WIWS Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

The Whole Town's Talking: SoulMusic Anthologizes Best of Billy Paul On New 2-CD Set

April 11, 2019 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

The late Billy Paul was one of the first and brightest stars in the Philadelphia International Records firmament.  His very first studio album - 1968's rather misleadingly titled Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club - was the second ever release on the Gamble label, a precursor to PIR, while Going East was the very first ever LP released on PIR.  The husky-voiced baritone remained with the label through the 1970s, and then recorded just a couple of albums for independent labels in the 1980s.  Billy Paul died in 2016 at the age of 81, having left behind one of the richest discographies in soul music.  Now, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint has paid tribute to his legacy with Me and Mrs. Jones: The Anthology, due tomorrow, April 12 in the U.K. and one week later in North America.

The 2-CD, 31-track collection draws upon all but two of Paul's studio albums, spanning the period 1969-1985 with his releases on Neptune (another PIR precursor), PIR, and Total Experience Records.  Rather than a chronological approach, producer David Nathan has opted for a thematic assembly.  Disc One, People Power, brings together some of Paul's most socially-conscious material.  The second disc, You're My Sweetness, concentrates on his romantic side.  Both discs feature the work of the legendary MFSB, Don Renaldo's Horns and Strings, and remarkable arrangers including Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, Jack Faith, and Dexter Wansel, under the sure-handed supervision of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Much as the Philly Sound blended R&B authenticity with velvety pop smoothness, Paul could blend the socially aware and the amorous; hence, his cover of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's "Your Song" opens the first disc.  But it leads into the all-time protest classic "Am I Black Enough for You" and such other pointed message songs as "People Power," "Bring the Family Back," "False Faces," "America (We Need the Light)," and "We All Got a Mission."  Needless to say, these recordings are as relevant today as they were four decades ago.  In a move that would have surely earned the approval of Paul McCartney, Paul made references to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John and Bobby Kennedy, and other civil rights leaders in his cover of Wings' 1976 hit "Let 'Em In."  Paul even revisited an early Gamble/Huff tune co-written with Jerry Butler, "Only the Strong Survive," and updated it with dance rhythms.

Disc Two, naturally, has Paul's most famous hit, the 1972 chart-topper "Me and Mrs. Jones."  Gamble, Huff, and Cary Gilbert's ballad of infidelity remains one of The Sound of Philadelphia's most enduring tracks.  You're My Sweetness also casts the spotlight upon Paul's moving rendition of Jimmy Webb's "This Is Your Life," Carole King and Toni Stern's "It's Too Late" (also given the Philly treatment in producer-arranger Thom Bell's very different version for The Stylistics), Bobby Martin's "Let's Fall in Love All Over Again," Morris Bailey's ode to an "Ebony Woman," and Gamble and Huff's then-controversial "Let's Make a Baby."  This disc is rounded out with three tracks from Paul's lone Total Experience LP, 1985's Lately, which placed the singer in a Hollywood studio surrounded by burbling synthesizers and electronic beats - quite a departure from his lush, orchestral, and yes, funky PIR recordings.

Me and Mrs. Jones: The Anthology is a welcome tribute to the robustly-voiced artist who could be alternately sweet and gritty - sometimes within the same track, as well as to the ongoing power of the lush Philly Sound.  Kevin Goins has annotated this package within the 20-page booklet, and Nick Robbins has remastered all tracks.  You'll find the order links and full track listing below!

Billy Paul, Me and Mrs. Jones: The Anthology (Cherry Red/SoulMusic SMCR5182D, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

  1. Your Song
  2. Am I Black Enough for You
  3. Brown Baby
  4. The Whole Town's Talking
  5. Thanks for Saving My Life
  6. Only the Strong Survive
  7. How Good Is Your Game
  8. Be Truthful to Me
  9. False Faces
  10. People Power
  11. Let the Dollar Circulate
  12. Bring the Family Back
  13. Let 'Em In
  14. America (We Need the Light)
  15. We All Got a Mission
  16. New Day, New World Comin'

CD 2

  1. This Is Your Life
  2. Ebony Woman
  3. Let's Fall in Love All Over Again
  4. Me and Mrs. Jones
  5. It's Too Late
  6. I Was Married
  7. When Love Is New
  8. You're My Sweetness
  9. Let's Make a Baby
  10. Billy's Back Home
  11. I Think I'll Stay Home Today
  12. I Trust You
  13. Lately
  14. Let Me In
  15. Sexual Therapy

CD 1, Tracks 1-3 and CD 2, Tracks 4-5 from 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, Philadelphia International KZ 31793, 1972
CD 1, Tracks 4-5 and CD 2, Track 6 from War of the Gods, Philadelphia International KZ 32409, 1973
CD 1, Track 6 from Only the Strong Survive, Philadelphia International PZ 34923, 1977
CD 1, Tracks 7, 13 & 15 and CD 2, Tracks 11-12 from Let 'Em In, Philadelphia International PZ 34389, 1976
CD 1, Track 8 and CD 2, Track 10 from Got My Head on Straight, Philadelphia International KZ 33157, 1975
CD 1, Tracks 9 & 12 from First Class, Philadelphia International JZ 35756, 1979
CD 1, Tracks 10-11 & 14 and CD 2, Tracks 7 & 9 from When Love Is New, Philadelphia International PZ 33843, 1975
CD 1, Track 16 from The Philadelphia International All-Stars, Let's Clean Up the Ghetto, Philadelphia International JZ 34659, 1977
CD 2, Track 1 from Going East, Philadelphia International KZ 30580, 1971
CD 2, Tracks 2-3 from Ebony Woman, Neptune NLPS 201, 1969
CD 2, Track 8 from The Best of Billy Paul, Philadelphia International Z2 36314, 1979
CD 2, Tracks 13-15 from Lately, Total Experience TEL8-5711, 1985

Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

Connect With Joe: FacebookTwitter

You Might Also Like

  • VMP Philadelphia Intl AnthologyVinyl Me, Please Releases Lavish "Story of Philadelphia International Records" Anthology
  • Springsteen No NukesRelease Round-Up: Week of November 19
  • VMP Philadelphia Intl AnthologyHere to Make Music: Vinyl Me, Please Announces Philadelphia International Records Anthology
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed Philadelphia International PackshotPut Your Hands Together: Second Volume of Complete Philadelphia International Albums Arrives in November

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Finally Enough Love LP
    Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones
    Madonna
    August 19, 2022
  • Blondie front cover
    Against the Odds 1974-1982
    Blondie
    August 26, 2022
  • Lou Reed Words and Music May 1965
    Words and Music - May 1965
    Lou Reed
    August 26, 2022
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,494 other subscribers

Popular

  • Elvis On Tour Box
    Burning Love: Elvis Presley's "Elvis On Tour" Gets Super-Sized on New Box Set posted on August 12, 2022 | under News
  • Olivia Newton John Making a Good Thing Better
    In Memoriam: Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022) posted on August 8, 2022 | under News
  • Jimi Jamison Rock Hard
    Release Round-Up: Week of August 12 posted on August 12, 2022 | under Release Round-Up

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces' "Here Come The Nice" Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 84 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil "The U.S. Albums" Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2022 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy