Sublime soul through and through – 2 classics from The Delfonics, back to back on a single CD! First up is self-titled record The Delfonics – the third album in an amazing early run from The Delfonics – the kind of work that set a whole new standard for group soul in the 70s! A number of the tracks here had already risen to fame before the album's release as singles – and these are mixed with some additional tracks that are woven together in a near-perfect symphony of sound! The mighty Thom Bell arranged most of the numbers here – save for 2 by Anthony Dorsey – and the group's heavenly harmonies are in amazing form on both mellow ballads and a few more righteous numbers. Titles include "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time", "Funny Feeling", "Over & Over", "Baby I Love You", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Delfonics Theme", "Trying To Make A Fool Of Me", "I Gave To You", "Down Is Up Up Is Down", and "Think About Me". Tell Me This Is A Dream has The Delfonics just getting better and better! The longer the group recorded, the more they picked up this strange spacey quality that pushed them past some of their contemporaries of the early 70s. And on an album like this, they prove that they're way more than just Thom Bell puppets by showing that they have a rich talent for a wide variety of complicated arrangements that really push the vocal group sound of the 70s. They take many stylistic risks, coming up with really sinister new harmonies, and always managing to stay clear of the cliches that buried some of their mates on the charts. Bell still arranges some of the material, but the record also features work by Norman Harris and Caldwell MacMillan, who did the real genius work on the record. This masterpiece includes the sublime "Hey, Love", plus "Walk Right Up to the Sun", "I'm A Man", "Too Late", "Love You Till I Die", "Looking for a Girl", and "Round & Round". CD

A nice dose of work from one of the greatest harmony soul groups of all time – the mighty Delfonics, a trio who took high-end vocals to a whole new level! The package does a good job of mixing hits up with a few lesser-known gems from the group – showing their full vocal potential, and wonderful approach to the music – stellar harmony soul that really redefined the genre at the time, and which remains some of the best male group work you could ever hope to find! 20 tracks in all – including "Hey Love", "Delfonics Theme", "Over & Over", "Funny Feeling", "Loving Him", "Somebody Loves You", "Break Your Promise", "La La Means I Love You", "I'm Sorry", "Walk Right Up To The Sun", "Think It Over", "I Told You So", and "Lying To Myself". CD

Amazing work by The Delfonics – their first 2 albums, back to back on a single CD! La La Means I Love You is a landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise". Sound Of Sexy Soul is an equally groundbreaking album of vocal group soul – right from the first note! The record kicks off with the sublime "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" – which starts with fierce stepping strings that are actually funky, then soars into some of the best harmonies the group ever put to record, superbly arranged by the great Thom Bell, who also wrote the track. As the album progresses, the sound expands further to encompass many elements that would become the blueprint for vocal groups over the next few years – like twangy electric sitar, cascading orchestrations, and pinched lead vocals that take a lot more chances than most group singers had been taking for years! There's still a bit of a 60s soul sound to some of the cuts, but the album's a watershed – not only for Thom Bell and the group, but for harmony soul as well! Titles include "Ready Or Not Here I Come", "My New Love", "Loving Him", "With These Hands", "Somebody Loves You", and "Everytime I See My Baby". CD also features the bonus track "You Got Yours & I'll Get Mine". CD

One of our favorite Delfonics tunes ever! "Seventeen" is amazing – not just for the wicked harmonies, the cascading Philly groove, and sublime production – but also for the darkness of the lyrics! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The genius of The Delfonics knows no bounds – and even though the trio rose to fame during the glory days of the harmony soul group, they still have a very special sound that really sets them apart from the pack! The Delfonics can be as sweet as the rest, but also have a way of singing with an undercurrent of tension, too – kind of this edgey quality that might be missed the first time around, but which really opens up upon repeated listenings – at a level that has us going back to the group's records again and again, still able to find something new after all these years! There's a really heartbreaking vibe to this work, but the approach isn't strictly lachrymose either – as love and loss are balanced equally, as is strength and sadness – all throughout this spectacular 40 track selection, which features a good deal of tracks from each of the group's first four albums, plus a few singles too. Titles include "Funny Feeling", "I'm Sorry", "Break Your Promise", "Let It Be Me", "Hot Dog", "Face It Girl It's Over", "Everytime I See My Baby", "Delfonics Theme", "I'm A Man", "Tell Me This Is A Dream", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Over & Over", "Didn't I", "Trying To Make A Fool Of Me", "Walk Right Up To The Sun", "Hey Love", "With These Hands", "The Look Of Love", "Hurt So Bad", "You Can't Be Loving Him", and "I Gave To You". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning harmony soul from the Jamaican scene – served up here by The Chosen Few, a group we'd rank right up there with some of the best American harmony soul acts from the Philly and New Jersey scenes at the start of the 70s! The rhythms, as you might guess, have a bit more reggae influence in the mix – but the vocal leads and harmonies resonate strongly with classic material by The Stylistics, Delfonics, and other key groups of the generation – plus Miracles material from the generation before! The package brings together some of the rare 7" single releases by the group, all with much better sound than original Jamaican pressings – and titles include "Make Way For The Young Folks", "Queen Majesty", "Hide & Seek", "My Thing", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "Tears Of A Clown", "Second That Emotion", "I Love The Way You Love (part 1)", "Children Of The Night", and "Reggae Stuff". CD

