The Northern Soul of Philadelphia
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Just when you start to think Goldmine are losing the plot they come up with a real peach of a release like this one. When I first read the sleeve notes I thought it was going to be a re-working of Kent's 'Ben Lees Philadelphia Story' because both compilations cover the same stable, but to my delight there was only an overlap of eight tracks (Nos 6, 11, 17, 18, 10, 16, 22 and 4). The rest I have never heard before. The sleeve notes confirm that of the nineteen remaining numbers seven have never been issued on CD whilst a further twelve have not been released in the UK. Not a bad ratio when so many 'new' compilations are just a re-packaging of old ones. As one would expect from a 'Northern' compilation all the tracks are mid to uptempo. For a 'soul' release it is unusual in the number of optimistic tracks it contains and leaves the listener in a happy frame of mind. The sleeve notes are excellent, not overcomplicated yet providing plenty of background information. Tracks worthy of particular note are 'Be Yourself' by 'Honey and the Bees' although I marginally prefer 'The Companions' version. The melodic 'I'm Happy Without You Baby' by is also excellent by Ann Byers as is the midtempo shuffler 'Love Is Gone' by Johnny Parker. I also liked the uptempo instrumental 'Call on Me' by the B & L Orchestra. Possibly the worst track is 'I'll Always Love You' by Cindy Gibson, but this could be a result of poor recording which left it sounding flat. None-the-less this is an album well worth buying, especially for aficionados of Philly Soul. Track Listing:- Be Yourself - Honey And The Bees I'm Not Gonna Cry Baby - Ann Byers Call on Me - The Persianettes I'm Happy Without You - Ann Byers Please Don't Ever Leave Me Baby - Patty And The Emblems Got No Time - Timmy And The Empires Dance Boy - The Cymbals Love Is Gone - Johnny Parker The Sound Of Music - Patty And The Emblems The New Boy - Joyce Bennett Treat Myself To A New Love - the Inspirations I'll Always Love You - Cindy Gibson Pretty One - The Rockmasters Two Can Play The Same Game - Honey And The Bees Dead End - Ann Byers I Want My Lovin' From You - Timmy And The Persianettes I'm Cuttin In - The Inspirations Love Will Come - Patty And The Emblems Lazy Lover - Cindy Scott Don't Hurt Me - Honey And The Bees Call On Me - B&L Orchestra I Can Feel It - The Inspirations I'm So Confused - Patty And The Emblems Do It Like You Mean It - Timmy And The Empires Girl You Sure Look Good - Johnny Parker But You Belong To Me - The Intruders Hearsay - J. T. Parker And The Four Masters All You Can Do - Roy Calhoun |
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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