"I Miss You [as "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" in the UK]/Black & Blue/To Be True/Wake Up Everybody" by HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES – Four US Soul and R&B Albums originally released on Philadelphia International Records in August 1972 (February 1973 UK), September 1973 (same UK), February 1975 (March 1975 UK) and November 1975 (January 1976 UK) – Featuring Harold Melvin, Teddy (Theodore) Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, Lloyd Parks and Jerry Cummings on Vocals, MFSB as the Backing Band, Sharon Paige on Guest Vocals (To Be True LP) with Production, Arrangements and Songwriting Contributions from Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, Lenny Pakula, Vince Montana and more (May 2026 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Compilation – Four Albums On Two Discs Series – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)…"

RATINGS:

Overall: ***** All Albums Are Good with Many Huge No.1 R&B Hits

Presentation: **** Charles Waring 24-Page Booklet, Card Slipcase

Audio: **** to ***** Quality New 2026 Remasters by Andrew Thompson

Like the O'Jays, Billy Paul, Dexter Wansel and MFSB sets in this fabulous series of Audio and Presentation twofer winners (see my separate reviews for all those sets) – we are now hit with the smooth heartache sound of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes featuring Teddy 'Theodore' Pendergrass pre his solo lurve career.

BGOCD1572 also includes the "To Be True" album that is hard to find on digital in general and the version of their debut called "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" in Blighty as opposed to "I Miss You" in America.

Philly fans will know that Big Break Records of the UK have done the "I Miss You", "Black & Blue" and "To Be True" US albums before on tasty 2016 Remasters – each as individual 'Expanded Edition' CDs complete with hard-to-find seven-inch single edits. Edsel did "Wake Up Everybody" in April 2009 with one bonus Tom Moulton remix. This latest 8 May 2026 Melvin motherload from England's Beat Goes On Records (BGO for short) strips away the extras and offers punters just the albums - four US Billboard charters by the Soul superstars who were part of Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records label empire.

The Third and Fourth famously made No.1 on the US R&B LP charts in 1975 - while the Debut hit No.4 in 1972 and its follow-up No.5 in 1973 (massive sales back in the Seventies day). This newly remastered card slipcase 2CD compilation is also part of BGO's Four Albums On Two Discs Series as mentioned above (see full list below). To the details - the Loves I Lost and the Satisfaction Guaranteed (yeah baby)…

UK released Friday, 8 May 2026 - "I Miss You/Black & Blue/To Be True/Wake Up Everybody" by HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES on Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727) is a Compilation that offers Four Albums Remastered On Two Discs (originally on Philadelphia International Records in the USA and UK (1972 to 1976) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:59 minutes, 15 Tracks):
1. I Miss You [8:31 minutes, Full Album Version]
2. Ebony Woman
3. Yesterday I Had The Blues [7:25 minutes, Full Album Version]
4. If You Don't Know Me By Now [Side 2]
5. Be For Real [7:31 minutes, Full Album Version]
6. Let Me Into Your World
7. Let It Be You
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "I Miss You" released August 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 31648 and February 1973 in the UK on CBS Records S 65350 as "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" (with the same track list). It was reissued again in June 1974 in the UK as "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" on Philadelphia International S PIR 65934. Peaked at No.4 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts – No.53 on the Billboard Pop LP charts. Three of the 45s from the album are edited versions – not available on this BGO 2CD release

8. Cabaret [Side 1]
9. The Love I Lost
10. It All Depends On You
11. Concentrate On Me
12. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)
13. Is There A Place For Me [Side 2]
14. I'm Weak For You
15. I'm Coming Home Tomorrow
Tracks 8 to 15 are their second studio album "Black & Blue" - released September 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32407 (initially credited as "Black & Blue Featuring: The Love I Lost") and September 1973 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65859 (reissued June 1974 with the same catalogue number). It peaked at No.5 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts, No.57 on the US Billboard Pop LP charts.
For Albums 1 and 2 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes were:
Vocalists Harold Melvin, Teddy (Theodore) Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown and Lloyd Parks - MFSB was the Backing Band

CD2 (77:39 minutes, 15 Tracks):
1. Where Are All My Friends [Side 1]
2. To Be True
3. Pretty Flower
4. Hope That We Can Be Together Soon
5. Nobody Could Take Your Place [Side 2]
6. Somewhere Down The Line
7. Bad Luck
8. It's All Because Of A Woman
Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "To Be True" – released February 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 33148 and March 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80399 – credited initially as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring Theodore Pendergrass. It peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts and No.26 on the Billboard Pop album charts. Sharon Paige shares Duet Vocals on the No.1 R&B hit "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon" and MFSB were the Backing Band – same line-up as albums 1 & 2.

9. Wake Up Everybody [Side 1]
10. Keep On Lovin' You
11. You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good
12. Don't Leave Me This Way [Side 2]
13. Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby
14. To Be Free To Be Who You Are
15. I'm Searching For A Love
Tracks 9 to 15 are the album "Wake Up Everybody" - released November 1975 on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33808 in the USA and January 1976 on Philadelphia International Records PIR 69193 in the UK. It was their 4th and final studio LP for the famous soul label and easily their most successful and fondly remembered, reaching the coveted Number 1 spot on the US R 'n' B charts for Christmas 1975 and No.9 on the US Billboard Pop LP charts (the album spawned three singles). Sharon Paige does Duet Vocals on "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" and "I'm Searching For A Love". Line-up the same as albums 1 to 3 except that Lloyd Parks is replaced with Jerry Cummings.

The card slipcase looks well tasty and you cannot argue on the value-for-money front (lengthy playing times on both discs), considering that individual CDs of these albums have been deleted for years and regularly pass the £12 to £15 price-barrier per disc. Beat Goes On and resident Soul/Jazz liner-notes author CHARLES WARING (of Mojo and Record Collector) do their usual bang-up job of repro'ing the front and rear sleeve artwork in the chunky 24-page booklet (albeit much of it in black and white). Waring reports on their meteoric rise from a 1970 vocal ensemble to the glory years of 1972 and 1973 when Philadelphia International Records (with Gamble & Huff and MFSB) became Hitsville Central - sidling up alongside Motown and Stax as the new Soul Music kids in town. And of course, the inevitable double-billing of Teddy Pendergrass as their charismatic main Lead Vocalist over Harold - the inevitable acrimony that saw Pendergrass leave and go solo after the "Wake Up Everybody" album went to No.1 R&B in 1975. And then, how the others left too – reducing The Blues Notes at one stage in 1975 and 1976 to only a duo of originals. Sharon Paige and her duet vocals are discussed too, and on to Melvin's ABC Records signing in the late Seventies. A hugely informative read as always. 

