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"...Everything He Does Seems To Come Out Right..."
"Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" is entry number two in Ace's compilation appraisals of Philadelphia Sound legend THOM BELL (the first was "Ready Or Not..." in 2020, see CD list below) - a hugely influential and commercially successful Soul and R&B Producer and Songwriter.
In his sweet-thang travels, Bell roped in the talents of other hip arranger-names like Tony Randazzo and Burt Bacharach and along with songwriters like Linda Creed, Deniece Williams, Norman Harris, Kenneth Gamble and others - Bell poured on the lush strings, subtle horn charts, plaintive oboes and tinkling chimes - matching them with expressive singers and lurve lyrics. The results across 20-songs and almost eighty-minutes playing time is a lovely listen that only ever slightly falters in a few places. Mostly, you're whomped with a wall of classy tunes presented in that Philly Sound way. To the kissin' details...
UK released Friday, 31 May 2024 - "Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" by THOM BELL (through Various Artists) on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDTOP 522 (Barcode 029667110624) is a 20-Track CD compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (79:47 minutes, all tracks US 45s unless otherwise stated):
1. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - THE DELFONICS (December 1969, Philly Groove 161, A-side)
2. You Gotta Be A Lady - THE CHARGERS (December 1971, Vanguard VRS 35146, A-side)
3. The Rubberband Man - SPINNERS (August 1976, Atlantic 45-3355, A-side)
4. Got You Into My Life - ELOISE LAWS (from the 1980 US-LP "Eloise Laws" on Liberty Records LT-1063)
5. You Are Everything - THE STYLISTICS (October 1971, Avco AV-4581, A-side)
6. Give In To Love - RONNIE DYSON (from the 1973 US LP "One Man Band" on Columbia Records KC 32211 - CBS Records S 65551 in the UK)
7. Nice And Slow - ELTON JOHN (from the 1989 US LP "The Complete Thom Bell Sessions" on MCA Records MCA-39115)
8. Take My Hand - NEW YORK CITY (October 1975, Chelsea CH 3031, A-side)
9. Silly - DENIECE WILLIAMS (July 1981, ARC Records 18-02406, A-side - November 1981 UK on CBS Records A1535)
10. Then You Came - DIONNE WARWICKE & SPINNERS (July 1974 as Atlantic 45-3029 - re-released August 1974 as Atlantic 45-3202, A-side)
11. Will You Kiss Me One More Time - LOU RAWLS (June 1982, Epic 14-02999, A)
12. Lazy Susan - LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (from the 1973 US LP "On A New Street" on Avco AV-11012-598)
13. Betcha By Golly, Wow - THE STYLISTICS featuring Russell Thompkins Jr. (February 1972, Avco AV-4591, A-side)
14. Joe - NANCY WILSON (from the 1970 US LP "Now I'm A Woman" on Capitol ST-451 in Stereo)
15. Loving You-Losing You - JOHNNY MATHIS (February 1977, Columbia 3-10496, A-side)
16. Walking Around In Teardrops - JERRY BUTLER (from the 1969 US LP "Ice On Ice"on Mercury SR-61234 in Stereo)
17. Nobody Knows It - BELL & JAMES [LeRoy Bell and Casey James] (from the 1979 US LP "Only Make Believe" on A&M Records SP-4784)
18. Let Somebody Love Me - PHYLLIS HYMAN (from the 1983 US LP "Goddess Of Love" on Arista AL 9619)
19. One In A Million (Guy) - DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (from the 1980 US LP "Dee Dee Bridgewater" on Elektra 6E-306)
20. Brandy - THE O'JAYS (August 1978, Philadelphia International ZS8 3652, A-side)
The 16-page colour booklet offers liner notes from BOB STANLEY that includes a 2020 interview with THOM BELL. Each artist and song are discussed in detail, the single label repros and LP covers displayed on the left and right of the text along with other memorabilia like sheet music and trade paper adverts (there's a lovely photo of Bell smiling beside Dionne Warwicke as side-by-side heroes grace the front cover of the 'Blues & Soul' magazine - yours at the time for the princely sum of one dollar or 30 new pence UK). It's the usual classy affair from Ace - and the fantastic audio from long-standing Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL only sweetens a very cool listen. To the chunes...
