VA - Love Train - The Sound of Philadelphia [2008] (4 X CD's)

LOVE TRAIN
Previously posted June 26, 2019

VA - Love Train - The Sound of Philadelphia [2008] (4 X CD's)

Sony/Legacy's 2008 four-disc Love Train: The Ultimate Sound of Philadelphia isn't the first box set assembled on Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's legendary Philadelphia International Records -- most notably it follows the triple-disc Philly Sound: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and the Story of Brotherly Love (1966-1976) by just over a decade -- but it is surely the best, covering more ground and painting a fuller picture of the Philly soul sound than any other similar compilation. This is largely due to how Love Train doesn't focus solely on singles released on Philadelphia International: it encompasses sides released on early, pre-PIR imprints like Crimson, Philly Groove, and Gamble but, more importantly, it weaves in outside productions by Gamble & Huff and their crucial partner Thom Bell. Adding all these non-PIR singles greatly expands Love Train, as does the decision to have this set run all the way into 1983, thereby emphasizing how Gamble & Huff's symphonic soul opened the doors for both disco and quiet storm. Part of the set's appeal is that it does offer some education, illustrating how the psychedelicized soul of 1967's "Expressway (To Your Heart)" led to the cool, soft grooves of 1980's "Love T.K.O.," a document of how rich and adventurous '70s soul was thanks to Gamble & Huff and Bell, and all their artists and associates, but this set never drags like a history lesson. It keeps moving from peak to peak, spending the first disc on early triumphs from the Delfonics ("La-La -- Means I Love You," "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)"), Joe Simon ("Drowning in the Sea of Love"), the O'Jays ("Back Stabbers"), the Spinners ("I'll Be Around"), Billy Paul ("Me and Mrs. Jones") and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me by Now"), the songs that established the Philly Sound, then giving way to the glory days documented on the second disc, which opens with the O'Jays' "Love Train" and closes with "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," the singles that helped cement the Philly sound on a broader scale. The third disc finds Gamble & Huff and Bell expanding their lush signature, ushering in disco with singles like Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Don't Leave Me This Way," then the fourth disc charts the aftermath through the Spinners' "The Rubberband Man," Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mind," and Deniece Williams' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle." Although there are assorted lesser-known singles scattered throughout the box, this is by design hits-heavy, which is how it should be, as this showcases a body of work -- and as this superb set proves, Gamble & Huff's body of work ranks among the strongest popular music of the 20th century. ( AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

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Track lists 

CD1
01 Soul Survivors - Expressway (To Your Heart) (2:21)
02 Delfonics - La-La Means I Love You (3:22)
03 Intruders - Cowboys To Girls (2:40)
04 Jerry Butler - Hey, Western Union Man (2:42)
05 Delfonics - Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) (2:03)
06 Jerry Butler - Only The Strong Survive (2:38)
07 Delfonics - Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) (3:24)
08 Dusty Springfield - Brand New Me (2:27)
09 Wilson Pickett - Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You (2:50)
10 Ebonys - You're The Reason Why (3:05)
11 Joe Simon - Drowning In The Sea of Love (3:23)
12 Stylistics - I'm Stone In Love With You (3:23)
13 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - I Miss You (8:40)
14 O'Jays - Back Stabbers (3:08)
15 O'Jays - Sunshine (3:45)
16 Spinners - I'll Be Around (3:13)
17 Johnny Williams - Slow Motion (Pt. 1) (3:00)
18 Billy Paul - Me And Mrs. Jones (4:48)
19 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now (3:29)
20 Futures - Love Is Here (4:59)

CD2
01 O'Jays - Love Train (3:00)
02 Stylistics - Break Up To Make Up (4:00)
03 MFSB - Family Affair (4:25)
04 Ebonys - It's Forever (4:32)
05 O'Jays - Time To Get Down (2:55)
06 Manhattans - There's No Me Without You (3:39)
07 Intruders - I'll Always Love My Mama (6:39)
08 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - The Love I Lost (6:25)
09 Intruders - I Wanna Know Your Name (5:51)
10 Three Degrees - Dirty Ol' Man (3:06)
11 TO'Jays - Put Your Hands Together (4:09)
12 Billy Paul - Thanks For Saving My Life (3:00)
13 Spinners - Mighty Love (4:59)
14 William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got (Pt. 1) (3:26)
15 O'Jays - For The Love of Mone (7:23)
16 Trammps - Where Do We Go From Here (3:46)
17 MSFB (Featuring The Three Degrees) - T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) (5:49)

CD3
01 TSpinners (Featuring Dionne Warwick) - Then Came You (3:59)
02 MFSB (Featuring The Three Degrees) - Love Is The Message (6:39)
03 Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again (3:01)
04 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Where Are All My Friends (3:22)
05 Bunny Sigler - Picture Us (2:37)
06 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Bad Luck (6:31)
07 O'Jays - Give The People What They Want (4:14)
08 Billy Paul - Billy's Back Home (4:32)
09 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (Featuring Sharon Paige) - Hope That We Can Be Together Soon (3:41)
10 People's Choice - Do It Any Way You Wanna (3:18)
11 People's Choice - The Big Hurt (3:28)
12 O'Jays - et Me Make Love To You (3:40)
13 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody (7:33)
14 O'Jays - I Love Music (6:53)
15 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Don't Leave Me This Way (6:06)
16 Archie Bell & The Drells - Let's Groove (3:07)
17 O'Jays - Livin' For The Weekend (6:36)

CD4
01 Manhattans - Kiss And Say Goodbye (4:31)
02 Dee Dee Sharp - I'm Not In Love (5:17)
03 Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (4:29)
04 Spinners - The Rubberband Man (3:36)
05 Jacksons - Enjoy Yourself (3:24)
06 Jean Carn - Free Love (4:08)
07 Teddy Pendergrass - I Don't Love You Anymore (4:00)
08 Lou Rawls - See You When I Git There (4:28)
09 O'Jays - Use Ta Be My Girl (4:04)
10 Teddy Pendergrass - Close The Door (5:28)
11 McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (7:03)
12 Jones Girls - ou Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (4:34)
13 Stylistics - Hurry Up This Way Again (3:38)
14 Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O. (5:03)
15 Leon Huff - I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin' (5:58)
16 Deniece Williams - It's Gonna Take A Miracle (4:13)
17 Patti Labelle - If Only You Knew (4:45)
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