Neapolitan

I don't post a lot in this section, I'm not into Contemporary R&B, one style of Soul I really like but hardly gets mentioned is Philadelphia Soul. Most of the vocal groups, songwriters, musicians came from and recorded in Philadelphia in the late 60's arly 70's, actually Philly Soul really influence a lot of groups, and musical styles that came after it, like Disco, boy bands of the 80s. It did get some recognition in 2008 when Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff were inducted in the Rock n Roll HoF. I am glad they got they got noticed, I really don't know how popular those old vocal groups from Philadelphia are, like The Del-fonics, Horlad Melvin and the Blue Notes, Blue Magic.

Strictly speaking the Chi-lites are from Chicago. And artist like Todd Rundgren and Hall & Oates are sometimes considered Philadelphia Soul, but I don't, it's just because they come from the area, imo vocal groups are the real deal when it comes to Philly Soul.

here are some of my favorite songs,



just a side note, I thought the thread "Northern Soul" was going to talk about Soul in the northern cities of the US, I was slightly disappointed when I found out it wasn't, so this one is dedicated to you R-T.

gandhara

nice post. definately have to agree the Philly Sound was great.

my favorite vocal groups from Philly is Blue Magic and the Blue Notes

right-track

Funnily enough the Philly Sound has a big place in the Northern Soul scene Neapolitan.
The music coming out of Philadelphia from the mid to late 60's in particular was astounding.
Here's 3 of my favourite Philly acts;

Cindy Scott in particular. She began singing and writing her own songs as young as 14.

barbarella

Thanx For Posting this Thread!!

This Is My Absolute Favourite Delfonics Track

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Below Zero.

Neapolitan

R-T,
that's stuff I don't even know, I have to watch the related videos on youube, when I get time. I looked up the groups youposted, there was little I could find out about them, Patti and The Emblems came from Camden, New Jersey.

barbarella,
that's a great song by the Delfonics,




With oldies, it's hard to find the original song with a good video that goes along with the song, that's not a home-made cheesy video. If I see a half decent live version on youtube of a song I rather post that then a still-frame. Plus you see the group in action. I particularly like the way this one is done.

right-track

Hardly surprisng that you may not have heard of them as Northern Soul pretty much deals with rare songs almost by definition.
Patty and the Emblems had a top 10 hit on local Philly radio stations in 1964 with a song called 'Mixed Up, Shook Up, Girl' and are considered part of the Philly Sound by Northern Soulies.
An association not dissimilar to the Chicago based Chi Lites that you described, I suppose?

Here it is...'Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl'.
Try and ignore the dance style, it's out of sync and doesn't fit the music.


Honey and the Bees were an all girl quartet with great soulful harmonies, so this tune might better fit the vocal style you prefer;



This is the kind of stuff they're liked on the NS scene for.
Uptempo and danceable. 'Dynamite Exploded';

Rx Tone

Yes indeed. Great thread. Thanks for the memories.
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and the Chi Lites were as smooth as it gets.

VEGANGELICA

I was intrigued by the information that Cindy Scott was writing and singing songs at age 14, so I decided to try to learn more about what makes some of her music "Philadelphia Soul." The Youtube video you posted last year ago isn't active now, so I don't know which song it was.

I did find out that Cindy Scott (real name Sundray Tucker) was raised in Philadelphia, where Philly soul music had "funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns," and often a glockenspiel in the background (Wikipedia).

So, I decided to try to find a Cindy Scott song that I think has the Philly soul sound. I'd also like to be sure I can distinguish it from the Northern soul sound.

Sundray Tucker - If it was me. Now, I can definitely hear the "disco" in this song, and it has strings...and some bells. Is *this* Philly soul?




Cindy Scott and the Cousins - What are you doin' to me? Now, I don't think this is Philly soul. I don't know what it is. Her voice in this song reminds me of Cyndi Lauper, though. Of the three, this is my favorite, probably because I like Cyndi Lauper.




Cindy Scott - I love you baby. Now, I think this is Northern soul. Is that correct? It kind of has a bouncy, dancy beat, and I can imagine those Japanese dancers spinning around to this song.

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right-track

A solid Northern Soul standard along with the flip side 'In Your Spare Time', which is worth a listen if you like the A-side.

Philly soul has it's own distinctive sound which changed through the 60's into the 70's.
My attraction with Philly centres on the 60's sound and the upbeat tunes associated with the Northern Soul scene.
If it's fast paced and danceable, as a rule of thumb...it's 'Northern'. (More so if it's rare).

What you have to understand is that the term "Northern Soul" was coined to describe the kind of 60's R&B favoured in the soul clubs of northern England and has no bearing on the musics original locality.

Nice to see you're developing a taste for this brand of soul music Vegan.

VEGANGELICA

Thanks for the info, right-track. I was able to listen to "In Your Spare Time" and can definitely hear the bouncy, danceable beat and mood the song has, making it "Northern."

What was the song by Cindy Scott that you felt is more representative of Philly soul?

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