Incredible work from one of the greatest groups on the east coast scene at the end of the 50s – a wonderful harmony combo, but one with a hell of a lead singer too! Anthony's voice is hardly "little" here – as he belts it out with this raw soul power that's years ahead of its time – really bold on the upbeat tracks, heartbreaking on the ballads, but still able to slide back and harmonize with the Imperials at all the right moments. The album's one of the best examples of the group's genius at its height – a style that would later go onto become such a big influence on 70s groups like The Delfonics or The Stylistics – and titles include "Tears On My Pillow", "So Much", "The Diary", "Oh Yeah", "Wishful Thinking", "Two People In the World", and "What Did I Do". CD

Outtasite mellow soul from The Ultimates – an obscure east coast group with a really heavenly sound! The bulk of the album is from the group's only album – The Ultimates From The Beginning – recorded in 1969 with a warm and groovy harmony approach, of the sort that many other groups would begin working in during the 70s – but which comes across with a surprisingly professional style here! There's a great quality to the vocals on most tracks – smooth, but with just a few crackles – in a mode that humanizes the tunes nicely, and gives them a feel that reminds us a bit of The Delfonics or The Whatnauts. Titles include "She Went Away", "You're My Lady", "I Just Can't Stand It", and "Girl I've Been Trying To Tell You". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime soul from the great Thom Bell – one of our favorite arranger, producer, songwriters of all time – and a talent who really helped push the Philly soul scene much farther than most during the 70s! Bell was trained as a classical pianist as a kid – which might explain part of his ear for a special sort of tune – but by the time of this work, he was neck-deep in the soul scene – and working with a fantastic track record for bringing the best out of a very wide variety of artists! Bell was especially great with groups – he helped more than a few really stretch out their wings and grow – but as you'll hear here, Thom also handled a fantastic range of music in Philly studios – all with magnificent touches that really set the tunes apart from the rest – French horns, harpsichord, and especially that twangy sitar sound that worked so well with a harmony ballad. The set's got 23 tracks in all, and a massive set of notes on the man and his music – with titles that include "What I See" by Three Degrees, "Here I Go Again" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "You've Been Untrue" by The Delfonics, "Moody Woman" by Jerry Butler, "Something For Nothing" by MFSB, "One Man Band" by Ronnie Dyson, "Close The Door" by Teddy Pendergrass, "Life Is A Song Worth Singing" by Johnny Mathis, "Look The Other Way" by Lesley Gore, "What Kind Of Lady" by Dee Dee Sharp, "It's The Same Old Love" by The Courtship, "Do You Remember Yesterday" by The Intruders, "Track Of The Cat" by Dionne Warwick, and "I Wanna Be A Free Girl" by Dusty Springfield. CD

An album with Roy Ayers in the title – but which also features the man himself in the music – really sounding wonderful here, and recreating some of the best sounds of his classic work from the 70s! For some reason, Adrian Younge always likes to put his name in the lead, even when working with classic artists – like The Delfonics – but as with his record with that group, this project never has Younge eclipsing the real star of the set too much – as the record is very much Roy's own, and is full of the kind of sublimely soulful sounds that have always made Ayers one of our favorite artists of all time! Roy plays vibes, sings, and delivers the kind of well-tuned soul tracks that we always love so much – alongside bass, Fender Rhodes, and other instruments from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad – plus work from Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Wendell Harrison on tenor. Titles include "Hey Lover", "Synchronize Vibration", "Soulful & Unique", "Sunflowers", "Shadows Of The Past", "African Sounds", and "Solace". CD

