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Exact matches: 1
Exact matches1
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter WanselStargazer – The Philadelphia International Anthology 1976 to 1980 ... CD
Philadelphia International/Big Break (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
Five years of amazing sounds from Dexter Wansel – a keyboardist who could be as far out as his fiercest fusion contemporaries of the 70s, yet also groove with enough soulful styles to be a key part of the Philadelphia International explosion of the 70s! This massive collection really gets at all that made Wansel so great back in the day – his incredible ear for inventive arrangements, spacey way of spinning out a soul tune, and great sense of balance that never made his music sound overdone – always an effortless blend of jazz, soul, and funk – in ways that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to touch! Many of these tunes have vocals, but they also have plenty of keyboard solos too – kind of like CTI hitting a Philly groove, but one that was definitely reserved for the hipper spaces of the clubs – or the hipper clubs out there in outer space. 2CD set features great notes, sublime sound, and a killer batch of 32 tracks that includes "Life On Mars", "Disco Lights", "Let Me Rock You", "I'll Never Forget My Favorite Disco (12" version)", "The Sweetest Pain", "Holdin On", "One Million Miles From The Ground", "Rings Of Saturn", "Theme From The Planets", "Funk Attack", "Stargazer", "Ode Infinitum", "Latin Love", "Let Me Rock You", "Holdin On", "Prelude 1", "New Beginning", "Time Is The Teacher", "A Prophet Named KG", "I Just Want To Love You", "All Night Long", "It's Been Cool", "Voyager", and "Time Is Slipping Away". CD
 
Close matches: 87
Close matches2
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Three DegreesThree Degrees International ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Near Mint- ... Just Sold Out!
Seminal work by Three Degrees – stepping proudly here from their girl group roots, into a dramatic pre-disco mode that's clearly influenced by similar Philly work by First Choice – some of the finest material ever! The music is by MFSB, with arrangements by Philly maestros like Bobby Martin and John Davis – and given that pedigree it's as wonderful as you'd imagine. Paired with the sweetly beautiful singing by the lovely voices of Three Degrees, this is some truly great Philadelphia International soul! Titles include "TSOP", "Loving Cup", "Get Your Love Back", "Long Lost Lover", "Take Good Care Of Yourself", "Another Heartache", and a nice cover of Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has minimal wear.)

Close matches3
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousFirst Ladies Of Philadelphia Soul ... CD
Philadelphia International/Music Club (UK), 1980s. Used ... Just Sold Out!
16 tracks from the Jones Girls, Jean Carn, Dee Dee Sharp, Patti Labelle, Frantique, Dexter Wansel, Phyllis Hyman, Shirley Jones, and MFSB. CD

Close matches4
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousPhilly International Dance Classics Vol 1 ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1970s/1984. Used ... Out Of Stock
A half dozen great soul and dance cuts from the label that dominated commercial R&B throughout the latter half of the 70s: "Love Is The Message" and "Mysteries Of The World" by MFSB, "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays, "Breaking & Entering" by Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by People's Choice and "Music Is My Way Of Life" by Patti Labelle. CD

Close matches5
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ MFSB/Three Degrees/Billy Paul/O'JaysGolden Gate Groove – The Sound Of Philadelphia Live 1973 ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1973. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
The setting is the Golden Gate, but the sound is pure Philly International – a rare early live performance from the label, featuring some of its key vocal heavyweights working here with live accompaniment from MFSB! Although the instrumental group backed Philly artists often in the studio, this 1973 concert marks the only time they worked live with the singers – in a stunning showcase for the young label, performed as part of a Columbia Records convention in San Francisco! Given the setting, and the uniqueness of the whole event, the release of this rare material is a treasure for soul fans of many generations – a rare addition to the amazing run of music the label first started giving us at the time. The set begins with MFSB doing a version of "Freddie's Dead" – then runs into Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes singing "I Miss You", "The Love I Lost", and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" – followed by Three Degrees on "I Didn't Know" and "Dirty Ol Man". MFSB then follow with "TSOP", then Billy Paul sings "East" and "Me & Mrs Jones", and the set ends with The O'Jays on "Love Train", "Sunshine", "Back Stabbers", and "When The World's At Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches6
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ EbonysYou're The Reason Why/Sexy Ways ... 7-inch
Philadelphia International, Early 70s. Very Good+ ... $7.99
Two nice hard-to-find sides by this great Philly soul group. "You're the Reason Why" is a great mixed male/female group cut, with a sweet soul tempo and a male vocal lead. "Sexy Ways" is uptempo with a rolling Gamble/Huff style – rougher and funkier than usual, in kind of a late 60s Philly groove! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches7
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Phyllis HymanLiving All Alone ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1986. Used ... $5.99
Sparkling modern soul from the lovely Phyllis Hyman – and an album that has the singer picking up the wonderfully smooth groove that had become the Philly International sound of the mid 80s. This format works surprisingly well for Phyllis – quite possibly more so than it did even for longer-running artists on the label – as it gives her a great showcase for the more sophisticated and adult sort of themes that were really emerging in her music, the kind of classy soul that Hyman helped forge strongly at the time. Titles include the great numbers "Old Friend", "Ain't You Had Enough Love", "If You Want Me", "Living All Alone", and a nice version of "What You Won't Do For Love". CD
(Out of print.)

Close matches8
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesBlack & Blue/Wake Up Everybody (SACD multi-channel disc) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Vocalion (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy ... $21.99 24.99
A pair of 70s gems from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes! Black & Blue is classic Philly soul from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – a killer batch of studio tracks, despite the live image of the group on the cover! The album's got a slightly more expansive feel than some of the other Teddy Pendergrass-era albums by The Blue Notes – almost a mini-symphony of soul, and one that takes arrangements from Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Vince Montana – and wraps the vocals up in a soaring, righteous sort of feel! The rougher, more personal Teddy Pendergrass style of I Miss You is folded a bit more into the harmonies of the rest of the group here – and the result is a powerful wave of soul that pushes The Blue Notes right to the top of the pack. The album features classics like "The Love I Lost" and "Is There A Place For Me" – plus other nice material like "Concentrate On Me", "It All Depends On You", and "I'm Weak For You". On Wake Up Everybody, Teddy Pendergrass and crew get a bit more political than on earlier releases, and adopt the righteous bubbling soul groove that had put the O'Jays over the top a few years earlier – with incredible results! The title cut – "Wake Up Everybody" – would prove to be a great example of the political Philly International hit formula applied to socially conscious themes, but the record probably scored even bigger with the club crossover hit "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other tracks include "Keep On Lovin You", "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby", "I'm Searching For A Love", and "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" – the latter two of which also feature female vocals by Sharon Paige. Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker did the arrangements – and this was Teddy's last LP with the group. CD
(Hybrid Super Audio CD pressing – also works on standard CD players!)

Close matches9
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesTo Be True ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Near Mint- ... $14.99
One of the legendary classics from the Philly International years of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – a time when the group was featuring the tremendous lead vocals of the great Teddy Pendergrass! The set's a stunner all the way through – one of the best Philly mixes of smooth, professional backings and deeply personal lyrics – as Teddy soars to the top of the mix with his excellent leads, and gets excellent support from the rest of the Blue Notes on harmonies – but also steps aside to make a bit of space to introduce singer Sharon Paige on one cut, who'd have a greater role in the group in years to come. The songwriting, production, and other Sigma Studios touches are sublime – and titles include "Hope That We Can Get Together Soon", "Where Are All My Friends", "Bad Luck", "To Be True", "Nobody Could Take Your Place", and "All Because Of A Woman". LP, Vinyl record album
(White label promo. Cover has a cut corner, tracklist sticker, and surface wear.)

Close matches10
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesWake Up Everybody ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Very Good ... $13.99
Teddy Pendergrass and crew get a bit more political than on earlier releases, and adopt the righteous bubbling soul groove that had put the O'Jays over the top a few years earlier – with incredible results! The title cut – "Wake Up Everybody" – would prove to be a great example of the political Philly International hit formula applied to socially conscious themes, but the record probably scored even bigger with the club crossover hit "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other tracks include "Keep On Lovin You", "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby", "I'm Searching For A Love", and "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" – the latter two of which also feature female vocals by Sharon Paige. Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker did the arrangements – and this was Teddy's last LP with the group. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Vinyl appears slightly foggy on Side 1. Cover has unglued seams.)

Close matches11
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
MFSBSummertime ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1976. Very Good+ ... $6.99
Quite possibly our favorite album from MFSB – the legendary Philly instrumental group from the 70s! The record's completely sublime all the way through – and is perhaps the most perfect illustration of that subtle blend of funk, soul, and disco that makes the group so great – a sound that was copied by others like Salsoul Orchestra or Instant Funk, but almost never done as perfectly as on this sweet little set! The album's got some chorus vocals on a few cuts, but mostly hangs out in an instrumental mix of Philly rhythms, jazzy solo moments, and some soaring strings that really help fill up the groove. There's a definite summer theme going on – and titles include the great McFadden & Whitehead "Summertime And I'm Feelin Mellow", plus "We Got The Time", "Hot Summer Nights", "Picnic In the Park", and "Sunnin & Funnin". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches12
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
O'JaysO'Jays – Soul Greatest Hits Series ... LP
Philadelphia International (Japan), Early 1970s. Very Good+ ... $14.99
A cool Japanese-only package – with titles that include "Back Stabbers", "992 Arguments", "Love Train", "Give The People What They Want", "Survival", "Unity", "I Love Music", "Livin For The Weekend", "Time To Get Down", "Put Your Hands Together", and "For The Love Of Money". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some light wear.)

