If the Sixties belonged to Motown, the
Seventies R&B scene was dominated by the Sound of Philadelphia. The much
loved and totally identifiable Sound of Philadelphia combined propulsive
grooves with sophisticated and lush orchestral arrangements, classic
songwriting, smooth choreography, and airtight harmonies that were delivered by
superb vocalists. This music was epitomized by the perfection of romantic soul
ballads, which through the years were sung by many of the finest tenor voices
in the history of R&B. Drawing on the fertile and unique Philadelphia vocal
tradition sung by the likes of The Dreamers, The Castelles, Lee Andrews &
The Hearts, Barbara Mason and the Intruders, and such celebrated groups as The
Stylistics, The Delfonics and Blue Magic, the storied Sound of Philadelphia
made an unforgettable string of classic recordings that were heard and loved
around the world.
Although first released in 2007, this is the first we've heard of this recording. The Philadelphia Sound is reborn on this historic recording featuring the lead vocalists from
three iconic groups of Philly's golden era: The Stylistics' Russell Thompkins
Jr., The Delfonics' William 'Poogie' Hart and Blue Magic's Ted Mills. The Three
Tenors- All the Way From Philadelphia will mark the first time that these
dynamic vocalists have ever been captured on record with one another. Having
influenced legions of singers, these legendary tenors brought the world such
timeless R&B anthems as "Betcha' By Golly Wow," "La La Means
I Love You," "Sideshow," "People Make The World Go
Round" and so many other platinum selling classics. The Three Tenors of
Soul are joined on All The Way From Philadelphia by an all-star line-up that
includes fellow Philly stars Hall & Oates and Bilal. This remarkable
session also features the famed Scottish funk and R&B group The Average
White Band. This long-awaited recording is produced by Bobby Eli of
Philadelphia International fame who penned the timeless hit
"Sideshow" and who either played on, wrote, arranged or produced
scores of hits that helped to define the Philadelphia Sound. All of the music
featured on All The Way From Philadelphia is close to the hearts of all those
involved with the session. Ted Mills shares, "The golden years of
Philadelphia music came from fabulously talented songwriters and musical
arrangers who moved the body and artists who stole hearts and touched souls
when they sang. Those who have loved our music for so many years will find a
crucial link between songs that were heartfelt long ago, and a new surge of
pulsating romance music that is hypnotic and magnetic. We are ready to move a
new generation of lovers!"
3 Tenors Of SoulThree Tenors of Soul - All The Way From
Philadelphia is the completion of a dream for producer Bobby Eli. "For a
long time I have wanted to put together a sort of super group featuring three
falsetto voices that were well known during the 70s," says Eli. "The
top three groups that epitomize the sweet soul sound of Philadelphia are the
Delfonics, Stylistics and Blue Magic. Each of the guys - William, Russell and
Ted - have their own distinct sound. Although all are natural tenors, they each
bring to the plate their own identity. The trick was getting songs that would
work with all three and I think I have nailed it!"
All The Way From Philadelphia showcases a refreshing mix of
newly energized R&B classics as well as one Hall & Oates original, the
title track, which has never been recorded. The tracks on the CD feature all
three tenors either as a group or one as the lead while the others harmonize
background vocals. Russell Thompkins Jr.'s smooth and refined tenor takes the
lead on such stellar versions of Barry Gibb's "Too Much Heaven," The
Average White Band's "A Love of Your Own" and Yvette Davis' "How
Could I Let You Get Away," a song that Russell Thompkins Jr. has long
wanted to record and that was originally recorded by the Spinners. Ted Mills'
sensual and soulful vocals are showcased on Maurice White's classic
"Fantasy," from Earth, Wind & Fire's triple platinum selling All
'N All LP, as well as on "Grateful" an original by producer Bobby Eli
co-written with Vinnie Barrett. All three tenors shine on such classics as Hall
& Oates' #1 1981 hit "I Can't Go for That" which also features
Hall & Oates as does the title track. The three tenors also coalesce on the
Gamble & Huff gem "Where Are All My Friends" which was a hit for
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes and the Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer
Sager's "That's What Friends Are For," originally sung by Rod Stewart
for the soundtrack of Ron Howard's film Night Shift but which is far better
known by Dionne Warwick's cover with Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie
Wonder.
