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Wednesday, 20 March 2024

"When Love Is New" by BILLY PAUL – December 1975 US LP on Philadelphia International (January 1976 in the UK) featuring Gamble/Huff Songs and Dexter Wansel Arrangements (April 2010 UK Edsel CD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...


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"...Please...Let The Dollar Circulate…"

Largely forgotten now in the pantheon of Seventies Soul - Billy Paul's "When Love Is New" is part of a mid-price CD reissue series of Philadelphia International albums by Demon's EDSEL label in the UK (see List below). Most of the albums seem to be focusing on the year 1975. Here are the details the Billy Paul entry…

UK released April 2010 - "When Love Is New" by BILLY PAUL on Edsel EDSM0003 (Barcode 740155000332) is a no-frills CD Remaster of that popular 7-track American Soul album and plays out as follows (37:43 minutes):

1. People Power [Side 1]
2. America (We Need The Light)
3. Let The Dollar Circulate
4. Malorie
5. When Love Is New [Side 2]
6. I Want'cha Baby 
7. Let's Make A Baby 
Tracks 1 to 7 are a straightforward reissue (no bonus tracks) of the LP "When Love Is New" released December 1975 on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33843 in the USA and January 1976 on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 69207 in the UK. It was his 5th album for the famous Soul label and peaked at Number 17 on the US R 'n' B charts (did not chart UK). 

The 12-page booklet provides you with production credits and superb liner notes by noted soul expert TONY ROUNCE. But the real deal is in the sound. The CD has been mastered by TALL ORDER of the UK and the sound quality is truly fantastic (Rounce name checks this). Clear, ballsy and wonderfully detailed - the remaster allows the lush GAMBLE & HUFF production values to really shine. 

The album seems to be a tale of two halves - Side 1 has 3 socially conscious tunes in a row ending with a slightly upbeat 4th ditty ("Marjorie"), while Side 2 is a full-on lover man suite with all 3 songs provided by label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. 

My personal favourite (and recently sampled by rap/soul artists Jay Dilla, Steve Spacek and Cartie) is "Let The Dollar Circulate" (lyrics above) which is a brilliantly funky tune with a top 'message' that unfortunately reverberates to this day. I also like the album opener too "People Power" - which is arranged by jazz-funk favourite Dexter Wansel. 

As the years have passed by, some Soul fans have deemed Billy Paul to be just a little too lightweight to be taken seriously. But I'd say this album should be revisited so as to change that opinion. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination - but there are goodies on here - and they now have superlative sound and a dirt-cheap price tag thrown in… 

Other UK-issued 2010 CD titles in the 
Demon/Edsel Series of Philly Reissues:

1. Dance Your Troubles Away - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (1975) – released 9 August 2010 on Edsel EDSM0006 (Barcode 740155000639)

2. Wake Up Everybody...Plus - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (1975) – released 9 April 2010 on Edsel EDSM0002 (Barcode 740155000233) – Includes 11-minute 1977 Tom Moulton Remix of Don't Leave Me This Way as a Bonus Track

3. Philadelphia Freedom - M.F.S.B. (1975) [was due Summer 2010 on Edsel EDSM0005 but is unreleased]

4. Family Reunion...Plus - THE O'JAYS (1975) – released 12 April 2010 on Edsel EDSM0001 (Barcode 740155000134) – Includes near 10-minute 1977 Tom Moulton Remix if I Love Music as a Bonus Track

5. The Three Degrees Live [aka Live In London] (1975) - THE THREE DEGREES – released April 2010 on Edsel EDSM0004 (Barcode 740155000431)

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