All Categories — All Formats  

Great stuff from this famous Philly team – not nearly as well-known as their work on Philly International, but a strong batch of modern soul tunes and 80s groover that stands with the other excellent work coming out on Capitol at the time. McFadden & Whitehead wrote, arranged, and produced the whole album – and even though the instrumentation's smoother than on other albums, their vocals are impeccable, with a deeper soul quality than we ever remember them having! There's some great mellow steppers on the album, as well as a few midtempo groovers – and overall, the record may well be their most coherent album. Titles include "Not With Me", "Are You Lonely", "Without You", "Movin On", "Trying To Get Back (To The Love I Lost)", "The Best Of Me", and "Everything I Do".

A stone Philly classic – and a record that gave the world one of the most positive, upbeat tunes ever! The team of McFadden & Whitehead were not only one of the best songwriting duos in the Philly International stable – they were also a great soul combo who really knew how to work the dancefloor – stepping out with surprising tightness on this debut set, and really earning some great fame as they moved from the background to the limelight! This first album by the team is certainly their strongest legacy – as it contains their massive cut "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", a righteous dancefloor anthem that became as much a political rallying cry as it did a call to boogie. The cut's a monster, and it's included here with similar numbers like "Just Wanna Love You Baby", "Got to Change", "I've Been Pushed Aside", and "Mr. Music".

A album of club tracks, as you might guess from the title, but every bit as strong as Melba More's other work from the late 70s! The album's got some top-shelf club help throughout – including production from Van McCoy and McFadden & Whitehead, the latter of whom also contributed a few key tracks – and the whole thing's also mixed by Richie Rivera with a soaring, spacious sound, and one that's never too cloyingly commercial. Melba's strong vocals are right at home in the setting, and even the longer tracks don't seem to dampen her enthusiasm at all. Titles include "Standing Right Here", "Free", "Play Boy Scout", "Promised Land", and "Make Me Believe In You". CD features a bonus 12" version of "This Is It".

The vocals of Melba Moore, and some great Philly soul rhythms – put together with tight arrangements from McFadden & Whitehead, who give Moore a similar approach to some of the best Philadelphia International records of the time! There's a really nice sense of balance to the record – some mellower moments mixed in with the groovers, and a few stepping midtempo numbers that are especially nice – and which seem to unlock a depth and maturity in Melba's vocals we can really appreciate. Titles include "Living Freee", "You Are My River". "Standing Right Here", "Just Another Link", "Is This The End", "Promised Land" and "I Don't Know No One Else To Turn To". CD features 2 bonus tracks – extended single versions of "Promised Land" and "Standing Right Here".

A great take on the sound of Philadelphia International – a double-length set of re-edits of Philly gems from years back – but all done in ways that are completely respectful to the originals! The approach here is wonderful – as warm and soulful as the Philly grooves from back in the day – but often extended and reworked slightly – the way you might have heard on a vintage 12" promo – which is even more impressive once you consider that some of these tracks never came out in that format! The choice of tracks is totally right on the money – and a great demonstration of that old school edit mode that never tried to mess with the track at all – just increase the pleasure it brought to the dancefloor – and the set features 21 very long tracks, including "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Morning Star re-edit)" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Only The Strong Survive (J*Ski re-edit)" by Billy Paul, "Free Love (Victor Rosado re-edit)" by Jean Carn, "Life On Mars (DJ Mila re-edit)" by Dexter Wansel, "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now (The Noodleman re-work)" by McFadden & Whitehead, "Nights Over Egypt (Womack & TOT re-edit) by The Jones Girls, "Strategy (Touchsoul re-edit)" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Let The Dollar Circulate (Scratch N Sniff's ext re-reub)" by Billy Paul, "Darlin Darlin Baby (Deep & Disco re-work)" by The O'Jays, and "Be For Real (Tim McAllister re-edit)" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.

Great tracks from the second generation of Philadelphia International – that time when the label moved past the clubby Philly sounds that had won them big hits in the 70s – into an even deeper range of styles overall! Most of the tracks here have a wonderfully mature sort of feel – a move past easy dancefloor modes, into more complicated mellow steppers and midtempo rhythms that are perfect for the emotive, sensual lyrics of the tunes – most of which are performed by artists who were still the greatest working for the Pilly International label at the start of the 80s! Gems throughout – with great cuts that include "I'm In Love Again" by Patti Labelle, "Easy Easy Got To Take It Easy" by Teddy Pendergrass, "When I'm Gone" by The Jones Girls, "Mine All Mine" by The Stylistics, "Start The Fire" by Jean Carn, "I Can't Stop Turning You On" by Silk, "Set A Little Trap" by Phyllis Hyman, "So Glad I'm The One" by Instant Funk, "Yes You Need Love" by Anthony White, "Your Love Is Good" by Bunny Sigler, and "I've Been Pushed Aside" by McFadden & Whitehead.

A sweet set from Melba Moore at Epic – a handful years before her biggest hits era, and really nice work that should have hit bigger! It's Melba's first album for Epic, but it's her second with production and songwriting powerhouses McFadden & Whitehead – who seem to have a really tight rapport with Moore. Her slinky, soulful vocals flow perfectly and a solid set of songs. A bunch of dancefloor ready groovers and a couple shorter, radio ready gems that really should of charted better! Titles include "You Stepped Into My Life", "Happy", "Pick Me Up, I'll Dance", "There's No Other Like You", "Together Forever", and "It's Hard Not To Like You". This Big Break UK remastered edition includes 3 bonus tracks. "You Stepped Into My Life (Original Version)", "Pick Me Up, I'll Dance (Original Version)" and "Pick Me Up, I'll Dance (Instrumental)".

Soaring sounds from Philadelphia International – the label that virtually defined the sound of soul in the 70s, thanks to a succession of ultra-big hits! Those cuts are great, but this set goes even deeper – to move past the chart standouts, and come up with a brilliant batch of Philly groovers that stayed mostly on the underground – but which have had a huge influence on the global scene over the past few decades! All the best Philly 70s elements are in place here – tight rhythms, impeccable musicianship, and production that finds a way to polish without ever making things too slick – a wonderful blend that makes these tunes totally top-shelf all the way through – and even fresher than some of the bigger hits you'd know from the artists. Titles include "Hey Baby" by Anthony White, "I Heard It In A Love Song" by McFadden & Whitehead, "Old People" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Sunshine & You" by The Futures, "Groovy People" by Lou Rawls, "You Can't Come Back Now" by Jean Carn, "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Let The Dollar Circulate" by Billy Paul, "Found A Love You Couldn't Handle" by The Stylistics, and "I'm Just Thinking About Cooling Out" by Jerry Butler.