Close matches13
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
O'JaysBack Stabbers ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1972. Very Good ... $16.99
A landmark album for the O'Jays – a set that moved them from the indie ranks to 70s megasoulstatus! After years of bumping around on a variety of labels, and in a variety of styles, the group really exploded with this wonderful set – an album that has them soaring along in the righteous Philly groove of the early 70s – a sound that turned out to be a perfect foil for the trio's sublime, yet earthy harmonies. Arrangements are by some fo the best of the core Philly scene – Thom Bell, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, and Bobby Martin – and the album's overflowing with great tunes that completely redefine the sound of group soul in the 70s! Includes megahits "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" – plus "Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People", "When The World's At Peace", "Time To Get Down", "Who Am I" and more! LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing with Frankford/Wayne stamp. Cover has light wear and some price sticker remnants.)

Close matches14
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
O'JaysIdentify Yourself ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1979. Very Good ... $2.99
The O'Jays keep on going strong – hitting a smooth mellow Philly vibe that takes them away from the style of their mid 70s hits! The sound here is a bit more uptempo than on the previous album So Full Off Love – but the group are still also really using the time to explore their mellower side – kicking back in a warm and sophisticated mode that really shows the Philly sound growing up at the end of the 70s. Ballad highlights include the mellow stepper "Hurry Up & Come Back", plus "Forever Mine" and "I Want You Here With Me" – and more uptempo cuts include "So Nice I Tried It Twice", "One In A Million", and "Sing A Happy Song". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)

Close matches15
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
O'JaysMy Favorite Person ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1982. Very Good ... $0.99
Although they didn't have as big of chart success as in earlier years, the O'Jays managed to do alright as the 80s moved in on them. Their sweet vocal style was a perfect match for Philly International's move to more modern soul production, and this album has them nicely set up by McFadden & Whitehead, still recording at Sigma Sound. The record includes the classic "My Favorite Person", one of the group's best later cuts, and a really catchy number – plus "Out In the Real World", "Don't Walk Away Mad", and "One On One". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has surface wear, mild bends.)

Close matches16
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Teddy PendergrassLife Is A Song Worth Singing ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1978. Very Good+ ... $11.99
Sublime solo material from the great Teddy Pendergrass – the kind of record that instantly proves that his departure from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes was a great idea, as the man alone is even more of a power to be reckoned with! The set's a cornerstone in that great second wave of Philly soul from Gamble & Huff – that point when the rest of the world was picking up on the disco grooves they forged earlier in the 70s, and they went for a more adult, more sophisticated style with singers like Teddy, Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, and others. The whole thing's perfect – and nicely balances between mellow moments and groovers – with gems that include the always-great "Close The Door", the massive "When Somebody Loves You Back", and other cuts that include "Get Up Get Down Get Funky Get Loose", "Life Is A Song Worth Singing", "Cold Cold World", and "It Don't Hurt Now". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has some heavy edge wear, bumped corners, lightly bent edges and front panel, a small dent in the opening, and a deep dent at the spine.)

Close matches17
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Teddy PendergrassLive Coast To Coast ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1979. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ... Just Sold Out!
Teddy Pendergrass follows up the style of Lou Rawls' double live album for Philly International – and goes for a very similar mix of modes that showcases all his charm and soulful spirit! The 2LP set features material recorded in both Philly and LA – with a fair bit of Teddy's working the audience along with the tunes. And as an added bonus, side 4 of the album also features radio interview material with Teddy, plus a few new studio tracks for the set – a nice addition, but one that also makes us wonder why, after 2 locations of live recording, they couldn't get together enough concert material for the record! Titles include "Life Is A Song Worth Singing", "Only You", "Turn Off The Lights", "Do Me", "Close The Door", "Come Go With Me", "Where Did All The Lovin Go", "Get UP Get Down Get Funky Get Loose", "When Somebody Loves You Back", "Shout & Scream", "It's You I Love", and "LA Rap". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeves. Cover has light wear.)

Close matches18
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Teddy PendergrassTeddy Pendergrass Greatest Hits ... LP
Philadelphia International, Late 70s/Early 80s. Very Good+ ... $11.99
Sublime stuff! When Teddy left Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, he was making one of the best moves of his career – as you'll hear on these amazing tracks, totally perfect bits of modern soul that moved the career of Teddy up about a zillion notches, and which also had a profound effect on the overall development of male soul vocals. Includes "Turn Off The Lights", "Close the Door", "Love TKO", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "You Can't Hide From Yourself", and the amazing "Come Go With Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches19
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Lou RawlsLet Me Be Good To You ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1979. Near Mint- ... $4.99
One of Lou's classics for Philly International – a warm mix of smooth soul and adult vocals, handled with some great arrangements by Dexter Wansel and Thom Bell. There's less standout singles on this set than previous Philly records, but Lou's class and quality makes nearly every track come out wonderfully – a masterpiece of soulful understatement and grace. Titles include "We Keep Getting Closer To Being Further Apart", "Time Will Take Care Of Everything", "What's The Matter With The World", "Bark Bite", and "Lover's Holiday". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve – a nice copy.)

Close matches20
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Three DegreesThree Degrees Live ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Near Mint- ... $7.99
The Philly trio gets some great live work done in this tasty little set – hitting the stage with backings from Richard Barrett, and singing before a very enthusiastic crowd in the UK! The style's almost a bit more like the Motown live albums from years back than most Philly International sets – still in the soaring clubby mood of the group's studio work, but with a lot more interplay with the audience, and a style that's sometimes looser and more entertainment-oriented – especially in the choice of a few of the tunes. Titles include "For The Love Of Money", "Living For The City", "Love Train", "Harlem", "When Will I See You Again", "Year Of Decision", and "Free Ride". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a promo stamp, minimal wear, and is bent just a bit at the spine.)

Close matches21
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jean CarnJean Carn ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1976. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Jean Carn was one of the best-ever singers to hit the Philly International label – a sophisticated diva with a style that would strongly influence soul music for the next 10 years, and a downright compelling voice that crafted some of the best modern soul of her generation. Although Jean started out as a spiritually-oriented singer working with husband Doug Carn and Earth Wind & Fire, this debut album has her grooving in a style that resembles the classy Columbia sound of Marlena Shaw. Like Shaw, Carn takes the best of her jazz roots, and strips off the nonsense to adapt to a more modern style. Gamble & Huff take a great deal of care with the album – and are careful not to bury Jean's voice in overly club-oriented arrangements, as they occasionally did with other female singers. Includes the hit groover "Free Love", plus "Don't You Know Love When You See It", "You Are All I Need", "You Got A Problem", and "If You Wanna Go Back". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a promo stamp, light wear, a small peeled spot and some remnants from price sticker removal, and some light stains in back at the opening.)

Close matches22
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ EbonysIt's Forever/Sexy Ways ... 7-inch
Philadelphia International, 1973. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
2 hard to find sides by this great Philly harmony group! 'It's Forever" is really one of the group's best – a slow building tune with a sad little approach – building harmonies over the theme of "forever", climbing over the top into a heavenly soul sound! "Sexy Ways" is uptempo with a rolling Gamble/Huff style – rougher and funkier than usual, in kind of a late 60s Philly groove! 7-inch, Vinyl record
(In a TSOP sleeve. Includes jukebox tags!)

Close matches23
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ EbonysNation Time/I Believe ... 7-inch
Philadelphia International, 1973. Very Good ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Two nice ones from the Ebonys' rare years at Philly International. "Nation Time" is an O'Jays-esque political soul groover – of the "stand up and be counted" vein. "I Believe" is a reworking of the old Frankie Laine pop hit, transformed here into a surprisingly successful soul number. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches24
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dee Dee Sharp GambleWhat Color Is Love ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1977. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Dee Dee's come a long way from "The Mashed Potato Time" here – emerging as a full-blown modern soul artist, with the same sort of sophisticated twist as other Philly girl singers, like Jean Carn or The Jones Girls. The title cut is a great remake of Terry Callier's "What Color Is Love" – and other tracks include "Hang Your Portrait", "I Believe In Love", "Just As Long As I Know You're Mine", and "Tryin To Get The Feeling Again". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the lyric sleeve. Cover has light wear.)

Close matches25
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Leon HuffHere To Create Music ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1980. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the most compelling later albums on Philly International – a killer mix of jazzy numbers that have a very different style than most of the other Philly work at the time! Even though Leon Huff had been banging around in soul music for about 15 years – most famously as half of the Philly soul superteam Gamble & Huff – this 1980 LP was his first effort as an artist, instead of producer. In Chicago, the big highlight is the jazzy stepping track "I Ain't Jivin, I'm Jammin" – which grooves along with a sweet two-step piano sound that's still quite popular on the dancefloor – but the record is filled with nice tracks including "Tight Money", which was done earlier by Reuben Wilson, the funky "Your Body Won't Move If You Can't Feel The Groove", the breezy instrumental "No Greater Love", "Tasty", "This One's For Us" and "Latin Spirit". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover is lightly bent at the spine and top right corner.)

Close matches26
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jones GirlsJones Girls ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1979. Very Good+ ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Excellent work from this legendary vocal trio! The Jones Girls were probably one of the best female acts to ever hit the Philly International stable – really a cut above their contemporaries, and not just one of those acts that was kind of a backup singer set, come forward! Their vocals are sublime – richly complicated, and with a maturity that really comes through on this set – a record that has them grooving away nicely in a sophisticated style that's only matched by some of the other male groups on Philly International. Cuts include the classic club tracks "This Feeling's Killing Me" and "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" – plus "I'm At Your Mercy", "We're A Melody", "Who Can I Run To", and "Life Goes On". Great production by Dexter Wansel & Gamble and Huff! LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve.)

Close matches27
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ MFSBLove Is The Message ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1973. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A key moment for the Philly soul scene of the 70s – and the first album to feature the MFSB backing group as a solo act on their own! The ensemble were responsible for key sounds on countless soul singles of the time – yet also find a way to soar beautifully on their own – in a sweet instrumental groove that matches the strength of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, and which was definitely a key inspiration for the sound of the Salsoul Orchestra! There's definitely a bit of early disco in the mix, but the style's more uptempo east coast overall – that pre-disco groove that was going down in the clubs – with larger strings added to a core group of funky rhythm players. Gamble & Huff production make the whole thing sparkle, and arrangements are by Vince Montana, Bobby Martin, and Jack Faith – on titles that include "Love Is The Message", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "TSOP", "Zack's Fanfare", "Touch Me In The Morning", and "My One & Only Love". LP, Vinyl record album
(In the original shrink with 2 hype stickers.)

Close matches28
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysFamily Reunion ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A great sense of righteousness and groove – the key mix that made the O'Jays so great back in the day – and which really helped put the Philly International enterprise on the map! The album's miles from the group's simple harmony soul roots – even though those were pretty darn great – and it blends together soaring backings with a sweet Gamble/Huff finish, and really makes some magic in the way the whole thing comes off. Titles include the great mellow ballad "Stairway To Heaven", the party groovers "Livin For The Weekend" and "I Love Music" – and the cuts "Unity", "You & Me", and "She's Only A Woman". LP, Vinyl record album
(Canadian pressing on Columbia/Philadelphia International. Cover has a small cutout hole.)

Close matches29
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysLet Me Touch You ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1987. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Proof that the O'Jays fire can never die – because even though the instrumentation is slightly dated at times, this set sill has the group shining strongly on the vocal tip – hitting some great harmonies on the mellow cuts, and stepping out boldly on the more upbeat ones. Things are very much still in the Philly family here – with production by Thom Bell, Eddie Levert, and Gamble & Huff – and titles include "Lovin You", "Undercover Lover", "Cause I Want You Back Again", "Don't Take Your Love Away", "Let Me Touch You", "No Lies To Cloud My Eyes", "Don't Let The Dream Get Away", and "I Just Want Somebody To Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole.)

Close matches30
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Billy Paul360 Degrees Of Billy Paul (expanded edition) (Legacy Total Soul Classics edition) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Epic, 1972. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Billy Paul at the height of his powers – able to capture the ears of the crossover audience, yet still stay very strongly on message – all with this righteous power that maybe makes Billy one of the hippest mainstream soul stars of the 70s! Gamble & Huff are at the helm, and arrangements at Sigma Sound are by Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris, and Bobby Martin – but throughout the whole thing, it's Billy's delivery that really sends the record over the top – the new sense of maturity he brings to the huge hit "Me & Mrs Jones", the funky vibe of "Am I Black Enough For You", and the wealth of great work on tracks that include "I'm Gonna Make It This Time", "I'm Just A Prisoner", "Brown Baby", and "Let's Stay Together". A masterpiece of sophisticated soul that not only had Billy crossing over big, but which opened whole new doors in the market for black male singers! CD also features a bonus 9 minute version of "Me & Mrs Jones" – recorded live in London, 1973! CD
(Out of print Legacy Recordings' Total Soul Classics edition – with bonus track.)

Close matches31
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Three DegreesThree Degrees ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1973. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Smooth female soul from one of Philly's hottest female trios – Gamble & Huff's big answer to First Choice, and an equally important force in 70s female soul! The album's got a nice mixture of Philly groove and tighter crossover arrangements from the likes of Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula, and Richard Rome – all top-shelf Philly soul talents who really help move the album past the territory of the girl group soul of the trio's earlier work! Titles include the hit "When Will I See You Again", plus the long-running classic "Dirty Ol' Man", and the cuts "Can't You See What You're Doing To Me", "I Didn't Know", "I Like Being A Woman", and "Year Of Decision". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches32
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter WanselLife On Mars ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1976. Sealed ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A fantastic bit of space age funk – and maybe one of the greatest moments ever from Philly Soul maestro Dexter Wansel! The album goes way beyond any of Wansel's other work – and blends his warm soulful styles with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s – a vibe that's every bit as electric and spacey as you'd guess from the cover! Some cuts have a bit more of a soul focus, but others have loads of jazzy keyboards from Dexter – driven on by some great drums at points too. Titles include Wansel's legendary version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus the funky "Life On Mars", and the tracks "One Million Miles From The Ground", "You Can Be What You Wanna Be", "Prophet Named KG", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". LP, Vinyl record album
(Recent reissue.)

Close matches33
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter WanselLife On Mars (180 gram blue vinyl pressing) ... LP
Philadelphia International/Music On Vinyl (Netherlands), 1976. New Copy (reissue)... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A fantastic bit of space age funk – and maybe one of the greatest moments ever from Philly Soul maestro Dexter Wansel! The album goes way beyond any of Wansel's other work – and blends his warm soulful styles with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s – a vibe that's every bit as electric and spacey as you'd guess from the cover! Some cuts have a bit more of a soul focus, but others have loads of jazzy keyboards from Dexter – driven on by some great drums at points too. Titles include Wansel's legendary version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus the funky "Life On Mars", and the tracks "One Million Miles From The Ground", "You Can Be What You Wanna Be", "Prophet Named KG", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches34
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✨✧ Johnny WilliamsSlow Motion (part 1)/Shall We Gather By The Water ... 7-inch
Philadelphia International, 1972. Very Good+ ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Funky funky Philly! Not only is this single one of the most obscure on Philadelphia International, it's also one of the hardest – as Johnny sounds more like a Memphis or Macon soul singer than anyone who ever recorded in the city of Brotherly Love. "Slow Motion" begins with pounding tribal drums, and Johnny shouting out in kind of an Otis Redding mode – before organ and horns come in and make the whole groove nice and funky. Really nice stuff – and we wish we knew more about him! 7-inch, Vinyl record
(Includes jukebox tags!)

Close matches35
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Edwin BirdsongEdwin Birdsong (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Big Break (UK), 1979. Used ... Out Of Stock
A breakout solo moment from the great Edwin Birdsong – an artist who participated in some of Roy Ayers great albums of the 70s, and who cut some great underground records of his own – but who finally got the chance to step into the limelight on this set for Philadelphia International! Birdsong's always been his own man – one of the quirkiest funk artists you'll ever find – and the set's got a very different vibe than anything else from the Gamble & Huff house of hits – mostly because Edwin produced and arranged the whole thing on his own. There's a few slight Roy Ayers touches at times – we sometimes think of Edwin as the Bootsy to Roy's George Clinton – and the rhythms have a nicely romping groove that's more Bohannon than the usual disco tracks. There's also some mellower numbers – like the great "Autumn Eyes" and "Lollipop (Slow)", both of which have a mellow Ayers steppin' groove – and other more upbeat titles include"Cola Bottle Baby", "Phiss Phizz", "Kunta Dance", "Goldmine", and "Freaky Deaky Sities". CD features lots of 12" single bonus tracks – "Phiss Phizz (12" disco)", "Lollipop (12" disco)", "Goldmine (12" disco)", "Freaky Deaky Sities (12" disco)", and "Kunta Dance (part 1)". CD
(Out of print.)

Close matches36
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✨✧ Jean CarnWhen I Find You Love ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1979. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Sublime smooth soul from Jean Carn – who by this point has really honed her act into a polished one, perfect for the rising modern soul groove of late Philly. The record features production by Jerry Butler, Dexter Wansel, and Eddie Levert – but Jean unites the whole thing with her mature sense of poise, and her warm and loving vocals on classic cuts like "My Love Don't Come Easy", "Was That All It Was", and "When I Find You Love". A real gem – and another winner for one of soul music's greatest ladies! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a light corner bend, some edge wear, and track notes in pen.)

Close matches37
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✨✧ Jean CarneCloser Than Close – The Best Of Jean Carne ... CD
Philadelphia International, Late 70s/Early 80s. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the nicer things about the global centralization of culture into the hands of a few giant companies is that you can at least get a "greatest hits" comp like this which spans the artists career on a number of different labels! As proof, you'll find killer stuff from Jean's best years, on Buddah, Philly Intl, and Columbia – with tracks like "Back For More" with Al Johnson, "Valentine Love" with Norman Connors, "Free Love", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Was That All It Was", "When I Find You Love", and "Closer than Close". 16 cuts in all, and way better than we expected from a US major! CD

Close matches38
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ DellsI Salute You ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1992. Used ... Out Of Stock
... CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode.)

Close matches39
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ EbonysEbonys (Japanese pressing) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Sony (Japan), 1973. Used ... Out Of Stock
Excellent work by this oft-overlooked east coast harmony group! Like a rare few groups at the time, The Ebonys had a sound that mixed male and female harmonies – in a sweetly mellow sound that was a lot hipper than more famous groups that used the style, and which had all the best elements of the Philly group approach of the early 70s. The set features some great tracks by Gamble & Huff – plus the group's incredible tune "Life In The Country" – a slow mellow stepper that never gets old! Other tracks include "Hook Up & Get Down", "I Believe", "Sexy Ways", "Nation Time", and "You're The Reason Why". CD
(Out of print.)

Close matches40
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ JacksonsJacksons ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1976. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Great stuff – and a key link between the early work of the Jackson 5 on Motown and Michael's later grooves with Quincy Jones! The Gamble/Huff team give the group a smooth sweet sound – definitely in a dancefloor mode, with some of the bassy riffs of Michael's Off The Wall album, but also with all the sweet catchy soul of earlier years – a really great blend that makes the album a great winner in the group's post-Motown years! The album includes the incredible smooth soul number "Show You The Way To Go", a killer cut that's very much in the Philly modern mode – and other tracks include "Style Of Life", "Enjoy Yourself", "Think Happy", "Blues Away", and "Living Together". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches41
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jones GirlsAt Peace With Woman ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1980. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Classic Jones Girls for Philly! The record's a landmark album in the shift from Philly disco to sophisticated modern – and the smooth tight vocals of The Jones Girls are to the latter half of Philly what the runaway singing of Three Degrees were to the early half. Includes their excellent remake of the Stylistics' "Children of the Night" – which has a cool sample riff on the intro – plus the cuts "I Just Love The Man", "When I'm Gone", "At Peace With Woman", and "Back In the Day". One of the best female records on Philly International, and with excellent work by Dexter Wansel and Kenny Gamble! LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has minimal wear.)

