News

Back in late January, we shared news of Philadelphia International Records’ 50th anniversary plans.  The centerpiece of the campaign announced by Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings was a series of fifteen CD box sets via the U.K.-based United Souls/Snapper Music presenting every PIR album in chronological order.  The first of those box sets hit stores in late May, and now the second volume has been announced for November 19 release.

The slipcased, 8-CD/1-12″ single hardcover book-style set entitled Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 2 will feature the following eight studio albums, originally released in 1973:

• Billy Paul, Feelin’ Good at the Cadillac Club (Philadelphia International KZ 32119);
• The O’Jays, In Philadelphia (Philadelphia International KZ 32120);
• The Intruders, Super Hits (Gamble KZ 32131);
• Spiritual Concept, Spiritual Concept (Philadelphia International KZ 32404);
• The Three Degrees, The Three Degrees (Philadelphia International KZ 32406);
• Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Black and Blue (Philadelphia International KZ 32407);
• The O’Jays, Ship Ahoy (Philadelphia International KZ 32408); and
• Billy Paul, War of the Gods (Philadelphia International KZ 32409).

The set additionally features a 12-inch vinyl single of Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost” b/w The O’Jays’ “It’s Too Strong” and an exclusive poster.

1973 was a particularly prolific year for Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and their young PIR label.  The albums released that year began in Vol. 1 and will continue into Vol. 3 of this series.  The eight albums on Vol. 2 encompass genuine, oft-reissued classics (The O’Jays’ Ship Ahoy, Billy Paul’s War of the Gods, The Three Degrees’ eponymous debut) as well as one CD debut, Spiritual Concept by the band of the same name featuring and produced by keyboardist T.G. Conway and guitarist Theodore “T.” Life.  Spiritual Concept boasts just six lengthy songs performed by the self-contained unit also including vocalist/guitarist Frankie Snowden, guitarist Billy Little, bassist Hassell Thomas, and vocalist Craig Brown.  MFSB’s Vince Montana on vibes/timpani and Larry Washington on bongos and congas joined in, too.

1973 saw Gamble and Huff already dipping into their vaults.  The Intruders’ Super Hits wasn’t an original album but rather a collection of the group’s pre-PIR singles including the chart-topping “Cowboys to Girls,” “(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game,” and “When We Get Married.”  It was released to keep interest in the group high after the debut earlier in 1973 of the Save the Children LP.  The tracklisting for the CD here shows two bonus cuts not included on the original LP: “(Win Place or Show) She’s a Winner” and “I’ll Always Love My Mama (Part 1).”

Similarly, The O’Jays’ In Philadelphia dated back to 1970 on Neptune Records and was reissued to capitalize on the success of the Back Stabbers LP and the singles “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train.”  Despite the title, it’s not a live album; In Philadelphia indicated the move of the Canton, Ohio group to the City of Brotherly Love with which they would forever be associated.  Billy Paul’s Feelin’ Good at the Cadillac Club was a studio set molded after his live club act and first released in 1968 on the Gamble label.  It was reissued in the wake of 360 Degrees of Billy Paul and “Me and Mrs. Jones.”

Each album in Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 2 has been remastered from the original tapes.  The whole set is packaged within a slipcase also containing a 48-page book featuring liner notes by Tony Cummings, author of the 1975 tome The Sound of Philadelphia, and a foreword by DJ Ralph Tee.  By the time this 15-volume collection is complete, all 140 or so of PIR’s original albums will be reissued.  The next installment should have more classics from MFSB, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, and The O’Jays as well as lesser-known favorites from Bunny Sigler and The Ebonys.

Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 2, due November 19, is available now for pre-order.  You’ll find the links and track listings below.

Various Artists, Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 2 (United Souls/Snapper Music, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Billy Paul, Feelin’ Good at the Cadillac Club (Philadelphia International KZ 32119)

1. Billy Boy
2. Missing You
3. Bluesette
4. On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
5. Just in Time
6. That’s Life
7. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
8. Feeling Good
9. Somewhere

CD 2: The O’Jays, In Philadelphia (Philadelphia International KZ 32120)

1. One Night Affair
2. You’re the Best Thing Since Candy
3. Branded Bad
4. I Should Be Your Lover
5. Looky Looky (Look at Me Girl)
6. Deeper (In Love with You)
7. Let Me in Your World
8. Just Can’t Get Enough
9. I’ve Got the Groove
10. Little Green Apples/Something
11. It’s Too Strong

CD 3: The Intruders, Super Hits (Gamble KZ 32131)

1. Cowboys to Girls
2. Together
3. (We’ll Be) United
4. (Love Is Like A) Baseball Game
5. Slow Drag
6. When We Get Married
7. (Win, Place or Show) She’s a Winner
8. Sad Girl
9. A Love That’s Real
10. Friends No More
11. Gonna Be Strong
12. Me Tarzan, You Jane
13. Check Yourself
14. I’ll Always Love My Mama (Part 1)

CD 4: Spiritual Concept, Spiritual Concept (Philadelphia International KZ 32404)

1. Spiritual Sky
2. Let’s Take It All
3. California Woman
4. Where Are the Cares for Tomorrow?
5. Remedy
6. Get It On

CD 5: The Three Degrees, The Three Degrees (Philadelphia International KZ 32406)

1. Dirty Ol’ Man
2. Can’t You See What You’re Doing to Me
3. A Woman Needs a Good Man
4. When Will I See You Again
5. I Didn’t Know
6. I Like Being a Woman
7. If and When
8. Year of Decision

CD 6: Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Black and Blue (Philadelphia International KZ 32407)

1. Cabaret
2. The Love I Lost
3. It All Depends on You
4. Concentrate on Me
5. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)
6. Is There a Place for Me
7. I’m Weak for You
8. I’m Comin’ Home Tomorrow

CD 7: The O’Jays, Ship Ahoy (Philadelphia International KZ 32408)

1. Put Your Hands Together
2. Ship Ahoy
3. This Air I Breathe
4. You Got Your Hooks in Me
5. For the Love of Money
6. Now That We Found Love
7. Don’t Call Me Brother
8. People Keep Tellin’ Me

CD 8: Billy Paul, War of the Gods (Philadelphia International KZ 32409)

1. I See the Light
2. War of the Gods
3. The Whole Town’s Talking
4. I Was Married
5. Thanks for Saving My Life
6. Peace, Holy Peace

12-Inch Single:

1. The Love I Lost – Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
2. It’s Too Strong – The O’Jays