The real fireworks comes from new 2026 Remasters at Sound Performance Studios in London by ANDREW THOMPSON – this 2CD-retrospective sounds amazing. And though true fans would have killed for those seven-inch single edits that often brought unwieldy seven-and-eight-minute albums versions under shorter version control, as you can see, there is no room on either disc. Worth a mention. To the music and the history of the debut visa-vee this retrospective…

Some history on the first American LP is needed. The title of their US debut and its artwork will seem unusual even to the most ardent of British soul fans. Released in August 1972 in the USA as "I Miss You" with a smiley faces cover - the breakthrough single "If You Don't Know Me By Now" finally charted big in October of that year and was essentially the beginning of success for Gamble and Huff's heavily subsidized Philadelphia International label. The torch ballad's classy soulful feel caught the public's attention and affections immediately - eventually rising to Number 1 on the US R 'n' B charts (it reached No 9 in the UK Pop charts in January 1973 also). On the back of this success - both nationally and internationally - and to present a more sophisticated front - the album's name was changed to simply "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes". The reissue however (released November 1972 using the same US catalogue number) came in a new sleeve - the far-better and now familiar 'blue' photo artwork where the boys stand in classier suits and stare out at us in a more sombre and soulful way. The 'blue' sleeve artwork (which the British issue only ever used) is featured on the artwork and in the booklet of this BGO retrospective – ignoring entirely the original US artwork that bore the name "I Miss You". Bit of a boo-boo on the annotation front. 

CD1: that slight hiss that was on the opener "I Miss You" on other CD reissues is largely now gone - negligible at best - because once into the lengthy ballad, the Audio is gorgeous. And of course, the virtually uncredited presence of TEDDY PENDERGRASS on Lead Vocals lifts the Gamble & Huff songs and lush production values into the stratosphere (six of the 7 songs are penned by them). His monologue on "Be For Real" about social inequality and inner-city divides feels very Marvin Gaye circa "What's Going On" but with that Philly string sound thrown in. 
Their debut album (more commonly known as "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes") produced three 45-singles in the USA and two in the UK. May 1972 opened accounts with "I Miss You" split into a Part 1 on the A and Part 2 on the flipside of Philadelphia International ZS7 3516. Finally hitting the US R&B charts on 1 July 1972 – the Oh-I pleader eventually rose to No.5. But it was their September 1972 seven-inch single that dropped the Philly atom bomb with "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Sporting "Let Me In Your World" on the flipside of Philadelphia International ZS7 3520 – it entered the US Billboard R&B charts on the 14th of October 1972 and would quickly dominate – up to No.1. The UK's Soul-Rock Manchurians Simply Red famously covered it on their 1985 debut album giving this Philly monster a life for another three decades. As iconic as If You Don't is – and perhaps due to overplaying – I prefer 45-number-three - "Yesterday I Had The Blues". Edited down to a more manageable 3:47 minutes as opposed to the magnum opus LP version at 7:25 minutes – it made for a gorgeous pleader. Released March 1973, Philadelphia International ZS7 3525 entered the US R&B chart 7 April 1973 and rose to only No.13. Forgotten too is the you walk around with your head held up high smooch of "Let Me Into Your World" – featuring here with sumptuous audio.

Album number two "Black & Blue" (or "Black & Blue: Featuring The Love I Lost" as it was originally billed) really upped the Blue Notes game and Philly fortunes. Having said that, you have at first to get past the truly awful opener "Cabaret" - as in "Life is a cabaret..." (what were they thinking!) Luckily, thereafter you're straight into the full album version (6:26 minutes) of "The Love I Lost" and it's beautifully clear from its opening keyboards and vibes to the funky bass and strings throughout. Another track I love (and a bit of a forgotten soul nugget) is the 'so' soulful message song "Is There A Place For Me" which starts with the delightful lyrics "I've been married four times...and today I'm without a wife..." The next instalment "The Love I Lost" 45-single was released September 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS7 3533 and split the long song into a Part 1 and Part 2 A&B-side. It was an infectious rhythm and promptly Part 1 attained a No.1 R&B spot on the Billboard charts for 2 weeks across a huge 14-week run. Its follow-up in March 1974 was no slouch either - "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)" on Philadelphia International ZS7 3543 rose to No.6 and gave the parent album extra legs in 1974. Personally, I go to Side 2 for "I'm Weak For You" – gotta have those "…I Had To Leave You Alone But I'm So Weak…" lyrics as I drown in champagne beneath my mirror ball.

CD2: Album number three "To Be True" is rated by many as their best. MFSB channel their inner Three Degrees rhythms as "Where Are All My Friends" tells us a sorry tale of pals gone west once the wads dried up, Beverly Hills fly-by-nights fleecing poor Melvin’s stacks of cash leaving him with bills to pay and not a Cadillac to piss in. Things lift with the gentle strings and guitar flicks of the title track "To Be True" – Teddy already finding so many girls are knocking on his door when his lady is away (poor chap). McFadden, Whitehead and Greg Carstarphen provide the sweet love song "Pretty Flower" – our forlorn singer lingering on thoughts of his pretty gal and no lurve luncheonette within sight. Sharon Paige makes the first of two appearances on Duet Vocals for "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon". This gorgeous July 1975 US 45 made mincemeat of its competition – Philadelphia International ZS7 3569 rising to an R&B No.1 (their third). I had forgotten how sexily good this tune was/is. Speaking of pretty, the Gamble & Huff ballad "Somewhere Down The Line" may be the album’s secret gem – better for me than the catchy dancer "Bad Luck" that made No.4 on the US Billboard R&B single charts. The LP closes with a come-on slow anthem - "It's All Because Of A Woman" – another 5:26 minute TSOP high that I am sure deep-core fans reach for more than the famous hits.

Philly's ace songwriting team stepped up again for album number four "Wake Up Everybody" - John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen provided Tracks 1, 2, 5 and 6 - while label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff stumped up writing credits for tracks 3, 4 and 7 and produced the record with their usual lush MFSB arrangements. The lovely Sharon Paige is called back (after the preceding album success story) and provided duet vocals on "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" and "I'm Searching For Love". The force of smooch is strong in the fab "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good" – a sexy groover that has stood  a 50-year gap. But it was good old Theodore Teddy Pendergrass who shone with lead vocals on all tracks - especially the huge title track "Wake Up Everybody" (which effectively launched Pendergrass as a solo star – love that Disco groove build up as he begs pushers and dope dealers to quite their spreading of death. 

But for me one of the unheard gems on this album is Track 2 on Side 1, "Keep On Lovin' You" - as brilliant a Seventies soul tune as you can get (lyrics above). It's so good to hear it with such top sound quality. Niggles – as with the previous albums - both "Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby" and "Wake Up Everybody" were released as 7" singles with rare edit versions which AREN'T included as bonus tracks here - and I would have preferred those than the rather tiresome extension of the overly familiar "Don't Leave Me This Way". Other than that - this is a superb Philly album.

To sum up – great albums, quality digital transfers and barring the odd glitch, presentation that does these iconic LPs a proper solid. This May 2026 BGO grouping of four albums onto two 2CDs will be a must-own for all Harold Melvin, Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Sharon Paige, MFSB and Seventies Philly Sound fans. Five all the way...

Soul/Funk/Disco/Fusion and Philly Soul Titles In The

Beat Goes On (BGO) Records 'Four Albums On Two Discs' Soul & Fusion Series

UK issued 2CD Compilations in a Card Slipcase with Remasters

1. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Imagination/I Feel A Song/2nd Anniversary/The One And Only…"
Four US Albums originally issued on Buddah Records in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978
UK released 27 February 2026 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1567 (Barcode 5017261215673)

2. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Funky Serenity/Ramsey Lewis’ Newly Recorded, All-Time, Non-Stop Golden Hits [aka Golden Hits]/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess"
Four US Albums originally issued 1973 (two) and 1974 (two) on Columbia Records
UK released 18 May 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1335 (Barcode 5017261213358)

3. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Legacy/Ramsey/Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter"
Four US Albums originally issued 1978, 1979 and two in 1982 on Columbia Records
UK released 30 March 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1330 (Barcode 5017261213303)

4. THE MANHATTANS - "There's No Me Without You/That's How Much I Love You/The Manhattans/It Feels So Good"
Four US Albums originally issued on Columbia Records in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1557 (Barcode 5017261215574) 

5. HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (featuring Teddy Pendergrass) – "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring… (aka I Miss You)/Black And Blue/To Be True (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass)/Wake Up Everybody"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975 (Two)
UK released Friday, 8 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727)

6. MFSB - "MFSB/TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia (aka Love Is The Message)/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1973 (Two), and 1975 (Two) – Philly Backing Band feat Dexter Wansel
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758)

7. BUDDY MILES EXPRESS/BUDDY MILES
"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together"
Four US Albums originally issued 1968, 1969 and Two in 1970 on Mercury Records
UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from November 2021), Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683)

8. THE O'JAYS - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635)

9. BILLY PAUL – "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods"
Four US Albums originally issued on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973
UK released 7 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611)

10. TEDDY PENDERGRASS - "Teddy Pendergrass/Life Is A Song Worth Singing/Teddy/TP"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – Former Lead Vocalist in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1574 (Barcode 5017261215741)

11. LOU RAWLS - "All Things In Time/Unmistakably Lou/When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All/Let Me Be Good To You"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, Two in 1977 and One in 1979
UK released 3 October 2025, Beat Goes on BGOCD1560 (Barcode 5017261215604)

12. DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
UK released 10 March 2023, BGOCD1490 (Barcode 5017261214904)

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"MFSB/Love Is The Message/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom" by MFSB – Four US R&B and Soul Albums originally released on Philadelphia International Records in April 1973 (May 1973 UK), December 1973 (May 1974 UK), June 1975 (July 1975 UK) and November 1975 (January 1976 UK) – Featuring Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell and The Three Degrees with Production, Arrangements and Songwriting Contributions from Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurst, Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris and Tony Bell (May 2026 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Compilation – Four Albums On Two Discs Series – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

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This Review Along With A HUGE 356 Others Is Available In My

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HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95 (2026 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

RATINGS:

Overall: **** First Three Great Albums with One Later Dud

Presentation: **** Charles Waring 20-Page Booklet, All Artwork, Card Slipcase

Audio: **** to ***** Superb New 2026 Remasters by Andrew Thompson

"…The Sound Of Philadelphia…"

Like the O'Jays and the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes sets in this fabulous series of Audio and Presentation winners (see my separate review for those twofers) – we of the bellbottom jeans and groovy dancehall persuasion are hit with more Philly Lurve and Seventies Message Soul from those Mother Father Sister Brother hipsters - MFSB.

This May 2026 MFSB-load from England's Beat Goes On Records (BGO for short) is part of their Four Albums On Two Discs Series (see list below) offering punters no less than four US Billboard charters by the Philadelphia International inhouse band – MFSB. The second famously made No.1 on the R&B LP charts - while album three hit No.2 and the others a respectable No. 20 (Debut) and No. 14 (Fourth). These largely Instrumental Soul LPs were huge back in the day - Philadelphia International Records albums from 1973 to 1976 (US/UK) and onwards into the Disco era featuring the steership of two huge names in musical innovation - Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff - known to most of us music nuts as Gamble & Huff. To the details, Universal Love and the kind of Freedom only Philadelphia can offer…

UK released Friday, 22 May 2026 - "MFSB/Love Is The Message/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom" by MFSB on Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758) is a Compilation that offers Four Albums Remastered On Two Discs (originally on Philadelphia International Records in the USA and UK in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (65:24 minutes, 14 Tracks):
1. Freddie's Dead [Side 1]
2. Family Affair
3. Something For Nothing
4. Back Stabbers [Side 2]
5. Lay In Low
6. Poinciana
Tracks 1 to 6 are their Debut Album "MFSB" – released April 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32046 and May 1973 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65903. It peaked at No.20 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts. Track 1 is a Curtis Mayfield cover, Track 2 is a Sly and The Family Stone cover, Track 3 is a Kenneth Gamble, Roland Chambers and Thom Bell song, Track 4 is another cover - a huge hit for The O'Jays on Philadelphia International Records in 1972 written by Leon Huff and Gene McFadden & John Whitehead, Track 5 written by Carl Gilbert and Leon Huff, Track 6 is a 1936 Jazz Standard written by Nat Simon and Buddy Berner and made famous by Glenn Miller, Benny Carter and Bing Crosby

7. Zack's Fanfare [Side 1]
8. Love Is The Message
9. Cheaper To Keep Her
10. My One And Only Love
11. TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia
12. Zack's Fanfare (I Hear Music)
13. Touch Me In The Morning
14. Bitter Sweet
Tracks 7 to 14 are their second studio album "Love Is The Message" - released December 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32707 and as "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80154 in May 1974. It peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts.

CD2 (77:54 minutes, 19 Tracks):
1. Sexy [Side 1]
2. MFSB
3. Human Machine
4. Love Has No Time Or Place
5. T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care) [Side 2]
6. Let's Go Disco
7. K-Jee
8. My Mood
Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Universal Love" – released June 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 33158 and July 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 80410. It peaked at No.2 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts and No.4 on the Billboard Pop album charts.

9. Zack's Fanfare No.2 [Side 1]
10. Get Down With The Philly Sound
11. Philadelphia Freedom
12. South Philly
13. Ferry Avenue
14. Interlude 1 [Side 2]
15. When Your Love Is Gone
16. Morning Tears
17. Brothers And Sisters
18. Smile Happy
19. The Zip
Tracks 9 to 19 are their fourth studio LP "Philadelphia Freedom" - released November 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33845 and January 1976 in the UK on Philadelphia International Records PIR 69208 – Produced by GAMBLE and HUFF – it peaked at No.14 on US Billboard R&B LP charts

The card slipcase looks well tasty and you cannot argue on the value-for-money front, considering that individual CDs of these albums have been deleted for years and regularly pass the £12 to £15 price-barrier per disc. Beat Goes On and resident Soul/Jazz liner-notes author CHARLES WARING (of Mojo and Record Collector) do their usual bang-up job of repro'ing the front and rear sleeve artwork in the chunky 20-page booklet (albeit much of it in black and white). Waring talks on the new kids on the block taking a chart/heart dominant Motown and Stax by surprise in the early Seventies – Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records. 
Bankrolled by a deep-pockets Columbia – the two Songwriters, Arrangers and Producers (Gamble & Huff) signed a heap of commercially brill names (O’Jays, The Three Degrees, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Manhattans (later it would be Lou Rawls, Dexter Wansel and Teddy Pendergrass). 

For all this New Philly Soul – Gamble & Huff would need their very own Love Unlimited Orchestra inhouse band. But they figure, why not make them an item too – MFSB. And thus, begins Instrumental Soul (a nod to Isaac Hayes of course) and a chart success story that defied the odds. And - of course - best of all - you get kicking new Remasters from 2026 by ANDREW THOMPSON. Gamble and Huff produced their Philly boys well, and there isn't a moment when hearing this great Soul music on BGOCD1575 doesn't seriously impress. Nice...to the tunes...

CD1 opens with a wallop – Strings and Funk combine with a soloing Saxophone and an Organ Funky Groove for the Curtis Mayfield pusher-song "Freddie's Dead". This 7:11 minute instrumental-work-out sports fabulous audio as an array of soloists do their groove-thang - Lenny Pakula on Organ, Tony Williams on the Saxophone with Vince Montana on Vibes while Don Renadlo does those Horns and Strings. I had honestly forgotten what a vibing beast it is as a Debut LP opener – the fantastic arrangements building and building on that hypno-groove. "MFSB" the LP now serves up a shimmering Electric Piano instrumental for the Sly & The Family Stone classic - "Family Affair" (October 1971 US 45 on Epic 5-10805). At 4:20 minutes – it might feel shorter than its predecessor but man is it funkier – a version surely Sylvester Stone would approve of as Guitarists Fuzz-Funk alongside that Organ chug. Side 1 ends with "Something For Nothing" - their first original piece – a fabulous and huge movie-sounding swirl of Strings, Piano and pulsating Brass Jabs. Its 3:00 minutes of instrumental bravado would be used as a B-side for the "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" 45 in February 1974 that would give them their first Number 1. 

Side 2 of "MFSB" continues the winning run of covers with a 6:30-minute groove on The O'Jays winner - "Back Stabbers". A fantastic groove of Vibes and affects Guitar are anchoring by Earl Young drumming – and again the BGO audio puncing this superb instrumental re-work into your living room like it demands to be reheard and re-appreciated. Time to get down with the sheets and the lurve baby – in slinks a bedroom Blues of Saxophone and Vibes suitably baptised as "Lay It Low". By the time the Strings mosey into your subwoofers (about 1:50 minutes or so) – lurve resistance is futile and it's time to call the cot-makers. Onto sweeping old-skool panoramas with the 1936 Jazz Standard "Poinciana" – the album finisher and the first clunker for me – MFSB sounding like elevator muzak instead of the five instrumental winners that preceded it. There is respite in the piano soloing – but I always too the need off before I had to listen to any more. But – make no mistake – a stunning declaration of intent as a Debut. 

Album two picked up where the debut left off - "Love Is The Message" being an album of instrumentals. And again, some work - some don't - while others just feel like schlock ("My One And Only" and "Touch Me In The Morning") or filler ("Zack's Fanfare" which appears twice). In between are those great Philly dancers - and how good is it to hear the full album cut of "Love Is The Message" at 6:36 minutes. The chipper and almost note-for-note cover of Johnnie Taylor's "Cheaper To Keep Her" has always been a favourite of mine (he had a hit with it on Stax earlier in 1973). It ends on a high note with the brilliant Jack Faith and Bruce Hawes instrumental "Bitter Sweet" - as cool and as lovely as Philly gets. The February 1974 US 45 for "TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia" b/w "Something For Nothing" (from the Debut album) was a monster (Philadelphia International ZS7 3540). It entered the US R&B charts 16 March 1974 and was soon heading to the coveted No.1 slot where it enjoyed a total of a three-and-a-half-month chart stay – which in turn put the LP on the same number – top slot. Considering the success of that Philly winner - the follow-up June 1974 US 45-single which featured The Three Degrees providing the vocals - "Love Is The Message" b/w the album cut "My One And Only" - stalled at No. 42 (Philadelphia International ZS7 3547). They would have to wait until June 1975 for another Top 40 seven-inch with "Sexy" from the "Universal Love" album. To sum up - it's not all genius by any stretch of the imagination and I doubt the "Love Is The Message" album would make No. 1 on any R&B chart here in 2026 (53 years ago - MFSB were a sensation) - but what is on here now sounds stunning and if you're a fan of Seventies Soul or Philly – this a win.

CD2: In April 1975 (with the Vietnam War officially declared over by President Ford) – the last troops left Saigon and America was ready to party and feel good. You can see this in the sleeve of June 1975's "Universal Love" (MFSB was the in-house Soul Orchestra for Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International label). A sun rises on a vessel-less sea that has flowers of hope floating above it – a far cry from the cover art for MFSB's 2nd album "Love Is The Message" from December 1973 with its ugly skull soldier and atomic bomb explosion looming in the background (the self-titled debut album from April 1973 showed a syringe lying in a coffin - reflecting America’s inner-city slide into drugs).

Like the hugely successful predecessor "Love Is The Message" that achieved R&B No.1 in 1974 - the largely instrumental "Universal Love" album follow-up for 1975 contained more sexy rhythms and warm sways totally capturing the National zeitgeist and catapulting it up to No.2 on the American R&B charts and an impressive No. 4 on the US Pop charts. A point of order though first - super-fans will know that the "Universal Love" album spawned four 45s in the USA and UK – Sexy b/w Human Machine (May 1975 USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3567 – June 1975 UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 3381) – followed by T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care) b/w Love Has No Time Or Place (September 1975 USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3576 – no UK issue) – followed by Let's Go Disco b/w My Mood (stock copy) and Let's Go Disco (Album Version) [6] b/w Let's Go Disco (D.J. Short Version) - September 1975 UK-only on Philadelphia International S PIR 3635. Only the Demo/Promo version had a 'D.J. Short Version' on the B-side running to 2:37 minutes instead of the album's 4:18 minutes on the A. The final 45 was K-Jee b/w My Mood (March 1978 USA on Philadelphia International ZS8 3641 - May 1978 UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 6287 (the A-side is a single edit at 3:20 minutes while the album full version is 4:19 minutes – the B-side is the full album version at 4:15 minutes) on the back of its inclusion in the monster "Saturday Night Fever". I mention all these 45s because all had Single Edits – so completists will need the Big Break Records Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster from July 2015 (Big Break Records CDBBRX 0312 - Barcode 5013929061231) which I have also reviewed. 

To the music on "Universal Love" - primarily an 8-track instrumental LP with vocals only on "Love Has No Time Or Place" and "Let's Go Disco" – the emphasis was always going to be on the orchestral swirls, guitar licks, bass slaps, brass punches and that high-hat rhythm. This BGO 2CD set brings that out – fabulous audio panache. If I was to single out one track that showcases - the gorgeous album finisher "My Mood" is an instrumental that sounds like easy-listening Bacharach taken to another Soulful level. I've had this track on Philly compilations of old – but the audio off this beauty beats them all. Impressive. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff not surprisingly penned the two slick openers – the dancefloor friendly "Sexy" and "MFSB" (Mothers Fathers Sisters Brothers) and they sound fab. Ron Baker of the Salsoul Orchestra co-wrote "Human Machine" with Leon Huff and is a mid-tempo groove with great Steely Dan-ish guitar and keyboard flicks (feels like Disco all grown up and proud of itself). By the time you get to the six-minute "Love Has No Time Or Place" (written by Bruce Hawes and Cynthia Briggs) the group has reached a place of sophisticated excellence that is hard to resist – a perfect hybrid of Disco girl-vocals over George Benson Jazz guitar licks – all of it complimented by that shuffling Philly backbeat and the ever-present lush strings. It’s an impressive groove and frankly sexy too. Side 2 opens with "T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care)" – a jazzy slide in gives way to pure Philly bop – all high-hats, wah-wah guitars, brass and strings. We get a bit Funk with "Let's Go Disco" where they sound like Kool & The Gang and "K-Jee" is cool too –but my poison has always been the masterful Gamble & Huff slink of "My Mood" – a stunning instrumental that feels the ultimate Easy Listening Jazz cool.

By the time we reach LP No.4 from November 1975 - "Philadelphia Freedom" – MFSB were starting to tread water - Philly's inhouse backing band coming across as Tuxedo Soul without any actual Soul. Side 1 opens with another "Zack's Fanfare" (No.2) - only instead of a groover - it's a circus announcement with some backing - "Ladies and gentlemen, Gamble & Huff proudly presents..." The album proper starts with the barely passable funk of "Get Down With The Philly Sound" where suddenly MFSB sound like a knock-off of a bad Barry White covers band. Next up is their version of an Elton John 45-single winner - the track that gives the album its name "Philadelphia Freedom". But frankly it only makes you want to hear the EJ original. Dexter Wansel songs provide the album with a much-needed lift, but his "Where Is The Love Gone" is loaded with dated instrumentation. Far better is Wansel's "Morning Tears" - a Saxophone ballad that smooches along its string laden path rather nicely. And on it goes to three more cheesy installments - glory days over.

To sum up - the first three albums are cracker-lackin' but that fourth is almost unlistenable to me. Having said that, it's cool to have the Debut and the Fourth outing on CD at last - and in quality form. 

If you're looking for single edits and the likes - Big Break Records of the UK did excellent 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissues and Remasters of "Love Is The Message" and "Universal Love" back in September 2012. 

But for most - this May 2026 BGO grouping of four albums onto two 2CDs with great annotation and toppermost Audio will be a must-own for all MFSB and Seventies Philly Sound fans…way to go...

Soul/Funk/Disco/Fusion and Philly Soul Titles In The 

Beat Goes On (BGO) Records 'Four Albums On Two Discs' Series

UK issued 2CD Compilations in a Card Slipcase with Remasters

1. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Imagination/I Feel A Song/2nd Anniversary/The One And Only…"
Four US Albums originally issued on Buddah Records in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978
UK released 27 February 2026 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1567 (Barcode 5017261215673)

2. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Funky Serenity/Ramsey Lewis’ Newly Recorded, All-Time, Non-Stop Golden Hits [aka Golden Hits]/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess"
Four US Albums originally issued 1973 (two) and 1974 (two) on Columbia Records
UK released 18 May 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1335 (Barcode 5017261213358)

3. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Legacy/Ramsey/Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter"
Four US Albums originally issued 1978, 1979 and two in 1982 on Columbia Records
UK released 30 March 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1330 (Barcode 5017261213303)

4. THE MANHATTANS - "There's No Me Without You/That's How Much I Love You/The Manhattans/It Feels So Good"
Four US Albums originally issued on Columbia Records in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1557 (Barcode 5017261215574) 

5. HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (featuring Teddy Pendergrass) – "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring… (aka I Miss You)/Black And Blue/To Be True (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass)/Wake Up Everybody"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975 (Two)
UK released Friday, 8 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727)

6. MFSB - "MFSB/TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia (aka Love Is The Message)/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1973 (Two), and 1975 (Two) – Philly Backing Band - Guests featuring Gamble & Huff, The Three Degrees and Dexter Wansel
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758)

7. BUDDY MILES EXPRESS/BUDDY MILES
"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together"
Four US Albums originally issued 1968, 1969 and Two in 1970 on Mercury Records
UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from November 2021), Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683)

8. THE O'JAYS - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635)

9. BILLY PAUL – "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods"
Four US Albums originally issued on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973
UK released 7 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611)

10. TEDDY PENDERGRASS - "Teddy Pendergrass/Life Is A Song Worth Singing/Teddy/TP"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – Former Lead Vocalist in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1574 (Barcode 5017261215741)

11. LOU RAWLS - "All Things In Time/Unmistakably Lou/When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All/Let Me Be Good To You"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, Two in 1977 and One in 1979
UK released 3 October 2025, Beat Goes on BGOCD1560 (Barcode 5017261215604)

12. DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
UK released 10 March 2023, BGOCD1490 (Barcode 5017261214904) 

"Chameleon/Conquistador/Hot" by MAYNARD FERGUSON – Albums from 1974, 1977 and 1979 on Columbia Records (October 2015 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

https://link.amazon/B00BEJ4sA

--------------------------------------------------

This Review Along With A HUGE 356 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95 (2026 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Superbone Horn..."

While many of his Fifties contemporaries would probably have burst a capillary artery rather than succumb to commercialism – Maynard Ferguson donned the bouffant hair – put on a huge-lapels frilly shirt open down to his considerable midriff – took out his 'superbone' sax and went after the burgeoning Jazz Funk market opened by people like Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham and Donald Byrd with a vengeance. He even (unwisely) sings on the swinging "I Can't Get Satisfied". 

I wish I could say that it's all great fun and worthy of your dollars – but it's mostly  non-no for me. Horribly dated or not - here are the details for fans...

UK and USA released October 2015 – "Chameleon/Conquistador/Hot" by MAYNARD FERGUSON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1199 (Barcode 5017261211996) offers fans 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (76:11 minutes):
1. Chameleon
2. Gospel John
3. The Way We Were
4. Jet
5. La Fiesta
6. I Can't Get Started
7. Living For The City
8. Superbone Meets The Bad Man
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Chameleon" – released 1974 in the USA on Columbia KC 33007 (No UK release)

9. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")
10. Mister Mellow
11. Theme From Star Trek
12. Conquistador [Side 2]
13. Soar Like An Eagle
14. The Fly
Tracks 9 to 14 are the album "Conquistador" – released 1977 in the USA on Columbia PC 34457 and in the UK on CBS Records S 81839

Disc 2 (41:57 minutes):
1. Rock II Disco
2. Gabriel
3. Om Sai Ram
4. Theme From Star Trek
5. Dayride
6. Naima
7. Topa-Topa Woman
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Hot" – released 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36124 (no UK issue)

You get a card slipcase, a 24-page booklet with new liner notes from noted Mojo Magazine contributor CHARLES WARING with full album credits and some photos and 2015 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that sound great.

The first album "Chameleon" is universally awful – not good Jazz and hopelessly dated Jazz Funk. Tackling covers like Paul McCartney’s "Jet" and the woeful Streisand weepy "The Way We Were" – he opens with a butchered version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" (from his "Headhunters" album) but all of it feels dreadfully forced as he screams trumpet notes out through his strangulated horn. The only passable moment is a Guitar/Brass instrumental version of Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City" - but again - even that will give you a headache and a longing for the beauty and genuine social conscience of the "Innervisions" original. Things improve a lot though for album number two...

Ignoring the cheese puff Rocky Theme (sounds so dated now) - the girly smooch of "Mister Mellow" where it feels like slick Herb Alpert on A&M (George Benson guests on Guitar – beautifully played and Produced). "Theme From Star Trek" is just 'so Disco' but not in a good way I'm afraid - while some welcome respite comes with the slow march of "Conquistador" that builds in a Trumpet Funk of seven and half minutes. The album's highlight though is the Soul/Funk dancer "Soar Like An Eagle" written by Bob James with BJ guesting to superb effect on Keyboards (it's superb Jazz Fusion Funk). The "Conquistador" album finishes on a frantic bit of Funk where Ferguson goes toe to toe with Will Lee on Bass and Mike Migliore on Soprano Sax. 

After the farcical first album – at least "Conquistador" has moments of genuine class. Unfortunately album number three "Hot" has its audio dogs too – not least of all is the opener "Rocky II Disco" with Sylvester Stallone guesting on 'punchbag' which is too awful to describe. Even the cod Indian vibes of "Om Sai Ram" is ruined by deadpan vocals. "Dayride" tries its Funky best to Salsa up proceedings with whistles and cha-cha piano while it ends on the slap bass and screaming trumpet of "Topa-Topa Woman".

Fans will love the great Audio and the classy presentation but I'd advise even the most diehard Funk and Jazz Fusion enthusiast to hear first before buying... 

"Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL – Four US R&B and Soul Albums originally released July 1970 on Neptune Records and October 1971, November 1972 and November 1973 (June 1974 in the UK) on Philadelphia International Records (November 2025 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Compilation – Four Albums On Two Discs Series – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

https://amzn.to/4ujbJM6

------------------------------------------------

This Review Along With 350+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £4.95 (2026 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

This Review Along With 378 Others Is Available 

In My SOUNDS GOOD E-Book (on all Amazon sites)

GET IT ON - 1971

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

A HUGE 3,136 e-Pages 

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From The Discs Themselves 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

Just Click Below To Google, Purchase or See My Author Page

For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)

RATINGS

Overall: **** (First Two LPs Are Iffy, But The Second Two Bring on the Brilliance)

Presentation: **** (Charles Waring 24-Page Booklet w All Art, Card Slipcase)

Audio: ***** (New 2025 Remasters by Andrew Thompson)

"…Got A Thing Going On…"

What a strange one – from only all right to slightly better to up, up and away and into the Soul stratosphere. The first two albums from 1970 and 1971 are iffy with sporadic moments of real brilliance (maybe five salvageable tunes out of 18) – but the second two Billy Paul albums from 1972 and 1973 bring on the BP brilliance like he finally realised all that earlier potential.

Philadelphia International Records leading light Billy Paul is of course mostly known for the "Me And Mrs. Jones" infidelity Soul classic from 1972 that topped both Pop and R&B charts in a global moment. As the superb Charles Waring liner notes ruminate – that kind of instant fame could become a pigeonhole too – and it nearly did. But fans like me find other vibes - those deep album cuts - and the maturity of music that CD2 offers. 

And so, here as part of their Four Albums On Two Discs Series (see list below) – November 2025 sees England's Beat Goes On Records offer us four US R&B LPs by the behatted Philly singer, remastered like a audio-goodun onto 2CDs. Beards and satin neckerchiefs at the ready - here be the City of Love details…

UK released Friday, 7 November 2025 - "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods" by BILLY PAUL on Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611) is a Compilation that offers Four Albums Remastered On Two Discs (originally released Vinyl LPs on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in the USA and UK in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 (1974 UK)) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:57 minutes, 18 Tracks):

1. Ebony Woman [Side 1]

2. Mrs. Robinson 

3. The Windmills Of Your Mind

4. Everyday People 

5. Let's Fall In Love All Over [Side 2]

6. Windy

7. Psychedelic Sally

8. Traces 

9. Proud Mary

Tracks 1 to 9 are Billy Paul's 2nd album "Ebony Woman" - released July 1970 in the USA on Neptune Records NLPS-201. Neptune was the record label started by the Soul songwriting and producing duo of Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. The LP received no UK release at this time. However - it was re-issued April 1973 on Philadelphia International Records KZ 32118 in the USA and on Philadelphia International PIR 65931 in the UK - but this time sporting a different front sleeve (also issued on Columbia SBP-234324 in the USA and on Epic S EPC 65456 in the UK sometime in 1973 with the Grace Jones sleeve).

10. East [Side 1]

11. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?

12. This Is Your Life

13. Jesus Boy (You Only Look Like A Man)

14. Magic Carpet Ride [Side 2]

15. I Wish It Were Yesterday

16. Compared To What

17. Love Buddies

18. There's A Small Hotel

Tracks 10 to 17 are his third studio album "Going East" - originally released October 1971 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records Z 30580 (no UK issues)

CD2 (83:14 minutes, 14 Tracks):

1. Brown Baby [Side 1]

2. I'm Just A Prisoner

3. It's Too Late

4. Me And Mrs. Jones

5. Am I Black Enough For You? [Side 2]

6. Let's Stay Together

7. Your Song

8. I'm Gonna Make It This Time

Tracks 1 to 8 are his fourth studio album "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" - originally released November 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records KZ 31793 and Epic Records EPC 65351 in the UK (later re-issued on Philadelphia International S PIR 65930).

9. I See The Light [Side 1]

10. War Of The Gods

11. The Whole Town's Talking

12. I Was Married [Side 2]

13. Thanks For Saving My Life

14. Peace Holy Peace 

Tracks 1 to 6 are his fifth studio album "War Of The Gods" - released November 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 32409 in a gatefold sleeve with an insert. Stateside it reached Number 12 on the R&B charts and Number 110 on the Pop charts. It was also belatedly issued in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65861 in June 1974

The 24-page booklet with CHARLES WARING liner notes is crammed full of info preceded by the artwork for all four albums (front and rear) and personnel details. Waring uses interviews and deep level research to illuminate the relationships between Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and the slightly other-worldly voice of Billy Paul. While Paul took his time finding that stride - clearly Philly honchos Gamble & Huff believed in their boy and when that belief paid off with the "360 Degrees Of..." LP - man did it reap the rewards. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (with Teddy Pendergrass), The O'Jays, MFSB and The Three Degrees all gave the Philadelphia International record label goodies - but Paul's "Me And Mrs. Jones" put them on the chart-map early on and arguably broke the label worldwide. I've had the Big Break Records (BBR) CD Remasters for these individual albums released way back in 2009 and 2010 just to have the music - but BGO of England have excelled here. The punch off these Andrew Thompson Remasters is fantastic. This is a beautiful sounding double-CD set and seriously great value for money. It would have been icing on a very tasty cake had BGOCD1561 had enough room to include all those 7" 45-single edits that are on the BBR CDs - but alas time constraints. To music...

CD1: Just out of the Sixties - the "Ebony Woman" album is full of contemporary hits of the time - Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" and Noel Harrison's "Windmills Of Your Mind" (theme from "The Thomas Crown Affair"). The single "Let's Fall In Love Again" was written by Bobby Martin - a friend of Gamble & Huff who would later become a huge thing at Philadelphia International Records and an integral part of The Manhattans vocal group - and the title track "Ebony Woman" harks way back to 1959 when Billy Paul first sang it jazz-style.

Unfortunately most of these tracks are terribly dated and I'll admit to only having time for three songs on "Ebony Woman" - a Swingin' 60t's cover of Horace Silver's "Psychedelic Sally" (you can see some hippy chick dancing on a podium in a TV studio on this one), a piano-funky take on Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Proud Mary" and a truly lovely turn on The Classic IV's "Traces".

Moving further into the early Seventies and Billy Paul seemed (momentarily anyway) to have learned his lesson with the "Going East"  album – leave those contemporary hitmakers alone and find something more edgy (but alas that was truly only on one track). So, ominous winds and chimes ping as Billy talks of no love and no peace and no shoes and riding in that better direction in the Tyrone Brown-penned "East" – a fantastically cool harem-tent groove that starts out slow and doomy only to build on a carry-me-on-the-wind shuffle (arranged by Lenny Pakula). And suddenly (unlike the "Ebony Woman" album) as it slinks past six minutes towards its 6:26 minute finishing time – you feel you are in the presence of a Gil Scott-Heron goody no one talks about. This is great Billy Paul – vibey and hip – and at 1:40 minutes in hitting you with that fantastic shuffling groove. Unfortunately, all that cool-groove goodwill goes promptly out the window with the Broadway false upbeat of the ludicrously titled "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" It is schlock and feels so wrong after what preceded it. Things get only marginally better with the Jimmy Webb-penned melody "This Is Your Life" - a very Bacharach David ballad given a Soul going over. If however "This Is Your Life" is your lovers bag, the Audio is fantastic – so clear and full - prepare for a treat.

The trend of Holy Roller message-tunes after the huge success of the October 1970 double-album "Jesus Christ Superstar" looms large with the awkwardly titled "Jesus Boy (You Only Look Like A Man)" – another oboes and strings clunker. At last things start to feel like they're picking up – Billy Paul doing the Steppenwolf feeling-alright classic "Magic Carpet Ride". Flutes and Organs do battle like Jethro Tull meets C.C.S. on his Soul Machine groove – cool but not nearly as great as the original. Bobby Martin of Philly and Manhattans fame provides a pleading ballad for Paul in the Nat King Cole bedroom crooner vibe of "I Wish It Were Yesterday". Strings and lounge-lizard piano and hi-hat shuffles amble on as he talks of how tomorrow will be a bust if his baby is not home for good (come and rescue me). Time to go Ramsey Lewis hip-swaying boogie on the organ – throw in some stop-and-start Ray Charles too on the Gene McDaniels classic "Compared To What". Again, Tony Williams gives it some breathy Flute while Eddie Green jabs at those wade-in-the-water piano keys and "Compared To What" becomes one of the better album cuts – all 5:20 minutes of it. Gamble and Huff finally show their songwriting faces with the slow and kissy vibe of "Love Buddies" – a kind of embarrassing Teddy Pendergrass lurve song that has great instrumentation but still feels too close to elevators. The patchy "Going East" album ends of an old crooner ballad laden with strings and 2am barfly vibes – the Hart & Rodgers song "There's A Small Chance".

CD2: With the help and helming of the dynamic songwriting duo Gamble & Huff - the "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" album produced three notable 45-singles, albeit is edited form (the versions on these BGO CDs are all album cuts). His bona fide monster hit "Me And Mrs. Jones" b/w "Your Song" (the Elton John classic) hit the shops October 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International ZS7 3521 and January 1973 in the UK on Epic EPC 1055. "Me And Mrs. Jones" was a monster and put Billy Paul on the number one spot in droves of countries around the world including the Billboard single and album Soul charts in his own USA. But how nice it is to hear the Full Album Version at 4:46 minutes as opposed to the more commonly used 45-single edit of 3:41 minutes. And it sounds amazing too on BGO twofer.