All The Way From Philadelphia is a sort of mutual admiration
society, as all of the musicians have listened to and enjoyed one another's
music over the years. Russell Thompkins. Jr. states, "When I was coming up
there were a number of tenors that influenced me like Eddie Kendricks, Smokey
Robinson and Ron Tyson. One of my earliest influences however was William
"Poogie" Hart. In fact one of the first TV shows I did back in 1967
or '68 I sang one of his songs, 'La La Means I Love You.' Working on this
project has been great. Ted brings an extremely nice high tenor to the music
and his ideas about harmony are really wonderful. William brings experience and
he is just William! I can sing all the parts from baritone and second tenor and
I try to do all of them on this project. From the very first time I head about
the idea of recording this album and the opportunity of working alongside Bobby
Eli, Ted Mills and William 'Poogie Hart,' I knew that this CD would be
something great and that history would be made."
3 Tenors Of SoulHeralded as the Philadelphia group with the
'sweet love songs,' The Stylistics was formed in 1966 after the two groups,
"The Percussions" and "The Monarchs," merged under the
guidance of their English teacher, Beverly Hamilton. The original Stylistics
featured vocalists Russell Thompkins Jr., James Dunn, Herbert Murrell, Airrion
Love and James Smith. The legendary quintet recorded their first song,
"You're a Big Girl Now," at the local Philly recording studio, Virtue
Recording. It was first released locally and before long it had became a number
1 hit in Philadelphia and soon elsewhere. Beginning in 1971 with their hit
single "You're a Big Girl Now," The Stylistics continued to exist at
the top of the charts with 12 consecutive top- ten soul hits, including
"You Make Me Feel Brand New" and "Break Up To Make Up." The
group's self-titled debut was produced by Thom Bell and included such hits as
"Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart," "You Are Everything"
and "Betcha By Golly Wow." With a vast catalog of hits, multiple gold
and platinum albums, The Stylistics earned a plaque on the Walk of Fame in
Philadelphia in 1994. A decade later, they were inducted into the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame.
One of the quintessential soul groups of the late 60s and
70s and one of the early groups to team up with producer Thom Bell, The
Delfonics ruled the charts with such R&B hits as "La La Means I Love
You," "Ready or Not" and the Grammy-winning "Didn't I (Blow
Your Mind This Time)". Formed in the early 1960s by brothers William
"Poogie" and Wilbert Hart, along with schoolmate Randy Cain (who was
later replaced by Major Harris). Many of the Delfonics' hits were written by
William "Poogie" Hart whose natural upper register is a trademark of
the group.
Born in the nation's capital and raised in the City of
Brotherly Love, Hart was inspired early on by the recordings of Frankie Lyman
& The Teenagers and Little Anthony & The Imperials.
Blue Magic was originally formed in Philadelphia in 1973 and
featured Ted 'Wizard' Mills (who wrote such classics for Blue Magic as
"What's Come Over Me" and "Spell on My Mind"), Vernon
Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith 'Duke' Beaton and Richard Pratt. They signed to
Atlantic Records in 1973 and a year later enjoyed crossover success with the
Bobby Eli hit "Sideshow," which topped the soul charts and made it to
ten on the pop charts. Some of Blue Magic's memorable hits that followed
include "Stop to Start," "Chasing Rainbows," "What's
Come Over Me" and the dance tune "Magic of the Blue."
All The Way From Philadelphia come the three tenors and what
a long way they have traveled. Once the Three Tenors called to mind Placido
Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti but now with the with the release
of All The Way From Philadelphia three more legendary tenors are ready to take
center stage and claim the throne. Russell Thompkins Jr., Ted 'Wizard' Mills
and William 'Poogie' Hart, will forever change the way you hear tenors. From
Philly to the world, let soul live on!
http://www.saveoursoul.nl/artists/features/three-tenors-of-soul.html
http://www.saveoursoul.nl/artists/features/three-tenors-of-soul.html
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