Close matches42
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jones GirlsYou Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else/Who Can I Run To ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1979. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
"You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" is one of the all-time great tracks by Philly International's best girl group – and it's served up here in a special disco mix, which runs for a full 8 minutes! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches43
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Patti LabelleI'm In Love Again ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1983. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A seminal album from the great Patti Labelle – a set that allowed the singer to mature strongly and find her own voice away from the funky, rockish style of Labelle – this sophisticated style that marked a whole new level of the singer's career! The Philly International label turned out to be a perfect setting for Patti – as they too were also growing past some of their earlier styles – moving past the chart soul of the 70s, and some of their bigger disco hits – and finding just the right place to allow their artists to keep on growing strongly over the years. The album's an all-adult affair – no clunky commercial moments at all, and instead this great blend of jazzy currents and sophisticated soul – all handled with the excellent second generation Philly International approach! Titles include "I'm In Love Again", "Love Lives", "Love Need & Want You", "I'll Never Never Give You Up", "If Only You Knew", "Body Language", and "When Am I Gonna Find True Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches44
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✨✧ Patti LabelleSpirit's In It ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1981. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Smooth early 80s work from Patti – a bit over the top at times, but nicely restrained at others. Despite the fact that Patti's in the hands of top Philly International talents like Gamble & Huff, and Dexter Wansel – the effort's still very much her own, in full diva mode over a range of styles, from uptempo to mellow. Titles include "Family", "Boats Against The Current", "Shoot Him On Sight", "Over The Rainbow", "The Spirit's In It", and "I Fell In Love Without A Warning". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a tiny spine split.)

Close matches45
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ McFadden & WhiteheadAin't No Stoppin Us Now/I Got The Love ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1979. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of the greatest moments of late Philly – and a dancefloor stormer that never lets us down! The cut's served up here in a stunning 10 minute version – with grooves that go on and on and on, driving the anthemic message of the cut over the top. "I Got The Love" isn't nearly as great – but who cares, with such a great a-side! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches46
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Harold MelvinWake Up Everybody (expanded version – with bonus track) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Sony, 1975. Used ... Out Of Stock
Teddy Pendergrass and crew get a bit more political than on earlier releases, and adopt the righteous bubbling soul groove that had put the O'Jays over the top a few years earlier – with incredible results! The title cut – "Wake Up Everybody" – would prove to be a great example of the political Philly International hit formula applied to socially conscious themes, but the record probably scored even bigger with the club crossover hit "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other tracks include "Keep On Lovin You", "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby", "I'm Searching For A Love", and "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" – the latter two of which also feature female vocals by Sharon Paige. Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker did the arrangements – and this was Teddy's last LP with the group. This edition includes the bonus track "Don't Leave Me This Way (Tom Moulton Mix)". CD
(CONDITION NOTE: digipak has significant wear on the back cover and some of the ink has peeled away obscuring the text. Sticker over barcode.)

Close matches47
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✨✧ Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesBlack & Blue ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1973. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Classic Philly soul from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – a killer batch of studio tracks, despite the live image of the group on the cover! The album's got a slightly more expansive feel than some of the other Teddy Pendergrass-era albums by The Blue Notes – almost a mini-symphony of soul, and one that takes arrangements from Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Vince Montana – and wraps the vocals up in a soaring, righteous sort of feel! The rougher, more personal Teddy Pendergrass style of I Miss You is folded a bit more into the harmonies of the rest of the group here – and the result is a powerful wave of soul that pushes The Blue Notes right to the top of the pack. The album features classics like "The Love I Lost" and "Is There A Place For Me" – plus other nice material like "Concentrate On Me", "It All Depends On You", and "I'm Weak For You". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches48
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✨✧ MFSBLove Is The Message – Best Of MFSB ... CD
Philadelphia International/Legacy, 1970s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Groundbreaking work, and a killer piece of Philly groove! MFSB were a large conglomeration of studio players who graced some of the first big Philly hits in the 70s, and here they break out on their own in a remarkable set of pre-disco tunes that form the blueprint for the rest of the 70s dancefloor action. The set pulls tracks from most of the band's best albums of the 70s – mixing uptempo numbers with other cuts that have a surprisingly sly approach to jazzy soul. Includes the classic "TSOP", which was also the theme to Soul Train, plus a great version of "Cheaper To Keep Her", the very familiar "Love Is The Message", "Zach's Fanfare", "Freddie's Dead", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Sexy", "Poinciana", "My Mood", and "TLC". 16 cuts in all! CD

Close matches49
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✨✧ O'JaysOriginal Album Classics (Back Stabbers/Family Reunion/Survival) (3CD set) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Sony, 1972/1975. Used 3 CDs ... Out Of Stock
... CD
(Digipak case has some light wear.)

Close matches50
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysShip Ahoy/Message In The Music/Live In London (SACD quadrophonic multi-channel) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Vocalion (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy 2CDs ... Out Of Stock
Classic work from the O'Jays – presented here in a multi-channel SACD! First up is Ship Ahoy – a pivotal album from The O'Jays – and an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third the group cut for the Philadelphia International label – but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul (ala The Temptations), fused with the warmer more sophisticated styles of the Philly sound! The blend is perfect – and has a way of getting the message from the underground right into the living room – and a bit onto the charts as well! From the image on the cover – which features the group in a slave ship setting – to politics of tracks like "Don't Call Me Brother", "For The Love Of Money", "Put Your Hands Together", and "This Air That I Breathe", the record's an extremely unified effort – kind of to the O'Jays what What's Going On was to Marvin Gaye. Other titles include "You Got Your Hooks In Me", "Now That We Found Love", and "People Keep Tellin Me". Message In The Music is one of those records that really took Philly soul to the next level back in the 70s – a set that works amazing magic with the already-great harmonies of the O'Jays – pointing them even more strongly towards groove-heavy territory, while still keeping all the fragile, personal qualities of their earlier work! The title cut is a righteous anthem that never gets old – a perfect blend of subtle politics and homegrown soul – all polished to perfection in the Philly studios. And the rest of the record is equally mindblowing – a set where even the ballads have as much power as the upbeat numbers – as you'll hear in the lineup of tracks that includes "Message In The Music", "Darlin, Darlin, Baby", "A Prayer", "Make A Joyful Noise", "Let Life Flow", and "Paradise". Live In London is a seminal album in the development of Philadelphia International – who seemed to be taking a cue from Motown and Stax in the 60s, by bringing their biggest act to a European audience! The set features the O'Jays working as beautifully in a live setting as they had in the Sigma Sound studios – singing to arrangements by Dennis Williams, but still getting enough production by Bobby Martin to keep the sound in line with their better known studio work from the time. There's a bit of a deeper soul sound overall here – especially on the vocals, which crackle nicely with a live sense of spontaneity. Titles include "Back Stabbers", "Sunshine", "Love Train", "When The World Is A Peace", and "Put Your Hands Together" – plus a few vocal introductions! CD
(Quad mix!)

Close matches51
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysSurvival/Family Reunion (SACD multi-channel disc) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Vocalion (UK), 1975. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Two Philly classics from the O'Jays – back to back on a single CD! Survival is filled with heady sounds from The O'Jays – a set that continues the more righteous side of the style they developed on early 70s Philadelphia International – a great mix of modes that sometimes has the trio sharing some of the political spirit of The Temptations with Norman Whitfield, and sometimes has the group really shining on the kind of heartbreaking ballads that are perfect for the maturing harmony style they were hitting – a mode that was light years past the group's sound just a few years before! The message cuts are mostly upbeat and grooving, and are balanced nicely with the ballads – on titles that include "Survival", "Let Me Make Love To You", "What Am I Waiting For", "Give The People What They Want", "Rich Get Richer", and "Never Break Us Up". Family Reunion is a record with a great sense of righteousness and groove – the key mix that made the O'Jays so great back in the day – and which really helped put the Philly International enterprise on the map! The album's miles from the group's simple harmony soul roots – even though those were pretty darn great – and it blends together soaring backings with a sweet Gamble/Huff finish, and really makes some magic in the way the whole thing comes off. Titles include the great mellow ballad "Stairway To Heaven", the party groovers "Livin For The Weekend" and "I Love Music" – and the cuts "Unity", "You & Me", and "She's Only A Woman". CD
(Hybrid Super Audio CD pressing – also works on standard CD players!)

Close matches52
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✨✧ O'JaysLove & More ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1984. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Far from the 70s years for the group, but they're still going strong – thanks to some excellent harmony work that really shines through, no matter what the setting! The record's still very much a Gamble/Huff effort – as the pair wrote a number of the songs on the set, handled some arrangements, and even a lot of the production. The standout track is the smooth classic "Summer Fling", a perfect example of Philly modern at its best – and other titles include "I Really Need You Now", "I'm The Kind Of Man", "Let Me Show You", and "Give My Love To The Ladies". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the lyric sleeve. Cover has a cutout hole, light wear and aging, and a CSP sticker in back.)

Close matches53
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✨✧ O'JaysLove Fever ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1985. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of the last albums from the legendary Philly International run by the O'Jays – recorded in a style that clearly shows influences from the 80s modes of the time, but which also still lets the group sparkle nicely on trademark harmonies! Even though Love Fever starts out a bit clunky – with a few cuts that have those 80s drums that bang at the bottom a bit too much, and almost obscure the vocals– as the set moves on, the voices really dominate, and start to shine on a nice batch of lesser-known later numbers. Titles include "Can't Slow Down", "Dollar Bill", "All Eyes On Africa", "We're Still Together", "What A Woman", "Love Fever", "What Good Are These Arms Of Mine", and "I Wanna Be With You Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Includes the printed inner sleeve.)