Far and above the best album by sweet soul vocalist Major Harris! Harris had knocked around for years in vocal groups during the 60s, and had even sung for a bit with The Delfonics in the early 70s – but this album is his crowning achievement, a landmark of sweet Philly soul with some wonderful ballad work that he'd never be able to match again! Bobby Eli wrote, produced, and arranged most of the material – and although he had a bit of help from Norman Harris and Ron Kersey on some of the record, the core of the album is that perfect ballad style that Eli could do when he wasn't working on groovers. The centerpiece of the album is the stellar "Love Won't Let Me Wait" – a killer quiet storm soul number – and the record also features a great remake of "Sideshow", which Eli also cut with Blue Magic. Other tracks include "Loving You Is Mellow", "After Loving You", and "Each Morning I Wake Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little soundtrack that really matches the spirit of the film – Quentin Tarantino's own blacksploitation soundtrack – served up here as a mix of classics from the 70s, plus a few special tracks recorded just for the movie! The cover's got a great badass look, and the record features a few incidental moments from the film – and titles include "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack, "Strawberry Letter 23" by Brothers Johnson, "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)" by Bill Withers, "Didn't I Blow Your Mind" by The Delfonics, "The Lions and The Cucumbers" by The Vampire Sound Inc, "Monte Carlo Nights" by Elliot Easton's Tiki Gods, "Natural High" by Bloodstone, "Midnight Confessions" by Grass Roots, "Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton, "Street Life" by Randy Crawford, and "Long Time Woman" by Pam Grier! LP, Vinyl record album

Throw away your crates and just pack this album under your arm for a gig – and you'll have 16 classic funky tracks to get the party started right! As with other volumes, the focus here is on 70s tracks sampled by hip hoppers during the mid and late 90s – with full sample credits for all tunes, so that you can remember where you remember them from! Titles include "Strollin" by Jack McDuff, "Danube Incident" by Lalo Schifrin, "Born to be Blue" by Jack Bruce, "Lovely Is Today" by Eddie Harris, "Little Lady Maria (skit)" by Ohio Players, "Pastures (skit)" by Ahmad Jamal, "Ready Or Not" by The Delfonics, "Tripping Out" by Curtis Mayfield, "I Can't Stand The Rain" by Ann Peebles, "Vallarta (skit)" by Les McCann, "ET Boogie" by Extra T's, "Sign Song" by Buddy Baker, "American Fruit, African Roots" by Zulema, "Shamboozie" by Bob James, and "The World Is A Place" by Rhythm. LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic work from Teddy Randazzo – the man who put the "up" in uptown soul during the 60s – and who went on to a fantastic legacy of really great music in a variety of different styles! Teddy was always a real cut above the usual pop songwriter – as his songs were fuller, richer, and not afraid to bring some lush aspects to the production – yet always with a way that could still groove – clearly a key step on the path towards more sophisticated soul styles that others would pick up on strongly in the 70s! These tunes have a beautiful way of balancing emotion with a need to be catchy and groovy – all while avoiding modes that would sound way too overdone in the hands of other pop talents of the time – moving past the too-emotive or too-weepy styles that dominated the record racks a few years before. Most of the tracks here are soul singles, but there's also a few jazz and rock numbers too – all supported by the usual deep detailed notes that we love from Ace Records. Titles include "You Better Go" by Derek Martin, "I'm On The Outside" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, "Or Not At All" by Jimmy Rice, "Good For A Lifetime" by Al Hibbler, "Better Use Your Head" by Mel Torme, "Rain In My Heart" by Frank Sinatra, "Can't Stop Running Away" by Timi Yuro, "A Million To One" by The Manhattans, "Think Before You Act" by Tony Orlando, "Goin Out Of My Head" by Dionne Warwick, "Hurt So Bad" by The Delfonics, "I Watched You Slowly Slip Away" by Howard Guyton, "Think Twice Before You Walk Away" by Porgy & The Monarchs, "Baby Are You Puttin Me On" by The Royalettes, and "You Don't Need A Heart" by Teddy Randazzo himself. CD

Really fantastic work from Teddy Randazzo – the man who put the "up" in uptown soul during the 60s – and who went on to a fantastic legacy of really great music in a variety of different styles! Teddy was always a real cut above the usual pop songwriter – as his songs were fuller, richer, and not afraid to bring some lush aspects to the production – yet always with a way that could still groove – clearly a key step on the path towards more sophisticated soul styles that others would pick up on strongly in the 70s! These tunes have a beautiful way of balancing emotion with a need to be catchy and groovy – all while avoiding modes that would sound way too overdone in the hands of other pop talents of the time – moving past the too-emotive or too-weepy styles that dominated the record racks a few years before. Most of the tracks here are soul singles, but there's also a few jazz and rock numbers too – all supported by the usual deep detailed notes that we love from Ace Records. Titles include "You Better Go" by Derek Martin, "I'm On The Outside" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, "Or Not At All" by Jimmy Rice, "Good For A Lifetime" by Al Hibbler, "Better Use Your Head" by Mel Torme, "Rain In My Heart" by Frank Sinatra, "Can't Stop Running Away" by Timi Yuro, "A Million To One" by The Manhattans, "Think Before You Act" by Tony Orlando, "Goin Out Of My Head" by Dionne Warwick, "Hurt So Bad" by The Delfonics, "I Watched You Slowly Slip Away" by Howard Guyton, "Think Twice Before You Walk Away" by Porgy & The Monarchs, "Baby Are You Puttin Me On" by The Royalettes, and "You Don't Need A Heart" by Teddy Randazzo himself. CD

