Customer Reviews

La La Means I Love You: The Definitive Collection

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When it comes to love and romance, you can't hide, and you can't hide from The Delfonics. They took their sound from the doo-wop tradition. Lead singer and chief songwriter William Hart was heavily influenced by Frankie Lymon and Eddie Kendricks. But he went on to himself influence other high tenors like Russell Thompkins (of the Stylistics) and Ted Mills (of Blue Magic), and dozens of teen-age groups of the 70s (Black Ivory, Jimmy Briscoe and The Little Beavers). Their major hits ("La La Means I Love You" "I'm Sorry" "Break Your Promise" "Didn't I") are all here, as are their lesser successes and significant album tracks. This really is a great collection! Even non-lp singles like "I Told You So" and "Lying To Myself" are here. The one brilliant b-side they did not include was "Baby I Love You." With that one, the collection would have been perfect. "Baby I Love You" will soon see the light of day again, as the studio album "Delfonics" is being released next month. For completists, pick up either "The Professionals" or "More Of The Best" and you'll find other songs the group recorded that were part of an unreleased album, or were otherwise never previously released. But in this album, you have the cream of The Delfonics output, so relax and enjoy. But if you're singing along, try not to strain your voice on those high notes!

Rhythm & blues music listeners were not necessarily Doo-Wop listeners, who did not necessarily move to the new sound of the sixties, Motown etc., and those not necessarily to the sweet soul sound of the early 70s, or on to the disco sound of the later 70s and on......... Point being, music has always had a tendency of impacting (especially teenagers) the listener as tied in to the era released. That does not mean old school music cannot be enjoyed by non era listeners, good music, as Lou Rawls so eloquently put it.... "will last forever" but, as an example if the question is raised "where was you at" when you first heard the 45 "My New Love" by the Delfonics (so often played on urban radio stations in '68 (also on the "Sounds Of Sexy Soul" lp) and an overlooked song on "hits" cds (do the cd song compilers even know?), what is one's reply? Beginning with their debut single, 1966 "He Don't Really Love You" on the obscure "Moon Shot" record label, followed in 1967 by the 45 "You've Been Untrue"- Cameo-Parkway label, through the last album release in 1974 on Philly Groove Records, the Delfonics music has been sought by those who know and love, "East Coast Sweet Soul" and the Philly Sound". It is a type of music! The writer is taken aback when reading, "This stuff can transcend it's own schmaltz"? "Stuff"? Whoa-a! This is music of an era, late 60s - mid 70s. "Where was we at...., when these songs and albums were released? Fifties "Doo-Wop" or 90s "House" music may be far from everyone's taste but, for those impacted by the music of, at the time, just as relevant to them as the various types and era of music listened to and enjoyed by others, are to them. I personally find it difficult to believe a truly insightful review can be written about music unless the writer was "there" during the era of release. An era has it's own "feel". For those who liked/loved the music of the Delfonics, this compilation is a good start, it has 20 songs on it. The reason the Delfonics albums have long since been chased collectible albums is because the songs not on the few, "hits" cds are harbored there, "My New Love", "For The Love I Gave To You", etc., etc., etc., not on the "hits" releases. Recently, all their albums except "Tell Me This Is A Dream"-1972, have been reissued, finally! With "La La Means I Love You"-1967, "The Sounds Of Sexy Soul"-1968, "The Delfonics"-1970, "Alive & Kicking-1974", and the unreleased (in 1976) lp "The Professionals", released on cd, the music of the Delfonics (minus their first 2 releases, the two 45s) is now availible to all, at digital sound quality! This cd, loaded with sweet soul classics but, not all! The album reissues contain more! The Delfonics, it's Buy Time!

The Delfonics are my absolute favorite group of all time. Their music seems to speak to me. I swear I think William Hart wrote,"I'm Sorry", especially for ME! The words say exactly what I was feeling at a particular time in my life. My heart cries everytime I hear it. My other favorites are, "Loving Him", "Hey Love", and of course their Grammy winning song, "Didn't I(Blow your mind)" Why The Delfonic haven't been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, is appalling! I saw them live here in Atlanta last year and let me tell ya'll, the boy's still have it! Groups today just don't compare to their talent, and the just plain feel good music of the late 60's and early 70's. This Delfonics CD was the very first CD I ever bought.(late bloomer) I absolutely LOVE IT! The Delfonics will always be and remain number "ONE" in my Heart, FOREVER!!!

