Philadelphia International Records

Philadelphia International Records (PIR) is an American record label based in Philadelphia. It was founded in 1971 by the writer-producer duo, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, along with their long time collaborator Thom Bell. It was famous for showcasing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly soul) that was founded on the gospel, doo-wop, and soul music of the time. This Philly Soul sound later became a prominent and distinct era within R&B itself.[1] During the 1970s the label released a string of worldwide hits which emphasized lavish orchestral instrumentation, heavy bass, and driving percussion.

"The Sound of Philadelphia" redirects here. For the similarly-titled recording, see TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia). For the upcoming crime film, see The Sound of Philadelphia (film).
Philadelphia International Records
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded1971
FounderKenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
Distributor(s)Legacy Recordings (re-issues)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Some of their most popular and best selling acts included The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, MFSB, Billy Paul, Patti LaBelle and Lou Rawls. Between 1971 and the early 80s, the label sold over 170 gold and platinum records.[2]

Philadelphia International Records had been mostly defunct since 1987, and finally shut down in 2001. As of 2007, Sony Music Entertainment owns all rights to the Philadelphia International Records music catalogue.[3]

Beginning and success

Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the founders of Philadelphia International Records, met in 1964 while they were both playing as session musicians for various labels, including Philadelphia based Cameo-Parkway Records, whose building would later become home to Philadelphia International Records recording studio. In 1965, Huff joined Gamble's band, The Romeos, a popular moniker at the time, by replacing future Philadelphia International Records producer and arranger Thom Bell on piano. Kenny Gamble and The Romeos had seen little success up to that point playing for their label, Arctic Records, and split up soon after.

When the Romeos disbanded, Gamble and Huff went on to start one of the first iterations of Philadelphia International Records (which they named Excel and Gamble) after a visit to Motown Records in Detroit, to scope out the Motown setup. The success of their biggest signing, The Intruders, brought attention to Gamble and Huff, which allowed them to create Neptune Records in 1969. Neptune Records, a more ambitious project for the duo, was financed by Chess Records Group, and allowed them to sign later Philadelphia International Records artists The O'Jays and The Three Degrees. When Chess Records Group's management changed hands in 1969, Neptune Records folded. With the collapse of Neptune Records, Gamble and Huff transferred their signed artists onto a new project, Philadelphia International Records.[4] Looking to attract new black acts to their label, but without the in-house know-how, Columbia Records was convinced to sign an exclusive production contract with Gamble and Huff's new Philadelphia International Records.[5]

The label was set up in connection with Mighty Three/Assorted Music, the music publishing company run by Gamble, Huff and another Philadelphia producer, Thom Bell, to showcase their songs.

The label's major hits included: "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB, featuring The Three Degrees, 1974 (which was later used as one of the theme tunes for the TV dance-music show Soul Train); "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead (writers and producers with the label), 1979; "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" by The O'Jays, 1972/3; "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1972/3; "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul, 1972; "When Will I See You Again" by The Three Degrees, 1974; and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" by Lou Rawls, 1976.

The label had a distribution deal with CBS Records until 1984. Distribution of the catalog from 1976 onwards was then taken over by EMI Records, but CBS continued to distribute material recorded up to 1976. In 2007, Sony's Legacy Recordings regained the rights to Philadelphia International's full catalog and the following year, PIR/Legacy released a box set titled Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia.[6]

Most of the music released by the label was recorded and produced at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, with chief engineer and later studio owner Joe Tarsia recording many of the sessions.[7] More than 30 resident studio musicians, known collectively as MFSB "Mother Father Sister Brother", were based at this studio and backed up most of these recordings.[5] Some of these musicians also acted as arrangers, writers or producers for Philadelphia International as well as for other labels recording in the city. They included Bobby Martin,[8][9] Norman Harris, Thom Bell, Ronnie Baker, Vince Montana and later, Jack Faith and John Usry.

Gamble and Huff worked as independent producers with a series of artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including Jerry Butler, Wilson Pickett and Dusty Springfield. They also produced The Jacksons' first two albums for Epic/CBS after the group had left Motown in 1976. The first, titled The Jacksons featured the platinum-selling single "Enjoy Yourself", and a second album, Goin' Places followed in 1977. Although on CBS subsidiary Epic, both albums and the singles also carried a Philadelphia International logo.

In 1965, Gamble and Huff started an independent label, Excel Records. It was soon renamed Gamble Records and in 1972, was folded into Philadelphia International as a subsidiary. In 1974, the subsidiary's name was changed to TSOP Records, from the aforementioned 1974 hit single, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)". Artists for Excel/Gamble/TSOP included Dee Dee Sharp, Archie Bell & the Drells, and The People's Choice, who had a top 10 single on TSOP in 1976 with "Do It Any Way You Wanna." Later signings to the Philly International roster in the 1980s and 1990s, included Patti Labelle, The Stylistics, Phyllis Hyman, and The Dells.