Epic harmony soul by this excellent sweet soul group! Black Ivory were just kids when they recorded this session – but they had a sophistication that pushed them way past any of their contemporaries on the east coast scene. The band are very lucky to have the talents of the great Patrick Adams – originally singer himself, but who wisely made a move to producer once he'd heard the rich talents of the young group. Adams perfectly handles the sweet voices of the group, building up their raw emotions into a dreamy web of harmony vocals to rival the best work of The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and other older groups. Includes the classic "Don't Turn Around", written by Adams, plus "You and I", "Our Future", "Surrender", and "If I Could Be a Mirror". Heavenly harmony soul, and a classic of the east coast scene! CD

A trio of albums from this fantastic group – plus bonus tracks too! First up is Hit After Hit – a tremendous album that has The Chosen Few stepping out to match some of the best American harmony soul groups of the early 70s – vocals you might hear from The Moments or Delfonics, but tuned towards rhythms that are much more Kingston than New Jersey or Philly! Yet there's also a few funky moments too – a rare element that really shows how the group could change things up from some of their Jamaican contemporaries, on titles that include a version of the "Shaft" theme, plus "You're A Big Girl Now", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "Melting Pot", "Ebony Eyes", "Do Your Thing", "People Make The World Go Round", and "I'm Sorry". Everybody Plays The Fool is a record that's as much an early 70s reggae set as it is a strong bit of east coast soul – Kingston rhythms mixed with fantastic harmonies that maybe echo more of the East Coast group soul modes than some of the earlier Jamaican groups of the 60s! The choice of material also echoes that quality too – as The Chosen Few take on older soul classics, remade for a reggae market – mixed with a few original tracks of their own. Titles include "My Thing", "Reggae Stuff", "I Second That Emotion", "Make Way For The Young Folks", "La La At The End", and "Tears Of A Clown". Chosen Few In Miami is legendary soul from The Chosen Few – a group who were as much a 70s soul outfit as they were a reggae group! This album's the group's greatest – recorded in Miami with classic TK funky production from King Sporty, who also seems to be backing them up on most of the set. There's certainly a reggae feel to the album at times, but the group's harmonies are much more in an American soul vein – and Sporty's super-dope backings use plenty of wah-wah guitar, electric keys, and that burning, bubbling Miami soul groove that made so many of the TK albums from the time so great! Titles include the stone funky classic "Funky Buttercup", plus "Wandering", "Candy I'm So Doggone Mixed Up", "Why Can't We Live", "Drift Away", "I Am A Man", and "Hit Me With Music". 2CD set also features 11 more bonus tracks – including related work by Lloyd Charmers Selection! CD

Appears to be a UBB type compilation of breaks and samples but is actually a collection of instrumental beats constructed with chopped samples from the listed sources. Sampled tracks include "Ready Or Not" by The Delfonics, "I Got Blues" by Labi Siffre, "Born To Be Blue" by Jack Bruce, "I'm Your Mechanical Man" by Jerry Butler, "Hey What's That You Say" by Brother To Brother, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Great sampler of the excellent stuff recorded for the Philly Groove label in the early 70's. There's a few hits on here by The Delfonics, but apart from that, the rest of the tracks are hard to find ones by First Choice, Ben Aiken, Nat Turner, Finishing Touch, and Mary Holmes. Some east coast sweet soul stuff, and a number of great stormin' uptempo tracks, like the stuff that made First Choice (and Philly) famous. Good notes, and a nice mix of stuff from a rare label. CD

A baker's dozen from MSFB, the O Jays, the Spinners, McFadden & Whitehead, the Stylistics, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Delfonics, the Stylistics, and Third World. CD

Music from Betty Everett, the Van Dykes, the Moovers, Scott English, Lorraine Ellison, Carol Hughes, Bertha Tillman, the Dupremes, Love Unlimited, the Delfonics, and more. CD

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

Music from William DeVaughn, The Delfonics, The Jackson 5, Bloodstone, The Whispers, Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, 21st Century, Soul Generation, The Mad Lads, The Temprees, The Continental 4, Charles Mann, Bobby Taylor, and The Main Ingredient. CD

Includes tracks from The Delfonics, The Escorts, The Isley Brothers, The Emotions, The O'Jays, Sun, The Stylistics, and Garland Green. CD

Music from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Chairmen of the Board, the 5 Stairsteps, the Supremes, the Delfonics, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Edwin Starr, the Spinners, James Brown, and more – 21 tracks in all. CD