’ “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train,” Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” and the Intruders “I’ll Always Love My Mama” all charted at the same time.

PIR became the birthplace, incubator and launching pad for the Philly Soul sound, a unique blend of R&B rhythms, sweet soul vocals, deep funk grooves, pulsing horn charts and lush string arrangements with melodic structures combining elements of pop, jazz and world music. A sophisticated sound lovingly crafted by engineer Joe Tarsia at his Sigma Sound studios by some of the 20th century’s most influential producers and production teams – including Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Dexter Wansel, and others, including Gamble & Huff themselves – Philly Soul set the stage for disco, smooth jazz, adult contemporary music, quiet storm, and more.

Gamble & Huff’s PIR songs and productions have truly permeated the musical DNA of contemporary culture. They have been covered or sampled by a vast array of artists including Jay-Z, Babyface, Nelly, OutKast, Angie Stone, Simply Red (whose #1 version of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” in 1989 earned Gamble & Huff the Best R&B Song Grammy), Bette Midler, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, Kanye West, 50 Cent, and T.I., among many others.

When asked by Russell Hall of Performing Songwriter magazine, “What are the characteristics of a great song?” Kenny Gamble replied, “A great story.” To which Leon Huff added, “And a great melody.” And Gamble responded, “Like Duke Ellington said, ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.’”

do you have a tracklist for the box set?

SoulAlive said:

I can't find one.

daPrettyman said:

yeah,I've been looking all over for it,too I guess it's not 100% finished yet? They're probably still putting this thing together.

Oh yeah...

Tracklist has finally been revealed:

DISC ONE---
"Expressway To Your Heart" Soul Survivors
"La-La Means I Love You" Delfonics
"Cowboys To Girls" Intruders
"Hey,Western Union Man" Jerry Butler
"Ready Or Not Here I Come" Delfonics
"Only The Strong Survive" Jerry Butler
"Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" Delfonics
"Brand New Me" Dusty Springfield
"Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" Wilson Picket
"You're The Reason Why" Ebonys
"Drowning In The Sea Of Love" Joe Simon
"I'm Stone In Love With You" Stylistics
"I Miss You" Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
"Back Stabbers" Ojays
"Sunshine" Ojays
"I'll Be Around" Spinners
"Slow Motion (Part 1)" Johnny Williams
"Me and Mrs.Jones" Billy Paul
"If You Don't Know Me By Now" Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
"Love Is Here" Futures

DISC TWO---
"Love Train" Ojays
"Break Up To Make Up" Stylistics
"Family Affair" MFSB
"It's Forever" Ebonys
"Time To Get Down" Ojays
"There's No Me Without You" Ojays
"I'll Always Love My Mama" Intruders
"The Love I Lost" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
"I Wanna Know Your Name" Intruders
"Dirty Ol' Man" Three Degrees
"Put Your Hands Together" Ojays
"Thanks For Saving My Life" Billy Paul
"Mighty Love" Spinners
"Be Thankful For What You Got (Part 1)" William DeVaughn
"For The Love Of Money" Ojays
"Where Do We Go From Here" Trammps
"T.S.O.P (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" MFSB featuring the Three Degrees

DISC THREE---
"Then Came You" Spinners with Dionne Warwick
"Love Is The Message" MFSB featuring the Three Degrees
"When Will I See You Again" Three Degrees
"Where Are All My Friends" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
"Picture Us" Bunny Sigler
"Bad Luck" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
"Give The People What They Want" Ojays
"Billy's Back Home" Billy Paul
"Hope That We Can Be Together Soon" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes w/Sharon Page
"Do It Any Way You Wanna" People's Choice
"The Big Hurt" People's Choice
"Let Me Make Love to You" Ojays
"Wake Up Everybody" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
"I Love Music" Ojays
"Don't Leave Me This Way" Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
"Let's Groove" Archie Bell and the Drells
"Livin' For The Weekend" Ojays

DISC FOUR---
"Kiss And Say Goodbye" Manhattans
"I'm Not In Love" Dee Dee Sharp
"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" Lou Rawls
"The Rubberband Man" Spinners
"Enjoy Yourself" The Jacksons
"Free Love" Jean Carn
"I Don't Love You Anymore" Teddy Pendergrass
"See You When I Get There" Lou Rawls
"Use Ta Be My Girl" Ojays
"Close The Door" Teddy Pendergrass
"Ain't No Stoppin Us Now" McFadden and Whitehead
"You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" Jones Girls
"Hurry Up This Way Again" Stylistics
"Love T.K.O" Teddy Pendergrass
"I Ain't Jivin,I'm Jammin" Leon Huff
"It's Gonna Take A Miracle" Deniece Williams
"If Only You Knew" Patti LaBelle

http://www.powerhouseradi...iladelphia

Instead of another box set containing the same songs that we already have,Philadlephia International should do what Motown has done and release box sets containing all the Philly singles (sides A and B).Motown has released several box sets like this,each one focusing on a specific year (1966....1967....1968,etc).Imagine a Philly box set focusing on 1973....or 1975...or 1976! All the singles from that year,B-sides too.I'd be more excited about a project like that.This new box set is pointless for me.

.
[Edited 9/22/08 3:55am]

SunnySkies said:

Sadly,it doesn't look like there are any rare tracks If you have other Philly Soul compilations,you most likely already have this stuff.

daPrettyman said:

I'm definitely gonna pick these up! These reissues are much more exciting than the box set.

No rare tracks and it doesn't even have songs like "Show You the Way to Go."

AlexdeParis said:

Yeah,the tracklist is really disappointing.Only one song by the Jones Girls?! Nothing from Phyllis Hyman,who recorded a couple of excellent albums for PIR?! I'm gonna buy this set as a Christmas present for my father,but I have no use for it at all.