When Love Is New

Billy Paul | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 15, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Legacy
• ASIN: B0030T1PQ6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,787 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

When Love Is New - Billy Paul

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "...Unemployment On The Rise...Interest Rates Going Up...Please...Let The Dollar Circulate...", April 25, 2010

By 

Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: When Love Is New (Audio CD)

"When Love Is New" is part of a mid-price series of Philadelphia International reissues by Demon's EDSEL label in the UK (see PS below). Most of the albums seem to be focusing on the year 1975.

Released April 2010, Edsel EDSM0003 (an import) breaks down as follows (37:43 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 7 are a straightforward reissue (no bonus tracks) of the LP "When Love Is New" released December 1975 on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33843 in the USA and early 1976 on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 69207 in the UK. It was his 5th album for the famous soul label and peaked at Number 17 on the US R 'n' B charts.

The 12-page booklet provides you with production credits and superb liner notes by noted soul expert TONY ROUNCE. But the real deal is in the sound. The CD has been mastered by TALL ORDER of the UK and the sound quality is truly fantastic (Rounce name checks this). Clear, ballsy and wonderfully detailed - the remaster allows the lush GAMBLE & HUFF production values to really shine.

The album itself is a tale of two halves - Side 1 has 3 socially-conscious tunes in a row ending with a slightly upbeat 4th ditty ("Marjorie"), while Side 2 is a full-on lover man suite with all 3 songs provided by label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

My personal favourite (and recently sampled by rap/soul artists Jay Dilla, Steve Spacek and Cartie) is "Let The Dollar Circulate" (lyrics above) which is a brilliantly funky tune with a top 'message' that unfortunately reverberates to this day. I also like the album opener too "People Power" - which is arranged by jazz-funk favourite Dexter Wansel.

As the years have passed by, some soul fans have deemed Billy Paul to be just a little too lightweight to be taken seriously. But I'd say this album should be revisited so as to change that opinion.

It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination - it's not - but there are goodies on here - and they now have superlative sound and a dirt-cheap price tag thrown in.

Worth investigating...

PS: other titles in the series are/will be...
1. Dance Your Troubles Away - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0006]
2. Wake Up Everybody...Plus - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0002] - see REVIEW
3. Philadelphia Freedom - M.F.S.B. (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0005]
4. Family Reunion...Plus - THE O'JAYS (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0001] - see REVIEW
5. The Three Degrees Live [aka Live In London] (1975) - THE THREE DEGREES (due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0004)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Silky & soulful masterpiece~Bravo Billy Paul!!!, July 12, 2011

By 

Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Love Is New (Audio CD)

Billy Paul is clearly a master in a lofty spot all his own when it comes to amazing jazzy soulful singers, though the years have actually worn out compact disc copies of "Me And Mrs. Jones; The Best Of Billy Paul" featuring the sublime title track of this amazing collection "When Love Is New", closing out "The Best Of Billy Paul" masterpiece. Each magnificent gem within "When Love Is New" takes the listener on a musical journey that is flowing, that silky smooth voice massages the senses and soul in a way no other voice can do! Combine this incredible singer with Gamble & Huff, Dexter Wamsel, Jack Faith, Bobby Martin & Company, you will find brilliance in music that cannot be topped, every collection on the Philly International Label is a must have and a magical musical carpet ride...Bravo Billy Paul!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Just Billy Paul, October 14, 2010

By 

RickToye (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Love Is New (Audio CD)

This is an excellent piece of music. Billy Paul is your standard when it comes to love songs and your standard for smooth jazz singers. No loud singing, no "we want the funk", but plenty of good singing, and great late night entertainment. I've been a fan since '71-'72 and his music never gets old.