Customer Reviews

Love Train:The Sound of Philadelphia

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

LOVE TRAIN easily trumps Sony Legacy's previously released three-cd Philly box set (1997's excellent THE PHILLY SOUND: KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF & THE STORY OF BROTHERLY LOVE)by offering 23 more songs and expanding the years of the material up to 1983. Unlike the 1997 box set, the works of producer Thom Bell are represented here along with the best of the Gamble and Huff productions. One big surprise entry is Deniece Williams' top-10 remake of the Royaltones "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", which was produced by Thom Bell and recorded in Philly. The set ends perfectly with Patti Labelle's #1 r&b hit "If Only You Knew", the last big hurrah of the Philly sound. It would have been nice to include the 1973 Thom Bell-produced top 30 pop hits "One Man Band" by Ronnie Dyson and "I'm Doing Fine Now" by New York City, however.

Improved song selection, detailed booklet and great remastered sound make this collection a must for Philly soul fans.

Philadelphia has always been the City of Brotherly Love and it took two musical geniuses like Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to compose the songs and arrangements that would reach out to all listening audiences letting them know that that phrase was more than just a phrase. In that classic O'Jays' hit of which this boxed set is named, all the nations of the world from England to Russia, China and Africa are connected as the "Love Train" comes "ridin' on through." The phrase "People all over the world" from the same song is later duplicated in MFSB's chart-topper "TSOP: The Sound of Phildelphia." MFSB, standing for Mother Father Sister Brother further emphasizing the Philadelphia spirit of unity, is the studio band that Gamble & Huff assembled to play behind the artists they wrote for and produced and was the sound they had bumpin'! All around they were one tight outfit. Going further with the subject of the need for positive social awareness, it could be heard in songs like the O'Jays' greasy and funky "For The Love of Money", Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody", "Put Your Hands Together" from the O'Jays again, as well as McFadden & Whitehead's latter-era classic "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." Yes, indeed: the Love Train was making its impact on American popular music and it was rollin' straight out of no other righteous American city than Philadelphia.

This brand new edition of Gamble and Huff's Philly Soul contributions to R&B music from 1967-1983 is a definitive portrait of their labors of love that started from their first chance meeting inside an elevator. From there to the recording studio and to the music charts, they cranked out one hit after another for various artists signed to their Philadelphia International label. The first half of disc one are the seeds that got the ball rolling with hits from Jerry Butler, the Delfonics, the Stylistics, Joe Simon, Wilson Pickett as well as Dusty Springfield. The second half of disc one and onward is where the Philly sound grew, developed and progressed encompassing the many phases that defined what '70s R&B was all about through funk, smooth soul, quiet storm and ultimately disco. None of these songs are really pure disco although, Philly In'tl played the huge part in contributing to how disco evolved.

All the hits are here and some have extended versions such as "I'll Always Love My Mama" and "I Wanna Know Your Name" from the Intruders, "Livin' For The Weekend" and "I Love Music" from the O'Jays, plus "I Miss You" and "The Love I Lost" from Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes. Those longer cuts are what made Philly In'tl what it was and, as stated before, because of their dancability and or seductiveness if it was a ballad, this lead to disco, the 12" single and to the only majorcomplaint about this set. Because of the lengths of many songs, it leaves little room for other artists to have significant spotlight time. For instance, artists like Lou Rawls, The Jacksons, Dee Dee Sharp, Bunny Sigler and Joe Simon could have had more hits provided as they had their fair share on the label as well. The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes seem to dominate this set, and in a way they were synonomous with Philly In'tl, but the balance could have been a bit better. Then again, the purpose of box sets is to provide as thorough of an overview as possible without turning anything into combine mini-greatest hit collections. If you want to investigate further on an artist, you're welcome to, as their music is readily and separately available. If more songs were provided along with the 71 on here, this could have easily spawned a fifth disc. Two other minor quibbles is that this did not include the collaboration of artists as the Philadelphia International All-Stars' "Let's Clean Up The Ghetto" and the Ebony's "It's Forever" does not have the extended ending, but yet just about everything else does. Hear that one elsewhere in its 7 minute glory.

Other non-Philly label artists include The Spinners (I'll Be Around, The Rubberband Man) and the Manhattans (There's No Me Without You, Kiss and Say Goodbye). Finally, Teddy Pendergrass, Deneice Williams, the Jones Girls, and Patti Labelle round out the set that carries the glossy and glittery quiet storm and dance sounds into the '80s as Philly In'tl leaves behind its glory days.

