The Three Degrees [2022] - The Philadelphia Re​-​edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity]

Paul Simpson goes from the obscure to the obvious with the last two Philadelphia Re-Edit Sessions. The B.B. King's sessions were a bit of a surprise making you wonder who he was going to come up with next and the pendulum swings to possibly one of the most famous Philly acts of all time The Three Degrees.

You know the drill by now, available only on Bandcamp and only for two weeks, after that (19 Aug) they're gone!

The Three Degrees went through many personnel changes being formed by school friends Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner in 1963. Porter and Turner left quite soon afterwards and were replaced by Helen Scott and Janet Harmon. Scott then left in 1966 to start a family and was replaced by Sheila Ferguson. Harmon left in 1967 and after a few replacements Valerie Holiday joined. Pinkney, Ferguson and Holiday were the members in their golden 70s Philly period with Scott returning in 1976 to replace Pinkney after they left Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label. (no disrespect to The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and others of course).

After 20 years with the group, Ferguson left in 1986 for a solo career and Fayette Pinkney died in 2009. Scott and Holiday are still with the group along with third member Freddi Poole since 2011.

They will be touring the UK from Sep to Nov. Tour dates available on their website.

All tracks are culled from three albums between 1973-77. Two tracks were only on a later UK edition of "International" in 1995 Japan and 2010 UK. 

If I had to choose a favourite I think it would have to be "I Didn't Know" a track written by Bunny Sigler and Jean Lang (on album but credited to Rena Sinakin on 45 and also misspelt as Simpkin). But then I also love the harmonies on "I Like Being A Woman" (coincidentally written by Bruce Hawes and Joe Jefferson who were writers of Silk's "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)" which has been topping the UK pop chart in recent weeks sampled by LF System). The harmonies of The Three Degrees are sublime.

1973 The Three Degrees *

1975 International ** ("With Love" in Europe and "Take Good Care Of Yourself" in UK)

1977 Standing Up For Love ***

Track Listing

01 - Dirty ol' man (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 08:25 *

02 - Can't you see what you're doing to me (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 03:39 *

03 - When will I see you again (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:16 *

04 - I didn't know (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:35 *

05 - I like being a woman (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:16 *

06 - Year of decision (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:08 *

07 - Take good care of yourself (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:12 **

08 - Get your love back (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:32 **

09 - Loving cup (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:01 **

10 - Long lost lover (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 03:52 **

11 - Standing up for love (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 06:21 ***

12 - People with feeling (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:33 ***

13 - Macaroni man (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 04:59 ***

14 - It's impossible (Instrumental) 03:48 ** (Bonus Track reissue edition)

15 - A woman needs a good man (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:14 *

16 - Midnight train (Paul Simpson Re-edit) 05:15 ** (Bonus Track reissue edition)

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul
Format:	Album / Remix
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simpson Uniquity
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/08/2022
Price:	$9.99

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