Between 1973 and 1975, Gamble and Huff also distributed a boutique label called Golden Fleece, set up by musicians Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker and Earl Young, which released the second album by The Trammps. G & H also had a short-lived subsidiary called Thunder Records. Created by Thom Bell, it only had two singles from Derek & Cyndi (You Bring Out the Best in Me/I'll Do the Impossible for You) who were produced by Bell, and Fatback Band member Michael Walker whose single "I Got the Notion, You Got the Motion" was produced by his brother and The Spinners' member Philippe Wynne.[10]

Later period

By the mid 1980s, Philadelphia International Records ended their distribution deal with Columbia, who they had worked with since their inception. The label was soon after picked up by Capitol/EMI records. They continued to make hits, including Shirley Jones' "Do You Get Enough Love," but their most successful years were behind them.

In the 1990s, Philadelphia International launched a new subsidiary, Uncensored Records. Featuring Damon and No Question, this label releases hip hop music. Philadelphia International now largely concentrates on licensing its music catalog worldwide and has issued few new recordings since the mid-80s, when Gamble and Huff wound down their studio work together.

In 1989, Gamble and Huff were awarded their first Grammy Award. Simply Red's cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now," written by Gamble and Huff, won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[11] 10 years later in 1999, Gamble and Huff were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 2008, the duo were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category, joining their band the O'Jays who were inducted in 2005.[12]

In November, 2009, PBS aired the two-part special, Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia, which celebrates the legacy of Gamble & Huff and the family of Philadelphia International Records artists. The concert was shot in front of a live audience on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, and showcased TSOP artists.

In February 2010, Gamble and Huff suffered a setback when fire swept through parts of their offices on Philadelphia's Broad Street. The building was previously the home of another iconic part of the city's musical heritage, Cameo-Parkway Records, based there during the 1950s and 1960s, and has become a tourist attraction. The fire was started deliberately by a man who had broken into the offices while so intoxicated by alcohol (in excess of four times the legal limit for driving a vehicle) that he had no recollection of the crime afterward.[13]

In August 2011, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the company, Philadelphia International Records launched TSOP Soul Radio, an online radio station that allows fans from all around the world the chance to tune in and listen to music and interviews from the legendary Gamble and Huff catalog.

The building that housed Philadelphia International Records located on Broad & Spruce Street was damaged by arson in 2010 and was effectively shut down. It was sold to local developer Dranoff Properties in 2014. On Saturday April 18, 2015 demolition started on the building. The new owners Dranoff Properties plan to build an SLS International Hotel at the site of the building which plans to open in Fall 2017.[14]

Gamble and Huff have written over 3000 songs throughout their careers, making them two of the most efficient and productive songwriters of all time. They continue to write songs together from their homes in South Philadelphia.[15]

Philly Soul

Philadelphia soul, or Philly soul, was a form of soul music that came out of Philadelphia during the mid 1960s. It provided a smoother alternative to the deep soul of the 60s while maintaining the soul and emotion of popular R&B of the time.[16] Philadelphia International Records was one of the most successful labels to capitalize on this new genre, and took it to the international stage with acts like the O'Jays and Teddy Pendergrass.

Philly Soul is known for its incorporation of lush string arrangements along with penetrating brass, and often tells very personal and emotional stories. The world renowned Philadelphia Orchestra's string section was often employed to play on many of Philadelphia International Record's tracks.[17] Philly Soul is often considered a producer's genre, the essence of the genre coming mostly out of Gamble, Huff, Bell, and the other producers within PIR. Philly Soul, with its driving rhythms, later became the inspiration from which the disco craze of the 70s was born.

Discography

Catalog numbers from 1971 to 1985 are part of CBS Records' overall numbering system, and therefore are discontinuous. Albums released from 1986-1990 were part of Capitol/EMI catalog numbering system. Catalog numbers for albums released after 1991 are from Philadelphia International's distribution deal with Zoo Entertainment.

CatalogAlbumArtistYear
KZ 30580Going EastBilly Paul1971
KZ 31648I Miss YouHarold Melvin & Blue Notes1972
KZ 31712Back StabbersO'Jays1972
KZ 31793360 Degrees of Billy PaulBilly Paul1972
KZ 31794Dick JensenDick Jensen1973
ZX 31991Save The ChildrenIntruders1973
KZ 32046MFSBMFSB1973
KZ 32118Ebony WomanBilly Paul1973
KZ 32119Feelin' Good At The Cadillac ClubBilly Paul1973
KZ 32120The O'Jays In PhiladelphiaO'Jays1973
KZ 32131Super HitsIntruders1973
KZ 32404Spiritual ConceptSpiritual Concept1973
KZ 32406The Three DegreesThree Degrees1973
KZ/ZQ 32407Black And BlueHarold Melvin & Blue Notes1973
KZ/PZ/PZQ 32408Ship AhoyO'Jays1973
KZ 32409War Of The GodsBilly Paul1973
KZ 32419The EbonysEbonys1973
KZ/ZQ 32707Love is the MessageMFSB1973
KZ 32713The Sound Of Philadelphia '73Various Artists1973
KZ 32859That's How I'll Be Loving YouBunny Sigler1974
KZ 32952Live In EuropeBilly Paul1974
KZ/PZQ 32953The O'Jays Live In LondonO'Jays1974
KZ/PZ 33148To Be TrueHarold Melvin & Blue Notes1975
KZ 33150SurvivalO'Jays1975
KZ 33152PotpourriThad Jones & Mel Lewis1975
KZ 33153RealityMonk Montgomery1974
KZ 33154Boogie Down U.S.A.People's Choice1975
PZ 33157Got My Head On StraightBilly Paul1975
PZ 33158Universal LoveMFSB1975
KZ 33162InternationalThree Degrees1975
KZ 33249Keep Smilin'Bunny Sigler1975
PZ/PZQ 33807Family ReunionO'Jays1975
PZ/PZQ 33808Wake Up EverybodyHarold Melvin & Blue Notes1975
PZ 33839Happy 'Bout The Whole ThingDee Dee Sharp1976
PZ 33840The Three Degrees LiveThree Degrees1975
PZ 33841Could It Be MagicAnthony White1976
PZ 33843When Love Is NewBilly Paul1975
PZ/PZQ 33845Philadelphia FreedomMFSB1975
PZ 33957All Things in TimeLou Rawls1976
PZ 33958Travelin' In Heavy TrafficDon Covay1976
PZ 34079Life On MarsDexter Wansel1976
PZ 34122From North Philly (Live)Dap 'Sugar' Willie1976
PZ 34123Unemployment BluesForce Of Nature1976
JE/PE 34229The JacksonsJacksons1976
PZ 34232Collectors' Item: All Their Greatest Hits!Harold Melvin & Blue Notes1976
PZ 34238SummertimeMFSB1976
PZ 34245Message in the MusicO'Jays1976
PZ 34267My MusicBunny Sigler1976
PZ 34323Where Will You Go When The Party's OverArchie Bell & the Drells1976
PZ 34346Bicentennial PoetJean-Claude T.1976
PZ 34358Get Down With The Philly JumpInstant Funk1976
PZ 34389Let 'Em InBilly Paul1976
JZ34390Teddy PendergrassTeddy Pendergrass1977
PZ 34394Jean CarnJean Carn1977
PZ 34437What Color Is LoveDee Dee Sharp1977
PZ 34487What the World Is Coming ToDexter Wansel1977
PZ 34488Unmistakably LouLou Rawls1977
PZ 34658End Of Phase IMFSB1977
PZ 34659Let's Clean Up The GhettoVarious Artists1977
PZ 34684Travelin' at the Speed of ThoughtO'Jays1977
ZX 34728Disco ChampsTrammps1977
JE/PE 34835Goin' PlacesJacksons1977
PZ 34855Hard Not To Like ItArchie Bell & the Drells1977
PZ 34923Only The Strong SurviveBilly Paul1977
PZ 34940Philadelphia ClassicsVarious Artists1977
PZ 34985VoyagerDexter Wansel1978
PZ 34986Happy To Be With YouJean Carn1978
PGZ 35024/Z 2-35024The O'Jays: Collectors' ItemsO'Jays1977
JZ35036When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It AllLou Rawls1977
JZ35095Life Is a Song Worth SingingTeddy Pendergrass1978
JZ/PZ 35355So Full of LoveO'Jays1978
JZ35363Turn Me LoosePeople's Choice1978
JZ35458Past, Present And The FuturesFutures1978
JZ35509Rush HourBobby Rush1978
JZ35510Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love YouJerry Butler1978
JZ35516MFSB: The Gamble & Huff OrchestraMFSB1978
PZ 2-35517LiveLou Rawls1978
JZ35756First ClassBilly Paul1979
JZ35757The Jones GirlsJones Girls1979
JZ35758Edwin BirdsongEdwin Birdsong1979
JZ35800McFadden & WhiteheadMcFadden & Whitehead1979
FZ36003TeddyTeddy Pendergrass1979
JZ/PZ 36006Let Me Be Good to YouLou Rawls1979
JZ36007Michael Pedicin Jr.Michael Pedicin Jr.1979
JZ36024Time Is Slipping AwayDexter Wansel1979
FZ36027Identify YourselfO'Jays1979
JZ36036FrantiqueFrantique1979
JZ36096StrategyArchie Bell & the Drells1979
JZ36097The ForceForce1979
JZ36196When I Find You LoveJean Carn1979
JZ36294Live! Coast to CoastTeddy Pendergrass1979
JZ/PZ 36304Sit Down and Talk to MeLou Rawls1979
JZ36313The Harris MachineNorman Harris1980
Z 2-36314Best Of Billy PaulBilly Paul1980
JZ36370Dee DeeDee Dee Sharp1980
JZ36413The Best LoveJerry Butler1980
JZ36414Greetings Of PeaceFutures1981
JZ36745TPTeddy Pendergrass1980
JZ36758Here to Create MusicLeon Huff1980
JZ36767At Peace with WomanJones Girls1980
JZ36774Shades of BlueLou Rawls1980
FZ/PZ 37380The Spirit's in ItPatti Labelle1981
FZ37491It's Time for LoveTeddy Pendergrass1981
FZ37627Get as Much Love as You CanJones Girls1981
FZ37683Live On StageVarious Artists1982
FZ37684Best Of Philadelphia InternationalVarious Artists1982
FZ379551982The Stylistics1982
FZ37999My Favorite PersonO'Jays1982
FZ38118This One's For YouTeddy Pendergrass1982
FZ/PZ 38518When Will I See You AgainO'Jays1983
FZ38539I'm in Love AgainPatti Labelle1983
FZ38555Keep It Comin'Jones Girls1984
FZ38646Heaven Only KnowsTeddy Pendergrass1983
FZ39251Greatest HitsO'Jays1984
FZ39252Greatest HitsTeddy Pendergrass1984
PZ 39254Philadelphia International Dance Classics, Vol. IVarious Artists1984
PZ 39255Philly Ballads, Volume IVarious Artists1984
FZ39285ClassicsLou Rawls1984
FZ39367Love And MoreO'Jays1984
FZ40020PattiPatti Labelle1985
ST-53015Love FeverThe O'Jays1985
ST-53028The Whitehead BrothersKenny & Johnny1986
ST-53029Living All AlonePhyllis Hyman1986
ST-53031Always In The MoodShirley Jones1986
ST-53036Let Me Touch YouO'Jays1987
11006-1Prime of My LifePhyllis Hyman1991
11008-1UniverseUniverse1991
11023-1I Salute YouThe Dells1992
11040-1I Refuse to Be LonelyPhyllis Hyman1995
30902Forever with YouPhyllis Hyman1998
gollark: https://osmarks.net/osbill/ ← my blog post
gollark: Well, the new bill would actually give them ridiculously broad powers regarding any "harmful content".
gollark: They made a law saying they would, then quietly dropped it after it was deemed impractical, and are now trying to reintroduce it in the ominously named Online Safety Bill.
gollark: Sort of?
gollark: Zimbardo actively intervened to try and worsen things.