I remember being able to hit all the high notes you'll hear on this excellent compilation of lush Philly Soul. If I try it now, I'm off work for three days. When I first heard "He Don't Really Love You" (not included here) I was like, "WHO IS THIS?????" By the time they hit with "You've Been Untrue" (also not included), I knew they were a regional group bound for the big-time. Enter La-La (Means I Love You) and the rest is....well you know.... Anyway, I'm proud to own this disc, and like a dream come true, the 4th disc on the nostalgia inducing Cameo-Parkway 1957 - 1967 Box Set contains both of those pre-breakout tunes I've mentioned. The Delfonics? When you get right down to it, these guys were bad!!!!

Getting to the good stuff! This is what they are referring to! The Mighty Delfonics! The soothing, harmonic, soul stirring crooners!

Classic, classic tunes! Listening to them sing on such great songs as, "Break Your Promise," "Somebody Loves You," "Trying to Make a Fool of Me," as well as their other popular songs, will remind you of a time, when hanging beads hung in open doorways, plastic covered furniture, console stereos were all the rage, burning incense was in and that darn "Zodiac" poster hung on many a bedroom wall!

Listening to these stellar fellas croon will transport you back to a time when we didn't "slow dance," we "Slow Dragged." In the basement, at an all night block party, or simply at a "my parents are away for the weekend, so throw on some silky soul" and let's do this," party.

This is music from the past that still breathes now and will continue to do so. Great music never dies, nor does it go stale, and the Delfonics are one of the best from the silky,innovative, soulful period of the late 60's and 70's!

This sound offered an alternative to the Motown Sound. Didn't try to out do it, or out fox it, or surpass it! It's main purpose was to give us something else spectacular to listen to...and it succeeded in spades!

The roots of The Delfonics actually started in the 50's when brothers Wilbert and Bill Hart would sing at high school. They joined the "Groove "label in the late 60's and clicked with writer Thom Bell. Masterpieces such as "La La Means I Love You" and "(Didn't I) blow You Mind This Time soon folllowed." While The Delfonics were never as well known as a number of their contemporaries they deserve a listen. You'll probably find a few songs on this collection that you either didn't know The Delfonics recorded or wished you had heard years ago. Keep the music alive.

First to Shy Cynderella - You are describing the group "Blue Magic", not the Delfonics!! Next, this is a great collection of the groups best from a time now long past. I put the CD in and can recall events of elementary (La La means I love you) through my senior year of high school (I told you so). I never tire of the Delfonics sound!

william harts voice sounded like he was from another world. my older sister would play these records long after their releas(about 1978) when i was a kid. what impresed me about the music from that era was the quality of the songs and the sincerity in the music. i can never listen to "im sorry" once, especially that last note. i was fortunate to see four delfonics on stage in the mid 80's william and wilbert hart , randy cain and cains replacement major "love wont let me wait" harris . it's too bad that william and wilbert have broken up as a group. wilbert performs under the name "wil hart and the delfonics" while william has his own group that does not include cain or harris.

The Delfonics were a Philadelphia soul group that formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1974. Their big hits included "La-La Means I Love You" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)." Of course this collection includes them and also contains 18 other great songs. Their catalog of tunes is notable for the ethereal mood of the music, the sleek harmonies, and the overall polished smoothness. All of these qualities are well conveyed by this CD. It is a recommended introduction to the swell soulful sound of the Delfonics.

Out of all the best of cd,s this collection really has the best of the group!.The classic La la la means i love you,over and over,told you so and didnt i blow your mine is just the tip of the ice berg.A group that thom bell(master producer of the spinners early albums with atlantic records)work with and they nail every song on this cd.The so called r& b out today can,t hold a candle to one of the masters of r&b the mighty delfonics enjoy!