Close matches54
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysO'Jays Live In London ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1973. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
A seminal album in the development of Philadelphia International – who seemed to be taking a cue from Motown and Stax in the 60s, by bringing their biggest act to a European audience! The set features the O'Jays working as beautifully in a live setting as they had in the Sigma Sound studios – singing to arrangements by Dennis Williams, but still getting enough production by Bobby Martin to keep the sound in line with their better known studio work from the time. There's a bit of a deeper soul sound overall here – especially on the vocals, which crackle nicely with a live sense of spontaneity. Titles include "Back Stabbers", "Sunshine", "Love Train", "When The World Is A Peace", and "Put Your Hands Together" – plus a few vocal introductions! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear.)

Close matches55
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysWhen Will I See You Again ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1983. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Incredible work from The O'Jays – and the kind of record that shows that they never lost their touch! The set sparkles beautifully from the very first note – and the trio hit a warm, smooth groove that's a perfect summation of later Philly at its best – still tuned for the clubs at one level, but in a way that gets past disco and goes for more of a laidback, steppers sort of vibe. Harmonies are as sublime as always – and titles include "When Will I See You Again", "Put Our Heads Together", "Ain't Nothin Wrong With Good Lovin", "I Can't Stand The Pain", "Nice & Easy", and "Ain't Nothin' Wrong With Good Lovin". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has some ring and edge wear, price sticker remnants, and bent corners.)

Close matches56
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✨✧ Teddy PendergrassTeddy Pendergrass Greatest Hits ... CD
Philadelphia International, Late 70s/Early 80s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Sublime stuff! When Teddy left Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, he was making one of the best moves of his career – as you'll hear on these amazing tracks, totally perfect bits of modern soul that moved the career of Teddy up about a zillion notches, and which also had a profound effect on the overall development of male soul vocals. 15 tracks in all – including "Turn Off The Lights", "Close the Door", "Love TKO", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "The More I Get, The More I Want", "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me", "You Can't Hide From Yourself", and the amazing "Come Go With Me". CD
(Out of print. Includes slipcase.)

Close matches57
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✨✧ Teddy PendergrassTP ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1980. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
As perfect a summation of the Teddy Pendergrass genius as you'll ever hope to find – a magnificent maturation of that incredible sound he first forged with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, set forth in even more confident, sophisticated soul territory! As with the Melvin albums, there's a nice mix here of sultry ballads and groovers – the latter of which are changing with the Philly modes of the time, but still very much at the top of their game – light years from clunky commercial work, or easy dancefloor fodder. The album's stunner is "Love TKO" – a killer mellow soul track that's not only one of Teddy's best, but which has enjoyed recent popularity due to a heavy bit of sampling by hip hoppers – but the whole thing's great, and other titles include "Take Me In Your Arms Tonight", "Let Me Love You", "Girl You Know", "Is It Still Good To Ya", "I Just Called To Say", and "Can't We Try". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)

Close matches58
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✨✧ SilkMidnight Dancer (with bonus track) ... CD
Philadelphia International/PTG (Netherlands), 1979. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A killer soul album from Philly – and one that often gets overlooked! The group's a smooth harmony combo with a nice modern finish – perfectly showing the mode that Philly was hitting after the disco years, one that would show that Gamble & Huff still had their ears open to new and sophisticated sounds in music. The record features the excellent mellow groover "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)", plus other nice ones that are more uptempo – like "Midnight Dancer", "Get On Up", "Keep Dancin", and "Love's Gonna Get You In The End". This CD edition includes a bonus track: "Midnight Dancer (Special Disco Version)". CD

Close matches59
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✨✧ Dexter WanselLife On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away ... CD
Philadelphia International/BGO (UK), 1976/1977/1978/1979. New Copy 2CD ... Out Of Stock
Masterpiece records from Philly soul maestro Dexter Wansel – stepping out here in a beautiful blend of jazz and soul! Life On Mars is a fantastic bit of space age funk, easily the best album that Wansel ever recorded – and a sublime blend of Wansel's Philly grooving sensibility with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s. The result is a tight batch of crossover tracks that work well both as jazz funk groovers, and as smoother modern soul tracks. Includes the version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus lots of other nice ones, including "Life On Mars", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". What The World Is Coming To moves the focus back to soul a bit more than Life On Mars – but also keeps in plenty of jazzy touches! Dexter's groove here is similar to the best work he did with other Philly vocalists in the same time – and the set features guest vocals from Jean Carn and Terri Wells, sliding into a warmly soulful realm on the mellower tracks, and stepping out with a fully jazzed up groove on the more upbeat numbers. Titles include "What The World Is Coming To", "Dreams Of Tomorrow", "Holdin On", "Dance With Me Tonight", "Disco Lights", and "Prelude #1". 1978's Voyager is a bit like Dexter's space jazz classic Life On Mars – and with those fat, thumping bass lines, elastic lead guitar, atmospheric soul vocals and loads and loads of keys – spatial work on Rhodes, Moogs and ARPs! It's all done in a funky style not always heard on Philly – plus Dexter arranged and produced just about everything! Tracks include "Solutions", "Voyager", "I'm In Love", "Latin Love", and "I Just Want To Love You". 1979's Time Is Slipping Away is a straighter Philly soul outing than some of Wansel's earlier work – a nice batch from a talent that was responsible for crafting some of the best smooth modern numbers at the end of the 70s! It features the killer cut "The Sweetest Pain" – a smooth stepper with some subtle keyboard grooving behind warm female vocals by Terri Well – plus "Funk Attack", "New Beginning", "One For the Road", "It's Been Cool", and "I'll Never Forget (My Favorite Disco)". CD

Close matches60
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✨✧ Dexter WanselWhat The World Is Coming To ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1977. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Brilliant work from Philly arranger Dexter Wansel – an album that moves the focus back to soul a bit more than on his Life On Mars set, but which also keeps in plenty of jazzy touches! Dexter's groove here is similar to the best work he did with other Philly vocalists in the same time – and the set features guest vocals from Jean Carn and Terri Wells, sliding into a warmly soulful realm on the mellower tracks, and stepping out with a fully jazzed up groove on the more upbeat numbers. Titles include "What The World Is Coming To", "Dreams Of Tomorrow", "Holdin On", "Dance With Me Tonight", "Disco Lights", and "Prelude #1". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve.)

Close matches61
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✨✧ Jerry Butler(I'm Just Thinking About) Cooling Out/Are You Lonely Tonight ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1978. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
"Coolin Out" is a great later Philly cut from Jerry Butler – a perfect mix of his masterful vocals and a sweet Gamble & Huff groove! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches62
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✨✧ Jean CarnJean Carn/Happy To Be With You (West Side pressing) ... CD
Philadelphia International/West Side (UK), 1976/1978. Used ... Out Of Stock
Brilliant modern soul from Jean Carn – 2 of her greatest albums for Philly International, back to back on one CD! Jean first got her start singing righteous jazz with husband Doug Carn for the Black Jazz label – but by the time of these albums, she was out on her own and working with the Gamble & Huff team in a whole new groove! Jean's jazz experience served her well at Philly – giving her a sense of maturity and vocal depth that made her one of the best female singers on label – as you'll hear from these 2 excellent albums. The CD features 17 tracks in all, including classics like "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Free Love", "I'm In Love Once Again", "Happy To Be With You", and her remake of "Revelation/Infant Eyes". CD

Close matches63
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✨✧ EbonysEbonys ... LP
CBS/Philadelphia International, 1973. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
Excellent work by this oft-overlooked east coast harmony group! Like a rare few groups at the time, The Ebonys had a sound that mixed male and female harmonies – in a sweetly mellow sound that was a lot hipper than more famous groups that used the style, and which had all the best elements of the Philly group approach of the early 70s. The set features some great tracks by Gamble & Huff – plus the group's incredible tune "Life In The Country" – a slow mellow stepper that never gets old! Other tracks include "It's Forever", "Hook Up & Get Down", "I Believe", "Sexy Ways", "Nation Time", and "You're The Reason Why". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches64
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✨✧ Phyllis HymanI Refuse To Be Lonely ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1995. Used ... Out Of Stock
Phyllis Hyman's last full album in the studio – and really more of a collection of unreleased material put together after her untimely early death, but a set that still stands nicely alongside most of Hyman's best work in the later years. The feel on the record is mature and powerful – almost regal at times, as if Hyman had realized her role in the soul spectrum, and had begun to record as such. Titles include "This Too Shall Pass", "I'm Truly Yours", "I'm Calling You", "I Refuse To Be Lonely", "Why Not Me", and "Give Me One Good Reason To Stay". CD

Close matches65
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✨✧ Phyllis HymanLiving All Alone ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1986. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Sparkling modern soul from the lovely Phyllis Hyman – and an album that has the singer picking up the wonderfully smooth groove that had become the Philly International sound of the mid 80s. This format works surprisingly well for Phyllis – quite possibly more so than it did even for longer-running artists on the label – as it gives her a great showcase for the more sophisticated and adult sort of themes that were really emerging in her music, the kind of classy soul that Hyman helped forge strongly at the time. Titles include the great numbers "Old Friend", "Ain't You Had Enough Love", "If You Want Me", "Living All Alone", and a nice version of "What You Won't Do For Love". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Living All Alone ... CD 5.99

Close matches66
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Phyllis HymanPrime Of My Life ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1991. Used ... Out Of Stock
Later work from Phyllis Hyman – one of her mature albums for the Philly International label! The set picks up a modern groove even more strongly than Hyman's debut for Philly – going for a sound that's got a bit more of an 80s soul approach overall, but which also uses some extremely strong vocals from Phyllis to really push the depth of the set. There's a few numbers that have a bit of a pop crossover feel – but they come off surprisingly well, and don't really get in the way of the overall feel fo the set. Titles include "When You Get Right Down To It", "I Found Love", "Prime Of My Life", "When I Give My Love", "Living In Confusion", "Meet Me On The Moon", and "Whatever Happened To Our Love". CD