References
  1. "Starter: Philadelphia International Records". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  2. Hardy, Charles. "Recording Industry | Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia". philadelphiaencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  3. Neal, Mark. "Who Owns the (Philadelphia) Soul of Black Music?". The Root. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  4. Hardy, Phil (2001). "The faber companion to 20th century popular music". Faber and Faber ltd.
  5. Morrison, Jim. "Forty Years of Philadelphia Sound". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  6. CNN
  7. Seay, Toby (1 June 2012). "Capturing That Philadelphia Sound: A Technical Exploration Of Sigma Sound Studios". Journal on the Art of Record Production (6). Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  8. http://www.soultracks.com/story-bobby-martin-dies Bobby Martin obituary
  9. Bobby Martin discography at Discogs
  10. "Thunder (2)".
  11. "Past Winners Search". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  12. "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". rockhall.com. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  13. Philly.com (Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News website) article on conviction of arsonist Retrieved 2011-06-09
  14. Vince Lattanzio: Iconic Philadelphia International Records Building Being Demolished, April 18, 2015, NBC10.com.
  15. "Kenneth Gamble". www.gamble-huffmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  16. "Philly Soul | Music Highlights | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  17. Freeland, David (2001). "[Part Three: Introduction]". Ladies of Soul. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 103–105. ISBN 9781578063314. JSTOR j.ctt2tv6sv.11.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.