The Sound of Philadelphia celebrates Motown and soul music

In between Motown and disco there was the Philadelphia Sound, a distinct time period and music… In between Motown and disco there was the Philadelphia Sound, a distinct time period and music genre filled with searing strings on the ballads and blaring horns on funkier numbers. The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble ‘ Huff’s Greatest Hits collects the era’s quintessential classics on one groovy disc.

The Sound of Philadelphia Gamble ‘ Huff’s Greatest Hits Sony Records Featuring: The O’Jays, Lou Rawls and The Three Degrees Rocks like: The Isley Brothers, Lena Horne

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After Motown Records moved to the West in ’72, Philly soul rose on the charts and produced some of the most memorable soul groups of the ’70s, including The O’Jays and Harold Melvin ‘ the Blue Notes.

The songs defined an era in soul music, and the men behind most of the chart-topping hits were Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, a writing and recording duo.

The two recorded songs for various record companies, generating hits with singers like Aretha Franklin and Dee Dee Warwick. In ’71, Gamble and Huff created their own label, Philadelphia International Records.

Sound of Philadelphia compiles PIR’s greatest contributions to soul and was released earlier this month in anticipation of Gamble and Huff’s induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame March 10.

The album opens up with a few Billboard chart-toppers, such as “Love Train” by The O’Jays and Harold Melvin ‘ the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” from ’72.

These tracks embody the spirit of Philly soul with often flamboyant arrangements and doo-wop-inspired harmonies. Each shows the two sides of Gamble and Huff’s songwriting tendencies. Most of the songs on Sound of Philadelphia are either romantic and often bittersweet ballads or upbeat, jazzy numbers, the precursors to disco. Gamble and Huff’s later songs, Lou Rawls’ “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” and “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead, could certainly be played with a spinning mirrored ball, but there’s something that distinguishes these tracks from the rest.

Whether it’s the funky bass lines or an intricate arrangement between string and brass sections, the PIR duo created a distinct sound out of a talented pool of Philly performers.

It all comes together in Gamble and Huff’s seminal hit, “T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia),” which listeners might recognize as the theme song to “Soul Train.”

With bongos, tight brass arrangements and a wild organ, MFSB featuring The Three Degrees injects the city’s brotherly love right into the heart of soul.

Sound of Philadelphia takes the best of the duo, leaving little to be desired.

Other Philly soul groups who didn’t record with Gamble and Huff, such as The Delfonics, are especially missed, but overall the disc is a testament to the power of two individuals able to leave their mark on an entire era of soul music.

For more serious soul fans and aficionados of the obscure in music, Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records was released along with Gamble and Huff’s Greatest Hits. The album contains many rare and unreleased tracks from the label’s heyday.