VA [2024] - Thom Bell, Didn't I Blow Your Mind? (The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969 - 1983) [CDTOP 522] (Full Album)

The word 'legend' is bandied around far too often, but Thom Bell's contribution to soul music in the late 60s and 70s and even into the 80s is undeniable. As a member of the Philadelphia 'holy trinity', Mighty Three Music with Gamble & Huff, he helped change the landscape of soul music.

Bell, along with his long-time writing partner Linda Creed, penned as well as arranged and produced so many songs now regarded as soul classics. We won't wax lyrical any further as we did a tribute to him when he passed in Dec 2022 aged 79 along with a 40 track playlist of his compositions, arrangements, productions.

Ace Records are releasing the sequel to their first acclaimed compilation of Bell’s productions and arrangements, "Ready Or Not - Thom Bell's Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978", with "Thom Bell, Didn't I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969 - 1983". It's due for release on 31 May and available to pre-order now from Ace Records on CD only.

As is the case with many Kent releases, it comes with a 16 page glossy booklet with loads of colour photos, details about the tracks and sleeve notes from Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) with quotes from an interview with Bell in 2020.

Many of the 20 songs will need no introduction but there may be several lesser know ones that may surprise you.

A few of our highlights include: Eloise Laws "Got You Into My Life", Nancy Wilson "Joe",  Phyllis Hyman "Let Somebody Love Me" and Dee Dee Bridgewater "One In a Million (Guy)".

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

01 - The Delfonics - Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

02 - The Chargers - You Gotta Be A Lady

03 - Spinners - The Rubberband Man

04 - Eloise Laws - Got You Into My Life

05 - The Stylistics - You Are Everything

06 - Ronnie Dyson - Give In To Love

07 - Elton John - Nice And Slow

08 - New York City - Take My Hand

09 - Deniece Williams - Silly

10 - Dionne Warwick & Spinners - Then Came You

11 - Lou Rawls - Will You Kiss Me One More Time

12 - Little Anthony & The Imperials - Lazy Susan

13 - The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly, Wow

14 - Nancy Wilson - Joe

15 - Johnny Mathis - Loving You, Losing You

16 - Jerry Butler - Walking Around In Teardrops

17 - Bell & James - Nobody Knows It

18 - Phyllis Hyman - Let Somebody Love Me

19 - Dee Dee Bridgewater - One In a Million (Guy)

20 - The O'Jays - Brandy

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul / 70s Soul / 80s Soul
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	CD
Label:	Kent
Cat No:	CDTOP 522
Date:	31/05/2024
Price:	£14.11

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Thom Bell - A Profile

Legendary Philadelphia songwriter, musician, arranger and producer Thom Bell, who died on 22 Dec 2022, was born on this day in 1943 and would have been 80 today. This is a re-post of the tribute for him from December.

There are conflicting dates for his birthday, Wikipedia states both 27 Jan and also 26 Jan and  other sources state 25 Jan, so we could be a day or two out, but consensus seems to be 27 Jan.

Where do you even begin to write about his contribution to soul music? Best just to let his music do the talking with the playlist below which only scrapes the surface.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 26 or 27 Jan 1943 but raised in Philadelphia and trained as a classical musician. He became one of the architects of Philly soul along with Gamble & Huff who formed a publishing company Mighty Three Music together, but he never partnered with them when they formed Philadelphia International Records choosing to go his own way.

Bell recorded a single with Kenny Gamble in 1962 as Kenny & Tommy on Heritage and was a member of Kenny Gamble & The Romeos with Gamble & Huff who released a couple of singles in 1965 and 1967. He focused on writing, arranging and producing and is perhaps best known for his work with The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners in particular. 

We mentioned him only a few days ago when posting First Choice The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions as he was A&R man for Philly Groove and worked with their main act The Delfonics on Moon Shot from 1966 before they joined Philly Groove in 1968. He had been working with the likes of Chubby Checker at Cameo Parkway prior to that aged only 22.

By 1971 he teamed up with Linda Creed and they produced multiple hits initially for The Stylistics and then The Spinners who had just left Motown.

His awards include a Grammy for Best Producer of the Year (1974), induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (Jun 2006) and induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum (2016).

The playlist below selects six tracks from each of The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners most written by Bell with a couple not written but arranged or produced by him. Then for our rare/Northern Soul brethren a selection of tracks he was involved with in some capacity, either writer, arranger or producer, including a few with his cousin Archie Bell (& The Drells) and the mighty O'Jays.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

R.I.P. - Thom Bell (27 Jan 1943 - 22 Dec 2022)

What's the saying, 'it never rains but it pours'? After a tribute yesterday to Sam Hutchins of The Masqueraders, news has arrived of the death of a true soul music legend, songwriter, musician, arranger and producer Thom Bell aged 79.

Where do you even begin to write about his contribution to soul music? Best just to let his music do the talking with the playlist below which only scrapes the surface.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 26 Jan 1943 but raised in Philadelphia and trained as a classical musician. He became one of the architects of Philly soul along with Gamble & Huff who formed a publishing company Mighty Three Music together, but he never partnered with them when they formed Philadelphia International Records choosing to go his own way.

Bell recorded a single with Kenny Gamble in 1962 as Kenny & Tommy on Heritage and was a member of Kenny Gamble & The Romeos with Gamble & Huff who released a couple of singles in 1965 and 1967. He focused on writing, arranging and producing and is perhaps best known for his work with The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners in particular. 

We mentioned him only a few days ago when posting First Choice The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions as he was A&R man for Philly Groove and worked with their main act The Delfonics on Moon Shot from 1966 before they joined Philly Groove in 1968. He had been working with the likes of Chubby Checker at Cameo Parkway prior to that aged only 22.

By 1971 he teamed up with Linda Creed and they produced multiple hits initially for The Stylistics and then The Spinners who had just left Motown.

His awards include a Grammy for Best Producer of the Year (1974), induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (Jun 2006) and induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum (2016).

The playlist below selects six tracks from each of The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners most written by Bell with a couple not written but arranged or produced by him. Then for our rare/Northern Soul brethren a selection of tracks he was involved with in some capacity, either writer, arranger or producer, including a few with his cousin Archie Bell (& The Drells) and the mighty O'Jays.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved