EDWARD'S LECTURE NOTES:
More notes at http://tanguay.info/learntracker
C O U R S E
History of Rock, 1970-Present
John Covach, University of Rochester
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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Philadelphia Sound and Soul Train Notes taken on April 30, 2015 by Edward Tanguay |
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Philadelphia Sound
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Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
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had been independent producers in 60s
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working like Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
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writers of such crossover hit songs such as "Hound Dog"
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Black Pop and Funk start to have commercial potentiality
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CBS strikes a deal with Gamble and Huff
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established Philadelphia International Records
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characteristics
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lyrical vocals
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driving rhythm section
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elegant string arrangements
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something like "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
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lush string sound
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not all slow songs
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roots in the drifters and Benny King
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artists
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Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
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1972 If You Don't Love Me By Now
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slow ballad
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mellow and polished
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soulful lead vocals
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polished, elegant string arrangement
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was #3 hit in 1972, the chances of you ever hearing it on FM rock radio was extremely remote
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the only time a Rock-n-Roller might have heard this would be if they got in their car and somebody had left the radio on an AM station
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Billy Paul
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1972 Me and Mrs. Jones
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Lou Rawls
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1976 You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
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an up-tempo ballad with a Latin feel
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very big on AM radio
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O'Jays
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1972 Back Stabbers
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clear influences from Motown sound
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1973 Love Train
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calling out various cities in the world
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MFSB
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Mother, Father, Sister, Brother
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backing band that played on a lot of the recordings
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Gamble and Huff had their writing, producers and performers
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1974 TSOP
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the Sound of Philadelphia
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instrumental track
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became the theme for the television show Soul Train
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Thom Bell
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also worked with Gamble and Huff
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but produced his own
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The Spinners
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1972 I'll Be Around
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1972 Could Be I'm Falling in Love
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The Stylistics
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a few of the hits were written by Thom Bell
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1972 Betcha By Golly Wow
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1974 You Make Me Feel Brand New
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Philadelphia Sound was in terms of placement on AM radio charts very successful
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Soul Train
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television show
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like the black version of American Bandstand
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important to establish bands
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1970 debuted in Chicago
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originally sponsored by Sears
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targeted a black audience
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African American music listeners
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sponsored by Don Cornelius
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the Dick Clark of black music
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1971 national syndication
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moved to Los Angeles
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sponsored by Johnson Products
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wanted to promote hair care products for African Americans
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ran for 35 years until 2006
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it still holds the record for the longest running television show in syndication