0 The Sound of Philadelphia Challenge

• Games
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 03/02/2010

Do you know your Philadelphia International Records classic soul? Try the Sound of Philadelphia challenge just for fun. (Puzzle link removed. See below). All of the clues in this original game are easy, except for one! 2022 Update: Unfortunately the "flash" technology that the online puzzle used is no longer supported, however I went back to the original puzzle data and recreated the crossword for you with the 12 hints and solutions below! The Hints Me & Mrs. Jones guy Female lead on Harold Melvin's "Hope that we can be..." Didn't the Hart Brothers blow your mind? Partner of Kenny Gamble Partner of Leon Huff "When Will I See You Again" and "TSOP" ladies Harold Melvin and the... "You'll Never Find" this Chicago guy "Close the Door" and "Turn out the Lights" guy What you see in a clear sky for the O'jays MFSB universal theme "For the Love of Money" and "Backstabbers" group The Solution from top to bottom #####billypaul#####################sharonpaige##########delfonics#######################leonhuff############kennygamble################threedegrees################bluenotes##############lourawls###################teddypendergrass###########sunshine##################loveisthemessage############ojays############# You won't see it here but aligned vertically inside of the 'blue' puzzle (when solved) are the letters p-h-i-l-a-d-e-l-p-h-i-a from top to bottom in the column with the light shade! Previous Post | Next Post

0 Let Freedom Sing: The Music of the Civil Rights Movement

• Review
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/25/2010

As Black History Month 2010 comes to a close, here's a great review from BlackHistoryPeople.com of Let Freedom Sing: The Music of the Civil Rights Movement. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Philadelphia International Records Studio Saved from Inferno

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/23/2010

Philadelphia producers Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble are pictured here in the recording studio. The Philadelphia International Records founders reported at a Tuesday February 23, press conference that their recording studio was spared in a recent weekend two-alarm fire at their headquarters. Melted in the blaze and gone for good: numerous gold and platinum records, along with about 40 percent of their memorabilia. Master recordings are stored off-site and are safe. The O'Jays, The Three Degrees, MFSB, Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, and others recorded hits for Gamble, Huff, and producer Thom Bell in these famous studios. Philadelphia fire fighters have not yet determined what caused the blaze, but Fire Commissioner Lloyd M. Ayers states that "it's a little suspicious." Gamble, Huff, and Bell own the building at 309 South Broad Street. They pledge to rebuild the structure, which has become a Philadelphia tourist attraction. Previous Post | Next Post

0 The Queen of Soul Creates Golden Aretha Duets

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/18/2010

Throughout her fabulous career, Aretha Franklin has collaborated with the best in the business. In 2007, Arista Records released Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets with The Queen. These 'song buddy' partnerships have become so commonplace that it's easy to take them for granted...but not Aretha's. You get a soup to nuts smorgasbord of delicacies from Miss Franklin on Jewels In The Crown, and that's what I like the most about this CD. Funk, classic soul, middle of the road, rock, gospel, and a touch of opera on "Nessun Dorma" (with the New York Recording Orchestra) make this a very strong collection of songs. All of the tunes are powered with emotion. Her song partners are allowed to shine and share the spotlight. If you missed this one the first time around, check it out. Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets with The Queen: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" with Keith Richards "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" with Eurythmics "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with George Michael "What Now My Love" with Frank Sinatra "Put You Up On Game" with Fantasia "What Y'All Came To Do" with John Legend "Never Gonna Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige & the Harlem Boys Choir "Through The Storm" with Elton John "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" with Whitney Houston "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" with Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan "Doctor's Orders" with Luther Vandross "Ever Changing Times" with Michael McDonald "Chain of Fools" with Mariah Carey "Don't Waste Your Time" with Mary J. Blige "Love All The Hurt Away" with George Benson "Nessun Dorma" with the New York Recording Orchestra Your browser does not support the audio element. Listen to 60 seconds of Aretha swing with Frank Sinatra on the standard: "What Now My Love." Previous Post | Next Post