Close matches67
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✨✧ Thad Jones & Mel LewisPotpourri ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1974. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of the hippest albums ever recorded by the Jones/Lewis band – oddly cut for Philadelphia International, during the height of that label's classic soul output! The group is totally great – filled with deeply soulful players like Ron Bridgewater, Cecil Bridgewater, Billy Harper, Roland Hanna, Jon Faddis, and George Mraz – and the tunes have a laidback feel that moves past the group's big band stylings, into a ream that includes some hipper mellow tracks – including a few with nice electric piano work. Quite soulful throughout – almost a Quincy Jones feel – and includes covers of "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing", "For The Love Of Money", and "Living For The City" – plus the originals "Yours & Mine", "Quiet Lady", "All My Yesterdays", and "Blues In A Minute". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches68
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✨✧ Patti LabelleEssential Patti Labelle (limited edition) ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1970s/1980s. Used 3CD ... Out Of Stock
A massive collection of work from Patti Labelle – one that features solo recordings, sides with Labelle, and famous duets – all in a 3CD, 38 track package that even features some previously unreleased cuts! The label-hopping effort offers up a true picture of Patti's greatness at all levels – and the bonus tracks make it well worth having, even if you've got some of these gems on other sources. Unreleased tracks include "Mean Ol Man's World", "Release The Tension (disco version)", and "Last Dance"; solo tracks include "Somebody Loves You Baby", "My Love Sweet Love", "Over The Rainbow", "Music Is My Way Of Life", "Joy To Have Your Love", "New Attitude", "If Only You Knew", and "The Spirit's In It"; Labelle tracks include "Moonshadow", "Last Dance", "Lady Marmalade", "You Turn Me On", "Messin With My Mind", and "What Can I Do For You". CD

Close matches69
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✨✧ Patti LabelleI'll Never, Never Give Up/If Only You Knew ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1983. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches70
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✨✧ Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesBe For Real – The PIR Recordings 1972 to 1975 (I Miss You/Black & Blue/To Be True/Wake Up Everybody/bonus tracks) (3CD set) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Soulmusic.com (UK), Early 70s. Used 3CDs ... Out Of Stock
A fantastic collection – four classic Philly International albums from this legendary group – plus a CD of bonus material too! First up is I Miss You – a groundbreaking record that forever changed the course for male soul music in the 70s – a set that has the young Teddy Pendergrass fronting the Blue Notes with a sound that's completely sublime – a mix of rough and smooth, personal and polished – which really pushed the music forward strongly for generations! The strength of the record really comes through in these amazing long tracks that have Teddy speaking, then singing – "I Miss You" and "Be For Real" – delivering a message of mature, masculine power – very much in keeping with the new values that Philly International were putting forth. The whole album's great, though – a sophisticated soul masterpiece, with the tracks "Ebony Woman", "Yesterday I Had The Blues", and "Let It Be You". Next is Black & Blue – a killer batch of studio tracks, despite the live image of the group on the cover! The album's got a slightly more expansive feel than some of the other Teddy Pendergrass-era albums by The Blue Notes – almost a mini-symphony of soul, and one that takes arrangements from Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Vince Montana – and wraps the vocals up in a soaring, righteous sort of feel! The rougher, more personal Teddy Pendergrass style of I Miss You is folded a bit more into the harmonies of the rest of the group here – and the result is a powerful wave of soul that pushes The Blue Notes right to the top of the pack. The album features classics like "The Love I Lost" and "Is There A Place For Me" – plus other nice material like "Concentrate On Me", "It All Depends On You", and "I'm Weak For You". To Be True is one of the legendary classics from the Philly International years of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – a time when the group was featuring the tremendous lead vocals of the great Teddy Pendergrass! The set's a stunner all the way through – one of the best Philly mixes of smooth, professional backings and deeply personal lyrics – as Teddy soars to the top of the mix with his excellent leads, and gets excellent support from the rest of the Blue Notes on harmonies – but also steps aside to make a bit of space to introduce singer Sharon Paige on one cut, who'd have a greater role in the group in years to come. The songwriting, production, and other Sigma Studios touches are sublime – and titles include "Hope That We Can Get Together Soon", "Where Are All My Friends", "Bad Luck", "To Be True", "Nobody Could Take Your Place", and "All Because Of A Woman". On Wake Up Everybody, Teddy Pendergrass and crew get a bit more political than on earlier releases, and adopt the righteous bubbling soul groove that had put the O'Jays over the top a few years earlier – with incredible results! The title cut – "Wake Up Everybody" – would prove to be a great example of the political Philly International hit formula applied to socially conscious themes, but the record probably scored even bigger with the club crossover hit "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other tracks include "Keep On Lovin You", "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby", "I'm Searching For A Love", and "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" – the latter two of which also feature female vocals by Sharon Paige. Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker did the arrangements – and this was Teddy's last LP with the group. CD3 features bonus tracks – some of them nice and long – titles that include "I Miss You (live)", "Everybody's Talkin", "Bad Luck (Tom Moulton mix)", "Don't Leave Me This Way (Tom Moulton mix)", "The Love I Lost (live)", and "If You Don't Know Me By Now (live)". CD

Close matches71
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✨✧ Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesCollector's Item – All Their Greatest Hits ... CD
Philadelphia International, Early 70s/1976. Used ... Out Of Stock
Not really the Collectors Item promised by the title – but an excellent collection of work from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, pulled from their earliest albums for Philly International! The set's worth it for two tracks alone – "I Miss You" and "Be For Real" – both from the first album, and both masterpieces of slow drawn-out, monologue-centered soul – the sort that Teddy Pendergrass did with the group, at a level that was way beyond other harmony soul on the east coast at the time! Other tracks are good too, and offer up the group in some upbeat, grooving modes that are equally wonderful – thanks to vocals from Teddy P! Other titles include "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "Where Are All My Friends", "Bad Luck", "The Love I Lost", and "Wake Up Everybody". CD

Close matches72
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesCollector's Item – All Their Greatest Hits ... LP
Philadelphia International, Early 70s/1976. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Not really the Collectors Item promised by the title – but an excellent collection of work from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, pulled from their earliest albums for Philly International! The set's worth it for two tracks alone – "I Miss You" and "Be For Real" – both from the first album, and both masterpieces of slow drawn-out, monologue-centered soul – the sort that Teddy Pendergrass did with the group, at a level that was way beyond other harmony soul on the east coast at the time! Other tracks are good too, and offer up the group in some upbeat, grooving modes that are equally wonderful – thanks to vocals from Teddy P! Other titles include "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "Where Are All My Friends", "Bad Luck", "The Love I Lost", and "Wake Up Everybody". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches73
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesHarold Melvin & The Blue Notes (aka I Miss You) ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1972. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A groundbreaking record that forever changed the course for male soul music in the 70s – a set that has the young Teddy Pendergrass fronting the Blue Notes with a sound that's completely sublime – a mix of rough and smooth, personal and polished – which really pushed the music forward strongly for generations! The strength of the record really comes through in these amazing long tracks that have Teddy speaking, then singing – "I Miss You" and "Be For Real" – delivering a message of mature, masculine power – very much in keeping with the new values that Philly International were putting forth. The whole album's great, though – a sophisticated soul masterpiece, with the tracks "Ebony Woman", "Yesterday I Had The Blues", and "Let It Be You". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches74
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✨✧ MFSBUniversal Love ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1975. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Killer stuff from this legendary Philly soul instrumental combo – with funky soul horns, unstoppable dancefloor ready rhythms and those soul-stirring strings – and right up there with their best ever! Bobby Martin arranged almost every track – and the record's a great example of the kind of lean and mean Philly groove that he had going at the time, a sound that was hard to beat, and hard to copy without sounding silly and overblown. Top shelf soul instrumentals from Philly International in the mid 70s – what more could we ask for? Includes classics like "K-Jee", "MFSB", "TLC" and "Let's Go Disco" – plus the equally great "Sexy", "Love Has No Time Or Place" and "My Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches75
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✨✧ O'JaysI Love Music (parts 1 & 2) ... 7-inch
Philadelphia International, 1975. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches76
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ O'JaysLovin' You/Don't Let The Dream Get Away ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1987. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches77
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✨✧ O'JaysBack Stabbers ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1972. Used ... Out Of Stock
A landmark album for the O'Jays – a set that moved them from the indie ranks to 70s megasoul status! After years of bumping around on a variety of labels, and in a variety of styles, the group really exploded with this wonderful set – an album that has them soaring along in the righteous Philly groove of the early 70s – a sound that turned out to be a perfect foil for the trio's sublime, yet earthy harmonies. Arrangements are by some fo the best of the core Philly scene – Thom Bell, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, and Bobby Martin – and the album's overflowing with great tunes that completely redefine the sound of group soul in the 70s! Includes megahits "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" – plus "Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People", "When The World's At Peace", "Time To Get Down", "Who Am I" and more! CD

Close matches78
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✨✧ O'JaysCollector's Items ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1977. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
2LP set of some of the best O'Jays tracks from their Philly years, including "Darlin' Darlin' Baby", "Love Train", "Back Stabbers", "I Love Music", "Give The People What They Want", "For The Love Of Money", and lots lots more! The sound of a generation, and nearly every cut's a winner! LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches79
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✨✧ O'JaysShip Ahoy (expanded version – with bonus track) ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1973. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A pivotal album from The O'Jays – and an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third the group cut for the Philadelphia International label – but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul (ala The Temptations), fused with the warmer more sophisticated styles of the Philly sound! The blend is perfect – and has a way of getting the message from the underground right into the living room – and a bit onto the charts as well! From the image on the cover – which features the group in a slave ship setting – to politics of tracks like "Don't Call Me Brother", "For The Love Of Money", "Put Your Hands Together", and "This Air That I Breathe", the record's an extremely unified effort – kind of to the O'Jays what What's Going On was to Marvin Gaye. Other titles include "You Got Your Hooks In Me", "Now That We Found Love", and "People Keep Tellin Me". Includes bonus track "Put Your Hands Together" – recorded live in London. CD

