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/ Billy Paul

March 7, 2022 By Joe Marchese 10 Comments

VMP Philadelphia Intl Anthology

The legacy of Philadelphia International Records is as mighty as the famous three men most associated with the label: co-founders and songwriter-producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and songwriter-producer-conductor-arranger Thom Bell.  The three men didn't do it alone, though; the PIR story involves the dozens of talented artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, and arrangers who passed through the doors of engineer Joe Tarsia's Sigma Sound Studios on North 12th Street in Philadelphia,

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Dexter Wansel, Gamble and Huff, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Leon Huff, Lou Rawls, MFSB, The O'Jays, The Three Degrees, Thom Bell

November 19, 2021 By The Second Disc 5 Comments

Springsteen No Nukes

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (Columbia/Legacy) 2CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts features newly remixed and restored audio and video footage from Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's sets at Madison Square Garden in New York City in

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Blues, Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Holiday, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Adele, Billy Paul, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Colin Blunstone, Dion, Donna Summer, Genesis, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Hasaan Ibn Ali, Jamie Cullum, KISS, Leo Nocentelli, Lucinda Williams, The Intruders, The O'Jays

September 14, 2021 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

VMP Philadelphia Intl Anthology

Sony Music's celebration of Philadelphia International Records' 50th anniversary has so far encompassed a new, vinyl-only series of hits collections as well as the first two releases in the ongoing complete albums series of CD box sets from the U.K.'s Snapper/United Souls label.  Now, a major component of the golden anniversary celebration for the house that Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff built has been announced by the Vinyl Me, Please record club. VMP Anthology: The Story of Philadelphia

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Dexter Wansel, Gamble and Huff, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, MFSB, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays, The Three Degrees

September 8, 2021 By Joe Marchese 7 Comments

Satisfaction Guaranteed Philadelphia International Packshot

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

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, MFSB, Spiritual Concept, The Intruders, The O'Jays, The Three Degrees

July 16, 2021 By The Second Disc Leave a Comment

Laura Nyro Trees of the Ages

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Tina Turner, Foreign Affair [Various Formats] (Parlophone/Rhino) 4CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (white variant) Rhino and Parlophone revisit Tina Turner's 1989 album featuring "The Best" in a variety of formats including a 4CD/DVD Super Deluxe Edition and 2CD and 2LP Deluxe Editions.  The Super Deluxe Edition

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Billy Paul, Boyz II Men, Brian Wilson, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Il Divo, John Mayer, Laura Nyro, Lou Rawls, Smokey Robinson, Teddy Pendergrass, The Allman Brothers Band, The Flaming Lips, The Intruders, The O'Jays, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tina Turner, Vince Guaraldi

June 11, 2021 By The Second Disc 1 Comment

RSD Drops 2021

Once again, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little - make that a lot - different this year.  The usual offerings have been split among two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 taking place tomorrow, June 12, at your local independent record retailer.  Drop 2 then takes place on July 17.  Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions.  So please check in with your favorite store to

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Kenny Loggins, Nancy Wilson, Peter Frampton, Steely Dan, Tears for Fears, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays, The Police, The Who

May 28, 2021 By The Second Disc Leave a Comment

Get On Board the Soul Train

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Various Artists, Get on Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia Vol. 1 (Snapper/United Souls)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Burning Shed) Get On Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 1 is the first in a series of box sets from the U.K.-based United Souls label, an imprint of Snapper Music, which will ultimately collect the entire Philadelphia International albums discography on CD. 

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Classical/Opera, Disco/Dance, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Abbey Lincoln, Belinda Carlisle, Billy Paul, David Bowie, Dick Jensen, Donald Fagen, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, John Cleese, k.d. lang, MFSB, Moby, Nat Turner Rebellion, Pink Floyd, The Intruders, The O'Jays

May 25, 2021 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Best of Philadelphia International

The Philadelphia International Records 50th anniversary campaign kicks off this Friday, May 25, with the release of Get on Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 1 from the U.K. Snapper Music label's United Souls imprint.  The 8-CD hardcover book-style box presents the first eight albums released on PIR, and the series will eventually encompass every one of PIR's LPs on CD. On the domestic front, Legacy Recordings issues its first anniversary release this

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Gamble and Huff, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, The Intruders, The O'Jays, Thom Bell