0 Recycled Soul Gold Meets Motorcity Hits

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/17/2010

When A Soulful Tale of Two Cities, the Detroit - Philadelphia R&B connection was released in 2006, it seemed we had just about reached the creative limit in the reincarnation of classic soul hits. Now in 2010 comes Motorcity Hits...Real Music Is Back, a new 17 song collection featuring fresh takes on divine Detroit ditties. The Four Tops, the Dramatics, the Miracles, the Contours with Joe Billingslea, the Original Vandellas, Freda Payne, and other artists are featured. Be sure to listen to the 60 second montage I've created from three of the featured tracks. One thing is certain, there is an eager market for vintage classic soul, but at what point will we become oversaturated with these infinite recorded retakes? The original versions are burned into our memories just like our a-b-c's. Will you accept essentially carbon copy updates? I do like the sparser instrumental treatment these songs receive. Freda Payne (pictured here) sounds just as good as she did back in the day. I don't believe the producers wanted to meticulously duplicate the sophisticated layering of the Motown originals. The updated arrangements salute the originals, but reflect an instrumental slickness that sings "2010." Here are the tracks: "Hitsville Hall Of Fame" - Various Artists "Money" - Paul Hill featuring Barrett Strong "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" - the Four Tops "Baby Come Close" - Keith Washington "Leavin You" - the Miracles "Needle In The Haystack" - the Velvelettes "Love Machine" - the Miracles "Bad Girl" - the Dramatics "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" - Paul Hill "Even If My Heart Would Break" - the Contours with Joe Billingslea "Band Of Gold" - Freda Payne "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" - Paul Hill Featuring George Clinton "Miles Away" - the Four Tops "Do You Love Me" - the Contours with Joe Billingslea "Since I Fell For You" - Laura Lee "Dancing In The Street" - the Original Vandellas "Baby I'm For Real" - Duane Parham featuring Pat Lewis Laura Lee, (left), takes the Lenny Welch serenade "Since I Fell For You," plugs in an intro rap, and sings her heart out. There are original members still with us from many of these groups. The Motor City Hits website 2022 Update: (now sunset) had some interesting links about these personalities in their artist(s) information section. Listen to 60 seconds of: the Four Tops, Freda Payne, and Laura Lee from Motorcity Hits...Real Music Is Back. Your browser does not support the audio element. Previous Post | Next Post

2 Black History Month Classic Soul Disc Jockeys

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/09/2010

It's time to have some fun and go back to those thrilling days in our past when spectacular entertainers thrilled radio listeners. There will be a quiz, so please join in. In 1999, William Barlow wrote a great book, Voice Over: The Making of Black Radio. Mr. Barlow presents an outstanding timeline based story about how enterprising African American voices made their way into communities through radio to entertain, inform, and educate. I highly recommend this book for those of you interested in the real story about how 'black radio' was created and evolved. Our purpose here however is the music, so in honor of Black History Month, we present 5 disc jockeys who had a significant impact on their industry, cities, and fans. You get to guess who is who. Listen to the 2 minute feature below. Can you figure out the names of all 5 disc jockeys. Maybe you know only one. Your browser does not support the audio element. But wait. There's another angle to this game. Each disc jockey is featured from an actual vinyl record they released to the public back in the day. Leave a comment and take a guess about who these folks are. Some hints: think Windy City, The Big Apple, and The City of Brotherly Love. At the end of Black History Month, I will reveal who each person is, along with the names of the songs, and the labels they were released on. These tracks all come from my personal collection. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Black History Month Classic Soul Anthems