Close matches80
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✨✧ Billy Paul360 Degrees Of Billy Paul ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1972. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Billy Paul at the height of his powers – able to capture the ears of the crossover audience, yet still stay very strongly on message – all with this righteous power that maybe makes Billy one of the hippest mainstream soul stars of the 70s! Gamble & Huff are at the helm, and arrangements at Sigma Sound are by Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris, and Bobby Martin – but throughout the whole thing, it's Billy's delivery that really sends the record over the top – the new sense of maturity he brings to the huge hit "Me & Mrs Jones", the funky vibe of "Am I Black Enough For You", and the wealth of great work on tracks that include "I'm Gonna Make It This Time", "I'm Just A Prisoner", "Brown Baby", and "Let's Stay Together". A masterpiece of sophisticated soul that not only had Billy crossing over big, but which opened whole new doors in the market for black male singers! LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches81
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✨✧ Billy Paul360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods (SACD multi-channel disc) ... CD
Philadelphia International/Vocalion (UK), 1972/1973. New Copy 2CD ... Out Of Stock
Two ultra-hip albums from Billy Paul – back to back in a single set! First up is 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul – a record that features Billy Paul at the height of his powers – able to capture the ears of the crossover audience, yet still stay very strongly on message – all with this righteous power that maybe makes Billy one of the hippest mainstream soul stars of the 70s! Gamble & Huff are at the helm, and arrangements at Sigma Sound are by Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris, and Bobby Martin – but throughout the whole thing, it's Billy's delivery that really sends the record over the top – the new sense of maturity he brings to the huge hit "Me & Mrs Jones", the funky vibe of "Am I Black Enough For You", and the wealth of great work on tracks that include "I'm Gonna Make It This Time", "I'm Just A Prisoner", "Brown Baby", and "Let's Stay Together". A masterpiece of sophisticated soul that not only had Billy crossing over big, but which opened whole new doors in the market for black male singers! War Of The Gods is a stone treasure from one of the greatest soul singers of the 70s – and a set you'll regularly find in the coolest of record collections from back in the day! Billy Paul was always one of the hippest talents on Philly International – mixing together soul and jazz influences with a deeper sense of spirituality, and long experience as a sophisticated vocalist. This album's one of his most sublime efforts – kind of a quasi-spiritual record with a similar high-concept approach to some of Marvin Gaye's work from the same time – really righteous, in ways that the Philly label didn't always hit – and which really goes past even most of Billy's already hip previous efforts. Gamble and Huff produced and wrote most of the record – including the two long tracks that make up side one, "I See The Light" and "War Of The Gods", the latter of which starts out slow and moody, then breaks out into a club groove. Other titles include the more standard soul tune "The Whole Town's Talking", plus "Thanks For Saving My Life" and "Peace Holy Peace". CD

Close matches82
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✨✧ Billy PaulLet 'Em In ... CD
Philadelphia International/CEMA, 1976. Used ... Out Of Stock
An album that shows Billy really finding his own in the Philly groove – working with his amazing ability to transform nearly any tune and make it his own with a deep, warm, jazz-styled approach to soul music that was unlike any other singer! Recorded at Sigma Sound and features arrangements and productions by Dexter Wansel alongside Jack Faith and Gamble & Huff, this album represents the Philly sound nicely. Includes the title track, a cover of McCartney's "Let 'Em In", "How Good is Your Game", Wansel's "Love Won't Come Easy", "Word Gets Around", and "I Think I'll Stay Home Today." CD

Close matches83
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✨✧ Teddy PendergrassOnly You (double a-side promo) ... 12-inch
Philadelphia International, 1978. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A great number aimed straight at the dance floor from Teddy! "Only You" has a full-on groove that's really great – a bit more pumping than usual, but with some great sax touches that keeps things soulful! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Close matches84
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✨✧ Teddy PendergrassTeddy Pendergrass ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1977. Used ... Out Of Stock
Teddy Pendergrass – we love you! This is one of Mr. P's greatest albums of smooth mellow soul – recorded after he left Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and began working in a wonderfully warm solo style that had a huge influence on male vocal soul for years to come! The sound here is tremendous – nearly perfect all the way through, with a great balance between class, sophistication, and soul – clearly an indication that Teddy made the right move by going on his own. The record features the classic "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me", plus lots of other nice material like "Be Sure", "Somebody Told Me", "You Can't Hide From Yourself", "Easy Easy Got To Take It Easy", and "The More I Get The More I Want". CD

Close matches85
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✨✧ Lou RawlsAll Things In Time ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1976. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A killer – and one of our favorite Philly International albums ever! This is the album that broke Lou Rawls back into the mainstream for the smooth 70s – retuning his incredible voice with waves of soul and strings in the Gamble & Huff tradition – and giving him a whole new voice than on his Capitol recordings! The album will forever be remembered for the seminal single "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" – but it's filled with other great bits, including"Groovy People", a wonderful jazzy groover, and "You're The One", and "Lets Fall In Love All Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches86
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✨✧ Lou RawlsEssential Lou Rawls ... CD
Philadelphia International/Legacy, 1960s/1970s/1980s. Used 2CD ... Out Of Stock
A career-spanning set of work by Lou Rawls – a 2CD collection that focuses mostly on his work for Philadelphia International – but which also features early gems from Capitol, Bell, and MGM too! Lou's a mighty singer with some mighty talents – a voice that's unlike any other in soul music, and one that always sounds wonderful, no matter what the setting! And in this set, you'll get Lou singing jazz, blues, straight soul, disco, and more – always keeping things classy and cool throughout, and bringing a new level of sophistication to the music that few other singers can match. Package features 33 tracks in all, all newly remastered – with titles that include "Natural Man", "Time", "Groovy People", "Early Morning Love", "Spring Again", "All The Way", "Let's Fall In Love All Over Again", "Lady Love", "There Will Be Love", "One Life To Live", "You Are", "Be Anything", "She's Gone", "How Long How Long Blues", "Ain't That Loving You", and "This Song Will Last Forever". CD

Close matches87
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✨✧ JacksonsGoin' Places ... LP
Philadelphia International, 1977. Very Good+ Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
The second collaboration between the Jacksons and the Gamble & Huff production team for Philly International – and a nice little sleeper that we like more and more over the years! Like the preceding album from the team, the pairing's a great one – and the Jacksons' pop soul harmonies match up very nicely with the full, rich sound of the Philly groove! Titles include "Music's Takin' Over", "Goin' Places", "Different Kind Of Lady", "Even Though You're Gone", "Jump For Joy", "Heaven Knows I Love You, Girl", "Man Of War", "Do What You Wanna", and "Find Me A Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches88
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✨✧ O'JaysFamily Reunion ... CD
Philadelphia International, 1975. Used ... Out Of Stock
A great sense of righteousness and groove – the key mix that made the O'Jays so great back in the day – and which really helped put the Philly International enterprise on the map! The album's miles from the group's simple harmony soul roots – even though those were pretty darn great – and it blends together soaring backings with a sweet Gamble/Huff finish, and really makes some magic in the way the whole thing comes off. Titles include the great mellow ballad "Stairway To Heaven", the party groovers "Livin For The Weekend" and "I Love Music" – and the cuts "Unity", "You & Me", and "She's Only A Woman". CD
 
Possible matches: 11
Possible matches89
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✨✧ VariousLove Train – The Sound Of Philadelphia (4CD set) ... CD
Legacy, Late 60s/1970s/Early 80s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Fab Philadelphia soul on 4 CDs – a massive package of work that really serves up the best from the legendary empire of Gamble & Huff, plus a host of other great Philly numbers too! The package is a great look at the full spectrum of sound in Philly during the 70s – not just the key tracks on the Philadelphia International label, but also cuts that Gamble & Huff had produced for other artists at the end of the 60s, key Sigma Sound sessions for other labels, and some of the classic club tracks that crossed over big and inspired countless imitations! The set is immense – 4CDs, 71 songs, and a 64 page booklet of rare photos and new essays – all priced nicely enough to appeal to both Philly newcomers and longtime collectors. Plus, since Sony BMG's handling Philly International now, there's a good range of titles from a variety of labels – and titles include "Love Is Here" by The Futures, "Slow Motion (part 1)" by Johnny Williams, "Sunshine" by The O'Jays, "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" by Wilson Pickett, "Expressway To Your Heart" by Soul Survivors, "I'm Stone In Love With You" by The Stylistics, "Be Thankful For What You Got (part 1)" by William DeVaughan, "Dirty Ol Man" by Three Degrees, "It's Forever" by The Ebonys, "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons, "Free Love" by Jean Carn, "Kiss & Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans, "Let's Groove" by Archie Bell, "Billy's Back Home" by Billy Paul, "Picture Us" by Bunny Sigler, "Then Came You" by The Spinners, "Close The Door" by Teddy Pendergrass, "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams, and "See You When I Get There" by Lou Rawls. CD

Possible matches90
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Jack ElliottJack Elliott At The Second Fret ... LP
Prestige, 1962. Very Good+ ... $19.99
This album was recorded live in 1962 at the Second Fret club in Philadelphia. It's a nice set where he plays some Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly and Jimmie Rodgers tunes as well as some others. The recording is good – you can tell it was in an intimate setting – and his voice is strong and the guitar playing tight; he switches between a folksy sound and more of a blues mode. Tracks include "Cool Water", "Hobo's Lullaby", "Boll Weevil", "How Long Blues", "Mule Skinner Blues", and "Rock Island Line". LP, Vinyl record album
(Orange label Prestige International pressing. Cover has edge wear, some splitting in the bottom seam, and some light stains at the top.)