May 15, 2021 By The Second Disc Leave a Comment

Stream

While The Second Disc prides itself on connecting people to reissues and box sets they can keep on their shelves, it's no secret that listening audiences are also digital - catalogue music lovers, too - and our passion is connecting people to music from the past that they might adore. So we've introduced a new Saturday feature: The Weekend Stream, which focuses on hidden gems that recently made it to digital channels that might make your playlists a little brighter! Various Artists,

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Categories: Features, The Weekend Stream Formats: Digital Download, Digital Streaming Genre: Disco/Dance, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Lionel Richie, Lou Rawls, MFSB, The Intruders, The O'Jays, The Three Degrees, They Might Be Giants

March 8, 2021 By Joe Marchese 14 Comments

Get On Board the Soul Train

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 CD box sets presenting every PIR album in chronological order.  Now, the first of those box sets is available for pre-order with a release date of May 28. Get On Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 1 is a product of the U.K.-based United Souls, an imprint of

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Dick Jensen, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, MFSB, The Intruders, The O'Jays, Thom Bell

April 11, 2019 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Billy Paul Me and Mrs. Jones Anthology

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

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

November 6, 2018 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Billy Paul War of the Gods and 360 Degrees SACD

The U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label is continuing to grow its SACD catalogue of quadraphonic releases.  Following recent titles from The Guess Who, Rick Derringer, Stephen Sondheim, and others, Vocalion has just released another batch of vintage quad mixes from the worlds of jazz (George Benson's Body Talk, Weather Report's Tale Spinnin'), rock (the Jim Peterik-affiliated jazz-rock fusion group Chase's Pure Music and Chase), and R&B.  In the latter category comes three albums from Philadelphia

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

April 25, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Farewell to another remarkable voice.  Philly soul and R&B legend Billy Paul has passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of rich, passionate and sublimely soulful music.  Big Break Records has been one of the stewards of Billy's musical history on CD; below, we've reprinted our review of 2014's reissue of Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club in this great artist's memory. Big Break Records and Billy Paul - they've got a thing going on. The label, an imprint

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul

January 20, 2014 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Big Break Records and Billy Paul - they've got a thing going on. The label, an imprint of the Cherry Red Group, has just returned to the soul titan's catalogue for the sixth time - and with this release has gone back to the very beginning.  BBR's previous reissues from the "Me and Mrs. Jones" singer have explored his Philadelphia International discography as well as his Neptune release Ebony Woman and  a post-PIR album for Total Experience Records.  Now, the label has turned its attention to

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul

May 29, 2013 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

billy paul lately

Today we're taking a look at two recent reissues from Big Break Records.  Both Billy Paul's Lately and Gap Band VII were originally released by Total Experience Records, and both were the production work of Jonah Ellis.  Big Break has expanded and remastered both albums. Billy Paul, Lately (Total Experience, 1985 - reissued Big Break CDBBR 0224, 2013) Could anyone among us have an inkling or a clue, what magic feats of wizardry and voodoo you can do?  And who would ever guess what powers

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Funk, R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, The Gap Band

January 29, 2013 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

carmen mcrae i am music1

Timeless soul music knows no regional boundaries, at least based on the latest quintet of releases from Cherry Red's Big Break Records imprint.  With this group of reissues, you'll travel to Philadelphia by way of Hawaii, Oakland, Harlem and Chicago.  All of the titles previewed below are available now in the U.K. and next Tuesday, February 5, in the U.S.! Two new titles hail from the Philadelphia International Records catalogue.  Perhaps most exciting is the first CD release outside of Japan

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Azteca, Billy Paul, Carmen McRae, Dick Jensen, Tyrone Davis

November 28, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

billy paul war of the gods

When Philadelphia International Records turned 40 this past year, there was no single campaign to recognize the milestone.  In the U.S., Legacy Recordings offered up the sizzling rare concert Golden Gate Groove, and the U.K.'s Harmless label delivered the most comprehensive box set to date of the label's music.  But a great deal of the heavy lifting has come from another U.K. label, Big Break Records.  The BBR team has delivered a selection of generously expanded, beautifully designed album

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Billy Paul, Bunny Sigler

September 5, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

billy paul 360 degrees

Philadelphia International Records turns 40 this year, and Big Break Records keeps adding more candles to the birthday cake!  The label's latest release from the PIR catalogue is one of the mightiest albums ever produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff: 1972's 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, the long-player which introduced the world to the steamy soul epic "Me and Mrs. Jones."  This expanded and remastered edition follows BBR's reissue earlier this year of Paul's more jazz-oriented Ebony Woman, from

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

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