Ben Franklin Had Soul

The sound of Philly Soul

Stream online here:

Download for iTunes here:

Ben Franklin Had Soul

Philly Soul was one of the most popular forms of soul music in the early '70s. Building on the steady groove of Hi Records and Stax/Volt singles, Philly soul added sweeping strings, seductive horns, and lush arrangements to the deep rhythms. As a result, it was much smoother -- even slicker -- than the deep soul of the late '60s, but the vocals remained as soulful as any previous form of R&B. Philly soul was primary a producer's medium, as Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Thom Bell created the instrumental textures that came to distinguish the genre. That isn't to short-change the vocalists, since the Spinners, the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & he Blue Notes, and the Stylistics were among many fine soul singers with distinctive voices, but the sonic elements that made Philly soul distinctive were the creation of the producers. Gamble & Huff worked with the Delfonics, Archie Bell, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and the O'Jays; Bell produced the Spinners and the Stylistics, among others. The highly produced sound of Philly soul paved the way for the studio constructions of disco and urban contemporary R&B.

If you have any suggestions, bitches, gripes, complaints or praise, email Duke right here: Dukewilbury@gmail.com

Share

The tracks:

1. Expressway to Your Heart - The Soul Survivors 
2. Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
3. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
4. Do It Any Way You Wanna - People's Choice
5. For the Love of Money - The O'Jays
6. Only the Strong Survive - Jerry Butler
7. Maybe - The Three Degrees
8. You're the Reason Why - The Ebonys
9. Love T.K.O. - Teddy Pendergrass
10. Drowning in the Sea of Love - Joe Simon
11. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics
12. You Are Everything - The Stylistics
13. Ooh Child - Dee Dee Sharp Gamble
14. Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
15. I'll Be Around - The Spinners
16. I Can't Stop Dancing - Archie Bell & The Drells