Possible matches91
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VariousGroove Machine – The Earl Young Drum Sessions ... CD
Ace/Kent (UK), Late 1960s/Early 1970s. New Copy ... $13.99 18.99
A Philly soul legend finally gets his time in the spotlight – as drummer Earl Young played on countless classic sessions back in the day, but rarely even got his name in the liner notes! That lack of recognition is corrected here – in a great package that puts Young's face on the cover, details his genius on the drums in the notes, and then presents a motherlode of killer soul tunes from the late 60s through the 70s! Young's maybe best known for his work at Sigma Sound Studios, and on famous sessions for the Philadelphia International label – but here, he's heard on an even wider range of cuts – including late 60s Northern Soul numbers, and great album work by artists you might not normally associate with Philly. Titles include "Storm Warning" by The Volcanos, "Silly Silly Fool" by Dusty Springfield, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "Please Give Me One More Chance" by Clyde McPhatter, "Do The Hand Jive" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing" by The Trammps, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Touch & Go (12" mix)" by Ecstasy Passion & Pain, "I Like To Live The Love" by BB King, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl" by The Ambassadors, "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" by The Spinners, "Do It Again" by Charles Mann, and "Be Truthful To Me" by Billy Paul. CD

Possible matches92
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VariousNothing But A House Party – The Birth Of The Philly Sound 1967 to 1971 ... CD
Kent (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy ... $11.99 18.99
Some folks might associate Philadelphia soul with the famous Gamble & Huff productions of the 70s disco years – but the city was already overflowing with great music in the years before Philadelphia International – as you'll hear in this totally groovy set! Philly was making as much great soul music in the 60s as Detroit, Chicago, and New York – thanks to an earlier musical framework that was set up by the city's big pop hits of the late 50s – which provided plenty of labels, studios, and other facilities for Philly's ever-growing array of soul talents, too – so much so that by the end of the 60s, the city was turning into a destination for singers outside of town – almost as much of a musical magnet as studios in Memphis or Muscle Shoals! This set does a great job of bringing together both aspects of that scene – wonderful homegrown talent, mixed with outsiders to really took off in the new Philly sound of the 60s – a joyous, positive, upbeat approach that worked wonderfully well for a variety of artists. Titles include "Your Fool Still Loves You" by Oscar Weathers, "It's All Over But The Shouting" by George Tindley, "You've Been Untrue" by The Delfonics, "Ain't Nothing But A House Party" by The Show Stoppers, "Peace To You Brother" by Lou Johnson, "Christine" by Executive Suite, "Help Me" by Honey & The Bees, "You Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott, "Rainmaker" by The Moods, "Keep On Striving" by Moses Smith, "That's The Price You Have To Pay" by Brenda & The Tabulations, "What You Gave Up" by The Continental 4, "Every Day Is A Holiday" by The Intruders, "Standing In The Darkness" by The Ethics, and "Girl You're Too Young" by Len Barry. CD

Possible matches93
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✨✧ Archie Bell & The DrellsArchie Bell & The Drells – The Albums 1968 to 1979 (5CD set) ... CD
Robinsongs (UK), Late 60s/1970s. New Copy 5CDs ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
An incredible run of music from one of the grooviest soul groups of all time – a combo who started out down in the Texas scene with some very upbeat dancing soul singles in the 60s, who then moved to work in the Philly studios in the 70s, where they really opened up their groove! The set features work from both the group's early albums for Atlantic Records and their great second chapter at Philadelphia International – quite a career, given that they recorded for two of the greatest soul labels of the 60s and 70s – in a massive batch of work that's included here, with bonus material too! The Atlantic work starts out nice and raw, and pretty funky too – then gets warmed up in the best way possible as the label has them working with Gamble & Huff, before then leaving to record for the Philly duo's own International label in the 70s. The huge box features the full albums Tighten Up, I Can't Stop Dancing, There's Gonna Be A Showdown, Dance Your Troubles Away, Where Will You Go When The Party's Over, Hard Not To Like It, and Strategy – and CD5 is a full set of bonus tracks, with titles that include "Dog Eat Dog", "Deal With Him", "A World Without Music", "Love At First Sight", "Archie's In Love", "Wrap It Up", "I Wish", "Get It From The Bottom", "Old People", "Let The World Know You Got Soul", and "I Can't Face You Baby". Box features 79 tracks in all – and a big booklet of notes! CD

Possible matches94
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✨✧ O'JaysSuper Bad ... LP
Little Star/Soulgramma (Italy), Early 70s. New Copy (reissue)... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Early work from The O'Jays – done before their huge rise to fame in the early 70s on Philadelphia International, but issued in a super-pimp cover that has a image of all these hot chicks with guns, standing in a very blacksploitation pose! Clearly, this was an issue that was put on the markets to cash in on the group's early 70s fame – but the record contains mostly material from the late 60s early 70s indie years, most issued as singles, with production by Bobby Massey and HB Barnum – and a rawer sound that really highlights their great vocal interplay. The work's actually pretty great, despite the cheap trick of the cover – and the album includes lots of nice numbers like "Little Brother", "Now He's Home", "Gotta Get My Broom Out", "Never Gonna Say Goodbye", and "Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

Possible matches95
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousDe-Liteful & Soulful – Mellow Mover ... CD
De-Lite/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Mid 70s. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A really rare side of the legendary De-Lite Records – served up here in a range of obscure 45s before the company exploded into bigger fame with the success of Kool & The Gang! The work here puts De-Lite right on the same level as important indies on the east coast at the turn of the 70s – and shows an especially strong ability to capture the best group styles of the period – from the sublime harmony styles being crafted in New Jersey and Philly, to some of the growing funky styles in the pre-disco years! The set's a much-needed look at this early part of the label – and also features titles on the related Red Coach label too – in a wonderful package of 25 tracks that includes "I'll Never Let You Get Away" by Universal Mind, "So Long Sweet Little Girl" by Reggie Saddler Revue, "I'm At The Breaking Point" by The Trumains, "Girl (part 1)" by Philadelphia Ambassadors, "Gotta Let Some Sunshine Into My Life" by The Exceptionals, "I'll Always Love You" by The New Cymbals, "So Fine" by The Fiestas, "The Story Of Our Love" by The Carstairs, "Love You Can't Shake It" by Reggie Saddler & The Jammers, "Nothing In The World" by The Electras, "Back On The Road Again" by Richmond International, and "Love Foundation" by Electrified Action. CD

Possible matches96
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✨✧ VariousBlack Power – Music Of A Revolution ... CD
Shout Factory, Late 60s/Early 70s. Used 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
A massive batch of righteous soul – plus sound bites and calls to action by some of the most pivotal voices of the era! This collection aims to be the soundtrack of an era that called for a revolution, and if the movement didn't wholly ingratiate into American culture, the passion and the music certainly did! The set features well known numbers mixed with some relatively lesser known numbers, together with some of the most fiery dialogue from icons of the Black Power movement. Tracks include "You're The Man" (parts I & II) by Marvin Gaye, "Let's Clean Up The Ghetto" by Philadelphia International All Stars, "Right On" by Sons Of Slum, "Tell It Like It Is" by SOUL, "Give The People What They Want" by the O'Jays, "Blackenized" by Hank Ballard, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron, "My People. . .Hold On" by Eddie Kendricks, "I Am Somebody" (Part 2) by Johnnie Taylor, "We Got More Soul" by Dyke & The Blazers and tons more, plus sound bites by Huey Newton, Kathleen Cleaver, Stokely Carmichael, H Rap Brown and Malcolm X. 38 tracks on two CDs! CD
(Out of print.)

Possible matches97
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jean CarneDon't Let It Go To Your Head – The Jean Carne Anthology ... CD
Soulmusic.com (UK), Late 1970s/1980s. Used 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
A fantastic tribute to the great Jean Carne – a singer who started out in jazz, working with then-husband Doug Carn on spiritual sessions and drummer Norman Connors on his soulful sides of the 70s – then shifted over to the Philadelphia International label, where she really helped Philly soul find new direction moving into the 80s! Jean always brings all the sophistication of her roots into her music – making her way more than just another soul singer, and instead a vocalist with a great range of expression that has her opening up in just the right way, no matter what the setting. This excellent collection is filled with classics from her years on Philadelphia International, and also includes some rare 12" mixes and duets with other artists too. Titles include "Free Love", "No Laughing Matter", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "You Can't Come Back Now", "There's A Shortage Of Good Men", "Time Waits For No One", "Lonely Girl In A Cold Cold World", "Bet Your Lucky Star", We Got Some Catchin Up To Do", "When I Find You Love", "Was That All It Was (12" mix)", "What's On Your Mind (12" mix)", "Revelation/Infant Eyes", "Mystic Stranger", "Completeness", and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" – plus "I'm Back For More" with Al Johnson, "Sweet & Wonderful" with Glenn Jones, "You Might Be Surprised" with Roy Ayers, "Love Is Beautiful" and "Dreams Of Tomorrow" with Dexter Wansel, "Keep In Touch" and "The Look Of Love" with Grover Washington, and "Dindi", "Love's In Your Corner", and "Valentine Love" with Norman Connors. CD

Possible matches98
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Melba MoorePortrait Of Melba ... LP
Buddah, 1978. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
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". LP, Vinyl record album

Possible matches99
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Paulette ReavesSecret Lover ... CD
Blue Candle/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1976. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A fantastic album from deep soul singer Paulette Reeves – one of the most unique talents of her generation, and an artist who's never fully gotten her due! Paulette's got a southern soul range in her vocals, and works here with Miami TK arrangements from Clarence Reid – but she also has these more sophisticated modern soul currents in her music – at a level that makes us think of her more along the lines of singers like Jean Carn or Phyllis Hyman! The set's quite different than some of the other TK Records material of the time – and was quite possibly overlooked at the time, due to its release within their disco-heavy catalog – whereas Reeves is a singer who really would have gotten strong attention on a label like Philadelphia International. The whole thing's great – and the album includes her classic midtempo number "Let Me Wrap You In My Love", plus other nice ones – like "Secret Lover", "There's Fire Down Below", and "If You Don't See Me Again". CD
 
 
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