The on-the-money commentary of "Brown Baby" is a very strong socially aware opener – here in its full album cut of 4:36 minutes as opposed to the more commonly played 45-single edit of 3:41 minutes. "Brown Baby" was issued April 1973 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 1313 with his cover of the Carole King song "It's Too Late" on the flipside. Perhaps because of its subject matter – it was not issued in the States. What was issued Stateside (not in the UK) came in the shape of "Am I Black Enough For You" with "I'm Gonna Make It This Time" on the B-side. Released March 1973, that 45-single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3526 stalled at No.29 R&B – a surprise since the Jones single had hit pole position on both R&B and Pop.

The "360 Degrees Of Billy Paul" LP also gives you three cleverly reworked cover versions - a jazzed-up take on Carole King's "It's Too Late" from her magisterial "Tapestry" album, a completely re-worked fast and funky go at Elton John's "Your Song" (which Elton loved) and a very slowed down love-song angle on Al Green's slinky classic "Let's Stay Together" with lovely Norman Harris arrangements. The album ends of what he admits should have been the follow up to "Jones" - "I'm Gonna Make It This Time" (written by Bunny Sigler and Jean Lang). It's as romantic-Philly as the label gets - all plinking piano, strings and heartache vocals.

But all of that for me is trumped by the magnificent 8-minutes of "I'm Just A Prisoner". Billy Paul's stepfather had done 5 years in prison but emerged to work his way up in business and then mentor the young hopeful in his musical ambitions. Paul never forgot this - so even though label stalwarts Kenneth Gamble, Bunny Sigler and Phillip Hurtt wrote the song - it contains some of Paul's most personal lyrics. The song feels like Marvin Gaye's "Right On" from his 1971 "What's Going On" masterpiece in its hypnotic groove and features brilliantly arranged strings by organist and orchestration maestro Lenny Pakula. There are touches of Donny Hathaway, Herbie Hancock and The Isley Brothers all in there too - and for me it's one of the highlights on this famous LP.

The "War Of The Gods" LP from 1973 was a huge leap forward and accompanied by MFSB as his backing band is remembered by Soul and Funk fans with probably more affection than "360 Degrees Of…" Between the USA and UK there were 4 x 7" singles issued around the album – three official and one rare American promo. Pre-empting the LP release, Philly were probably trying to poke DJs and Jocks by issuing a rarity nowadays – the promo-only Philadelphia International AE7 1080 (issued Nov 1973) breaks down the long LP cut into two parts – Part 1 on Side A etc. Soon after the official singles started – November 1973 in the States gave us "Thanks For Saving My Life" b/w "I Was Married" on Philadelphia International ZS7 3538 which made No. 7 on US Billboard R&B charts. Over in Blighty they changed it up a little by issuing "Thanks For Saving My Life" with "I See The Light" on the flipside - Philadelphia International S PIR 1928 issued in November 1973 making ??. Last was The Whole Town's Talking b/w I Was Married in April 1974 – another UK 7" single, this time on Philadelphia International S SPIR 2225.

The "War Of The Gods" album opens with a fabulous double-track sucker punch - two trippy-soulful cuts called "I See The Light" at 6-minutes and the epic 10-minute album version of "War Of The Gods" - very Isaac Hayes as it lingers and grooves. Combined with "Peace Holy Peace" (the last track on the LP) they give the whole LP a very mellow socially-conscious feel - more Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" than The O'Jays "Backstabbers" if you know what I mean. Both "The Whole Town's Talking" and "I Was Married" are the more poppy Soul side of Philly and sound a little out of place here. But "Thanks For Saving My Life" is an excellent jaunty mid-tempo number. Shame there was no space for the sought-after Promo-Only 7" cut of "War Of The Gods" which edits the epic talking-song down to a more manageable 5:37 minutes. But what you get is more than enough. 

There are those who will say that Billy Paul's Philly album-output hasn't weathered well - especially most of the two first platters presented here from 1970 and 1971 - but "360 Degrees Of..." and "War Of The Gods" from 1972 and 1973 - combined with the better cuts on the first CD that contains the earlier two - then that's more than enough - especially in this toppermost Audio. And the presentation is cool too. 

Dig in and discover - another cool compilation from BGO...

Soul/Funk/Disco/Fusion and Jazz Titles in the 

Beat Goes On (BGO) Records 'Four Albums On Two Discs' Series

UK issued 2CD Compilations in a Card Slipcase with Remasters

(Many Focus on the 'Philly' Sound - Philadelphia Intl Records of the Seventies)

1. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Imagination/I Feel A Song/2nd Anniversary/The One And Only…"

Four US Albums originally issued on Buddah Records in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978

UK released 27 February 2026 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1567 (Barcode 5017261215673)

2. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Funky Serenity/Ramsey Lewis’ Newly Recorded, All-Time, Non-Stop Golden Hits [aka Golden Hits]/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess"

Four US Albums originally issued 1973 (two) and 1974 (two) on Columbia Records

UK released 18 May 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1335 (Barcode 5017261213358)

3. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Legacy/Ramsey/Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter"

Four US Albums originally issued 1978, 1979 and two in 1982 on Columbia Records

UK released 30 March 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1330 (Barcode 5017261213303)

4. THE MANHATTANS - "There's No Me Without You/That's How Much I Love You/The Manhattans/It Feels So Good"

Four US Albums originally issued on Columbia Records in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977

UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1557 (Barcode 5017261215574) 

5. HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (featuring Teddy Pendergrass) – "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring… (aka I Miss You)/Black And Blue/To Be True (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass)/Wake Up Everybody"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975 (Two)

UK released Friday, 8 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727)

6. MFSB - "MFSB/TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia (aka Love Is The Message)/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1973 (Two), and 1975 (Two) – Philly Backing Band feat Dexter Wansel

UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758)

7. BUDDY MILES EXPRESS/BUDDY MILES

"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together"

Four US Albums originally issued 1968, 1969 and Two in 1970 on Mercury Records

UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from November 2021), Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683)

8. THE O'JAYS - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975

UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635)

9. BILLY PAUL – "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods"

Four US Albums originally issued on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973

UK released 7 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611)

10. TEDDY PENDERGRASS - "Teddy Pendergrass/Life Is A Song Worth Singing/Teddy/TP"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – Former Lead Vocalist in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1574 (Barcode 5017261215741)

11. LOU RAWLS - "All Things In Time/Unmistakably Lou/When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All/Let Me Be Good To You"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, Two in 1977 and One in 1979

UK released 3 October 2025, Beat Goes on BGOCD1560 (Barcode 5017261215604)

12. DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away"

Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979

UK released 10 March 2023, BGOCD1490 (Barcode 5017261214904)