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/04/2010

The White House is getting ready to host a civil rights music review on February 10, 2010. President and Mrs. Obama have invited Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, Seal, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Howard University Choir to perform music from the movement. A PBS television broadcast on February 11th, as well as a one hour NPR radio special on selected stations during Black History Month will feature the concert. One of the best classic soul compilations of civil rights era music is Black Power: Music of A Revolution. This 2 CD set was released on the Shout label in 2004. It has one of the best collections I've seen of both message music and liberation prose from the golden age of R&B. Here are the tracks on Disc 1 & 2: "The Black Panther Party" - Huey Newton "You're The Man pts. 1 & 2" - Marvin Gaye "Let's Clean Up The Ghetto" - Philadelphia Int'l All Stars "Change It" - Kathleen Cleaver "Song To The System" - Segments of Time "Right On" - Sons of Slum "Tell It Like It Is" - S.O.U.L. "Mighty Mighty" - Earth Wind & Fire "Compared To What" - Les McCann & Eddie Harris "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" - Soul Children "Power to the People" - Huey Newton "Give More Power To The People" - Chi-Lites "Give The People What They Want" - O'Jays "We Want Black Power" - Stokely Carmichael "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" - James Brown "Blackenized" - Hank Ballard "So Much Strength" - Stokely Carmichael "Fight The Power (pt. 1)" - Isley Brothers "Stop Singing and Start Swinging" - Malcolm X "Standing & Fighting" - Malcolm X "Message From a Black Man" - Temptations "Part - E, S' - Watts Prophets "Violence is as American as Cherry Pie" - H. Rap Brown "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - Gil Scott-Heron "When The Revolution Comes" - The Last Poets "Am I Black Enough For You?" - Billy Paul "Black Unity" - Stokely Carmichael "My People...Hold On" - Eddie Kendricks "Be Thankful For What You Got" - William DeVaughn "Chocolate City" - Parliament "We're a Winner (live)" - Curtis Mayfield "We Got More Soul" - Dyke & The Blazers "I Am Somebody (part 2)" - Johnnie Taylor "Express Yourself" - Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band "Respect Yourself" - Staple Singers "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" - Nina Simone "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" - Kim Weston "Ain't' No Stoppin' Us Now" - McFadden & Whitehead The number of female artists represented is light, but still, this is a powerful music and spoken word reflection of the civil rights social movement. Your browser does not support the audio element. Listen to 15 seconds of activist H. Rap Brown's "Violence is as American as Cherry Pie." Previous Post | Next Post

0 Beyonce Dominates the Grammy Awards

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/01/2010

The big story at the 2010 52nd annual Grammy Awards was Beyonce's dominance with 6 new trophies, but there were some other interesting musical moments. For instant gratification, the opening performers usually hit some high notes, and that's what Lady Gaga & Elton John did. The Grammy show is not for you if you have a short attention span, as you have to sit through the dull moments to experience the true gems of the evening during the three and 1/2 hour marathon. After Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, and Carrie Underwood performed Michael Jackson's "Earth Song," 2 of Michael's children accepted a lifetime achievement award with short, moving comments. Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, who won for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Kanye West who did not perform), brought some energy and excitement to the evening (that often dragged along). Hats off to The Dave Matthews Band for an impressive well played set. Best act introduction: Quentin Tarantino bringing on the most bleeped performance of the night: Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Drake. Come on guys! You are on rated G TV. Beyonce' has come a long way. Anyone who can win in such broad musical categories can take comfort in knowing that they've arrived - big time. Beyonce's Grammy Awards: Song of the Year - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" Best R&B Song - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance - "At Last" from Cadillac Records Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - "Halo" Best Contemporary R&B Album - I Am...Sasha Fierce Previous Post | Next Post  

0 A Classic Soul Memory from the Lost Generation

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/28/2010

Chicago's The Lost Generation recorded 2 albums for Brunswick Records before leaving the label in 1973. Jesse Dean, Larry Brownlee, and brothers Lowrell and Fred Simon were The Lost Generation. Their one major hit, "The Sly, Slick & The Wicked," was Record World Magazine's Song of the Year (a co-honor shared with "ABC" by the Jackson 5 in 1970). "Beware young girls of the sly, the slick, and the wicked." That's the love song message these guys put over in this significant hit. The music track is similar to the sound of their fellow label mates, The Chi-Lites. Writer Kevin L. Goins says that The Lost Generation recorded this song at the tail end of a Jackie Wilson recording studio session. Listen to 30 seconds of this noteworthy classic soul blast from the past, "The Sly, Slick & The Wicked" by The Lost Generation. You can find the track on the deluxe 2 CD collection Brunswick Top 40 R&B Singles 1966 - 1975. Your browser does not support the audio element. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Gil Scott-Heron Hears the Music Again

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/26/2010

Who is Gil Scott-Heron? 2022 update: A specific comment about his website removed... his official website featured the Scott-Heron story until his passing in 2011. For Gil, it's always been about the message in the music. Here's what his condensed biography says: "Gil Scott-Heron is an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson." "His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron." "The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul." "Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." "On his influence, Allmusic wrote "Scott-Heron's unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists." Yes, this is all true. "The Bottle" is probably Gil's biggest hit, an uptempo prophetic warning about boozing, drinking, and the evils of alcohol. Gil has a brand new album, I'm New Here, to be released February 8th in the U.K., and Tuesday, February 9, 2010 in the USA. Watch his new video, "Me and the Devil." About the video...once you get past the skate boarders, look for Gil to do his thing! Previous Post | Next Post