The songs were as recognizable as their very own sound, and just as Motown and Stax had their own distinct sounds during their heydays, as did Philly In'tl. In fact if any two labels had their heydays during decades it would be Motown and Stax in the '60s and Philly In'tl and Hi for the '70s. With positive messages as well as the down-to-earth heartfelt emotions on life and love in the lyrics, Philadelphia International and their creators Gamble and Huff were the symbols and personifications of Brotherly Love and promotion for unity. Get ready to start and evening full of get-down dancin' and romancin' as you take a ride on the Love Train!

My parents were teenagers/young adults in Philadelphia during the 60's and early 70's. I grew up with my parents playing this music. It was just part of our environment. My brother and I were babies singing along with this awesome music. I'm in my early 40s now and heard an NPR Fresh Air interview with Gamble and Huff yesterday. Those guys are just so talented. AWHHHHHHHHH, hearing that music again brought me such joy. Learning about the genius of Gamble and Huff and all of the songs that they've written and produced, just made me profoundly proud of them and the city of Philadelphia; a place I left in the 80's. My mom still lives in the City, so there will always be a connection for me. I cannot wait to see her face when I present her with the gift of this compilation for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to the PBS special that will air soon. There music has made an international mark. It's just so impressive and enduring.

Was at the door of the record store when it opened this morning to get this sucker and loving it so far. Nice booklet and good track selection, highy reccomend it as far as the music. Not crazy about the pacaking tho. The cds come loose easily and clang round in the box, that accounts for the 4 stars instead of 5. By the way the other review here is of the old Philly Soul box from way back, no way he could have reviewed this in 2005 since it came out today.(2008)

one of those Box Sets when you won't ever need a fast forward button at all. every song brings back some sort of memory or time period,etc.. the Sound of Philidelphia in the 70's was unfadeable. the soulful strings and the House band, Gamble and Huff,Thom Bell and the many great Artists,Musicians,Producers, Arrangers,background vocalists,etc... made a strong mark on Music that not only touched Philidelphia but also the whole wide world period. songs that are timeless. a must have box set.

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were the epitome of soul music writing. The songs and the artist that had and produced on this label were just totally awesome in every sense of the word. A music collector or a fan of soul music would be doing themselves a big time disservice by not having this piece of work in their collection. These are songs that I came up with as a youngin' in the 70's. These are songs that will stand the test of time no matter what generation of music that comes along the way. They are like good old vintage wine in other words. Great stuff i tell you, great stuff!

When "The Philly Sound" box set came out, in 1997, I didn't have a CD player. That CD box set was the first CDs that I played on my new CD player. I never thought that Gamble and Huff could top the collection that was in "The Philly Sound"...BUT THEY DID!!! In "Love Train:The Sound of Philadelphia", I actually had forgotten just how much I loved those songs. I loved just as much now, as I did, over 30 years ago. Anyone who loved the songs of Gamble, Huff, Bell and Creed, and other geniuses of Philly, need to have this Box set in their CD collection...They won't be disappointed.

Yeah Buddy, this set takes me back in time - to a simpler, better time. 80% of the tracks on this box set are incredible and the other 20% are real good. These songs are the songs that my friends and I listened to when we were riding around in muscle cars and hanging out at the hamburger joints trying to impress the "ladies" - sometimes we impressed them and sometimes ... well you know what I mean. This box set is worth the $. Back in the day the Philly sound was the real deal - like to have a nickel for every girl I said La La to. If you were hanging in the late sixties and early seventies, and going to dances buy this set - you'll be glad you did. If you are a guy it'll make you remember the line "They call me coffee, cause I grind so fine" and if you are a lady from that time it'll make you remember some fool like me grinding on the dance floor. Just buy the set - it's fabulous.

I heard about this collection from the All Songs Considered show on NPR. I had no idea how much of this music was from Philly? It certainly rivals and in some ways triumphs Motown. It should be getting alot more publicity then it seems to be receiving....

This item doesn't really need another review but I just gotta throw in my 2 cents. Here's the bottom line. If you don't like the Philly sound, run like a bunny. If your not sure, get this cd! If you're already a lover of the Philly sound then welcome to heaven! This is probably the most comprehensive collection of TSOP you can get. There is enough chart-toppers on these two CD's to justify the low purchase price plus you get a bunch of lesser known tracks that you'll fall in love with. One important point: These are the original recordings, not that rerecorded/simulated junk that's out there. (Who could listen to a phoney copy of the song "Love Train"? Yucch!) On this one you can't go wrong.