The CD opens with an acknowledged classic of the Philly genre - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" by The Delfonics lending the compilation its recognisable title. Not so sure The Chargers (from 1971) would pass much muster with 2024 women by singing their "You Gotta Be A Lady" - more likely to get cancelled for an opinion way too outdated. The Spinners (known at The Detroit Spinners in the UK) do their thing - lyrics from "The Rubberband Man" titling this review. The Disco-Soul-Funk of "Got You Into My Life" has Eloise Laws milking that Philly Disco rhythm for all its worth - a relentlessly upbeat dancer. But if I'm honest I prefer the swoon of The Stylistics - such memories of that girl that whomped your senses - their "You Are Everything" being one of those 'each face that I see brings back memories of being with you' songs - the Remaster may be a teeny bit hissy in places, but for 1971 Avco Soul it's pretty much definitive. This is followed by another slice of 'lurve' gorgeousness with Ronnie Dyson wrenching emotion out of every line in the string-laden "Give In To Love" - the Ronster asking his gal to have faith (sweet Remastered audio).
There's an unfortunate repetitiveness to Elton John's "Nice And Slow" - better is the Bop Soul of "Take My Hand" - a great Remaster giving New York City's moment a quietly luscious oomph - ex Five Satins, Cadillacs and Moonglows members giving their vocals fabulous expressiveness. Deniece Williams puts in a sweetly delicate vocal on the clear-as-a-bell "Silly" - a plea for love to stop making her do foolish things - a deserved No. 11 Billboard R&B chart placing (check out those staggeringly skilful arrangements). Genius is what you would call the pairing of Dionne Warwick with the perfect-match of lead vocalist Philippe Wynne of The Stylistics where he shadows her powerhouse voice rather than outdo the lady - like a match to Diana Ross and Marvin at their duet best.
But while I normally can't get enough of the cavernous vocals of Lou Rawls, his "Will You Kiss Me One More Time" is too cheesy by far – and Little Anthony with his Imperials sound uncomfortable with the song and themes of "Lazy Susan". Better by a long oar is a tasty twosome from The Stylistics doing the lovely Prince-covered "Betcha By Golly, Wow" followed by a breathy Nancy Wilson doing a classy number on "Joe" - a man she pleads with the public to find saspo. Chasing that Disco dollar, one-time crooner and LGBTQ-icon Johnny Mathis makes a good fist of the ache in "Loving You, Losing You". Another huge persona in the history of Soul, Jerry Butler blasts your speakers with primo 1969 Soul lushness – his typically dramatic delivery in "Walking Around In Teardrops" making you feel like the man might die any second now. Clever follow and comp genius-choice comes with the 1979 uber-smooch of "Nobody Knows It" from Bell & James (ex-Special Blend songwriters LeRoy Bell and Casey James). From the second of three albums "Only Make Believe" - this is surely the discovery on this CD for fans like me – a beautifully produced winner. "Nobody Knows It" by Bell & James is a Ronn Mattlock "Love City" moment for me (check out that stunning album also from 1979 on Atlantic Records reissued on CD by Rhino).
The compilation romps home with a pleasing trio – Eighties times two with Phyliss Hyman and Dee Dee Bridgewater – but culminates with bona fide class from The O'Jays and their fabulous "Brandy" – the kind of emotive memory-jogging Seventies Soul that me reaching for the tissue box – "...played a few bars of a melody and it sounded so sweet to me..." indeed.
"Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983" by Thom Bell comes close to perfect, but I personally could have done without some of those 80ts cheesy offerings (so four stars). But make no mistake, if you ever wanted proof of Philly Sound classiness and what a warm-sounding legacy Thom Bell has left us – then look no further my Afro Lovers than this. Gotta shimmy in babycakes…my lurve can't wait (oh dear)…
Other THOM BELL CD Compilations from Ace Records/Kent Soul of the UK
And Philly Soul Sound recommendations (all reviewed):
1. Thom Bell - "Ready Or Not: Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978"
UK released 25 June 2020, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 488 (Barcode 029667098021)
2. Various Artists - "Nothing But A House Party: The Birth Of The Philly Sound 1967-1971"
UK released 26 May 2017, Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 466 (Barcode 029667083829)
3. Various Artists - "Psychedelic Soul Produced by Norman Whitfield"
UK released 27 August 2021, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 504 (Barcode 029667103121)
4. Earl Young - "Groove Machine: The Earl Young Drum Sessions"
UK released 24 February 2024, Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP 1629 (Barcode 029667109925)
