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Philadelphia International Records is celebrating its' 40th Anniversary PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS!
Philadelphia International records - one of the greatest black record labels of all time is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971, the label launched with the album Going East by Billy Paul in October 1971 but really hit its stride throughout 1972 with a brace of international hits from veteran Philadelphia based signings like the O’Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and the Three Degrees. Legendary A&R visionary Clive Davis was responsible for bringing the Philly hit machine to the Columbia group for distribution – a gamble which proved to be extraordinarily successful as the major distributor struggled to keep up with the hits that were pouring out from Sigma Sound studio in downtown Philadelphia – the recording home of P.I.R. where smashes like “Backstabbers”, “Love Train”, “Me & Mrs Jones”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and numerous others all rolled out in 1972 alone. Just two years later, Philadelphia International became the second largest black-owned company in the U.S.A. following Berry Gordy’s Motown, which had similarly forged its identity with a trademark sound from Detroit. Jump forward 40 years and Philadelphia International is still independent and still owned by its original founders, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff – an extraordinary achievement in an age where most other independent companies (including Motown) have long since been absorbed into large conglomerates. In celebrating 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International, being planned are some brand new “Philly 40” PIR releases which have been long overdue and will be eagerly anticipated around the world.
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 ReviewThis 1973 concert, amazingly left unreleased for nearly 40 years, features Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Three Degrees, Billy Paul, and the O'Jays, all at the peak of their powers and backed by MFSB with Soul Train's Don Cornelius as emcee. The occasion, which took place at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel on June 27, was a convention for CBS Records, distributors of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International label. It was a true one-off, mostly because a tour of that scope would be too massive a production; MFSB alone, featuring Huff on organ, included 35 members. Even Joe Tarsia of Sigma Sound, PIR's recording home base, was flown out; he recorded the event, and the sound is vivid, with Ronnie Baker's bass and Earl Young's drums present enough to keep one's feet moving throughout the likes of "The Love I Lost," "Dirty Old Man," the second half of "East," "Back Stabbers," and "Love Train." It's all supremely entertaining and moving, not just for the quality of the music but for the impassioned energy emanating from all the performers, as well as the amusing banter from several of the vocalists and Cornelius. There are six number one R&B singles played here. It should be an additional kick for any soul freak to hear one of them -- MFSB's own "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)" -- performed prior to its release, before Cornelius was able to use it as the most popular theme for his long-running music program. Ashley Kahn provides extensive, insightful, and quote-filled liner notes that enhance the listening experience. There certainly could not have been a better place to be that night.
(Released earlier this year)
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PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL: THE RE-EDITS Released earlier this year,this compilation includes 21 of the hottest Philadelphia Internaitional Records (PIR) re-edits which have been done by PIR enthusiasts from around the world. All fully approved by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff.To coin a phrase from a PIR hit "Statisfaction Guaranteed" is a great way to summerize this collection of classy Philly tracks, here in re-edited and remixed versions by various people from around the globe. Most of your favorite Philly acts and songs are there, but in new upliftning versions you never heard before while still keeping them true to the originals. | |
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Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes
Please note, territorial restrictions may apply to this product.
Following on from the massively popular “Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits” package, here is the 2nd release in our special “Philly 40” campaign which is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Philadelphia International Records. Welcome to the hugely anticipated “Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes”.
Tom Moulton’s involvement with Philadelphia International spans the entire 40 years of their existence with many of his early mixes unaccredited in the era before the 12” Disco Disc. In 1977 PIR released the ground-breaking historic original double LP “Philadelphia Classics” which featured 8 of Tom Moulton’s greatest PIR mixes. The album has subsequently been reissued several times and is rightly hailed as a ‘must have’ classic for ANY serious music lovers’ collection.
We have now taken all 8 tracks featured on the original “Philadelphia Classics” added a further 7 ‘lost’ Tom Moulton mixes which have previously never been easily available and commissioned a further 16 BRAND NEW Tom Moulton mixes on The O’Jay’s “Back Stabbers”, The Intruder’s “(Win, Place or Show) She’s A Winner”, Billy Paul “The Whole Town’s Talking”, Robert Upchurch “The Devil Made Me Do It”, The Three Degree’s “Year Of Decision” and “When Will I See You Again”, Archie Bell & The Drells’ “Let’s Groove” and “Where Will You Go When The Party’s Over”, Lou Rawls’ “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” and “See You When I Git There”, People’s Choice “Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long)”, Teddy Pendergrass’ “I Don’t Love You Anymore”, The O’Jay’s “This Time Baby”, The Futures’ “Party Time Man”, Jean Carn’s “My Love Don’t Come Easy” and The Jones Girls’ “Nights Over Egypt”.
This will be 31 true full-length Philadelphia International Classics in total delivered in a deluxe box with 4 separate CD’s plus a 16 page booklet with sleeve notes by Lloyd Bradley and containing some rare photos of Tom Moulton and Sigma Sound studios.
In short, “Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes” will be one 2012’s most revered releases.
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For those of you who enjoyed these compilations,get ready: Volume 3 is due this summer!
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70s Philly Soul flashback: The O'Jays performing "I Love Music" on Soul Train in January 1976 | |
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Everybody,feel free to post your own Philly Soul flashbacks,favorite songs,memories,etc | |
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I created this thread to celebrate PIR,Gamble and Huff and all those amazing artists.I think there needs to be a movie about Philadelphia International Records.The Gamble and Huff story is very interesting.There's been some recent talk about a Teddy Pendergrass biopic starring Tyrese,but I think they should just make Teddy's story a part of the Philly International film.Thom Bell's story can also be told in this film,since he was a part of this scene too.
If I were a filmmaker,this is a project that I'd love to tackle | |
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This era of music can't be touched, I never tire of listening to their catalogue  Life has a way of making you live it. . . . | |
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Dexter Wansell : The Sweetest Pain (feat. Terri Wells)
[Edited 5/24/12 8:33am] [Edited 5/24/12 8:47am] Life has a way of making you live it. . . . | |
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The Jones Girls : You Made Me Love You
My favourite female vocal group  [Edited 5/24/12 8:48am] Life has a way of making you live it. . . . | |
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Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes : Bad Luck
 [Edited 5/24/12 8:49am] Life has a way of making you live it. . . . | |
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Received the 10-cd box Tuesday, it looks and sounds amazing! Just like the white winged dove... |
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My copy should arrive sometime next week | |
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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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this thread is pornographic | |
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Damn right | |
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Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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unless i'm not seeing it they left The QUEEN of Philly off the Box-set...."Love, Need & Want you", "Over the rainbow", "The Spirits in It", "If Only you knew" should be somewhere on those Legendary discs... | |
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This is my shit!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for this thread. For me, PIR defined the 70s. So many great memories. |
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  National Funk League✮✮ | |
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Recent interview with Gamble.
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PIR in the 70s,was like Motown in the 60s.
I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired! | |
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Archie Bell and the Drells recorded several albums for PIR in the late 70s.These albums are very underrated and worth checking out....
"Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Archie Bell and the Drells (1976) | |
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Are you referring to the 10-CD box set? Patti's on there a few times.....
Track Listing | |
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Interestingly,Patti didn't have a hit album at PIR until after she had already left the company.1983's I'm In Love Again was a huge album,but by the time it was released,Patti had already moved on,preparing to sign with MCA Records.In fact,the I'm In Love Again project consisted of songs she recorded in 1981 that had been left in the vaults. | |
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