The Philadelphia Signature Sound in 1986

Did you that over thirty years ago in the month August 1986 two Female artists who dominated the American Billboard R&B Singles Chart for the entire month of August with singles produced and recorded in the city of Philadelphia, at different recording studios. These two female recording solo artists were Shirley Jones and Jean Carne.

Both artists shared the number one position for two weeks each, beginning with Jean Carne taking a run at the top of the Billboard Soul and R&B Singles Chart week-ending 

The album recorded by Jean Carne
featuring the classic hit single "Closer Than Closer"

2^nd August 1986 (2 weeks) with “Closer than Closer” Omni 99531. Which was produced by the late Grover Washington, Jr. Also Jean was once signed to Philadelphia International Records during the 1970s to the early 1980s.

The album by recorded by Shirley Jones  featuring the number one  "Do You Get Enough Love" Shirley Jones achieved the top position on 16th August 1986. Co-Produced by Kenny Gamble and Bunny Sigler. The single “Do You Get enough Love” on Philadelphia International Records 50034, was the second single for Philadelphia International Records to have achieved one during the 1980s, with Patti LaBelle’s single been the first in 1984 for “If Only You Knew”, Philadelphia International Records 04248, 28th January 1984 (4 weeks). The single was extracted “I’m In Love Again” album, been the last gold certified album to be distributed CBS Records for label for PIR (Philadelphia International Records) before expiration of distribution deal with label and CBS Records around 1985.

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The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 8

                                           Featuring female solo artist

Vanessa Williams gold certified album

Actress, fashion model and singer Vanessa Williams became the next female artist to enjoy success with a more updated Philly soul sound. The number one single “Dreamin’” produced by Donald Robinson was taken from her gold-certifed debut album “The Right Stuff” which was released on February 1^st 1988 on Wing/Mercury Records. “Dreamin’” peaked at number one week-ending February 18^th 1989 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Singles Chart.

The gold certified album by Regina Belle

Around this time, when Vanessa Williams was enjoying success with her debut single and album, Jean Carne made her final top forty album “You’re a Part of Me” released by Atlantic/Omni Records (1988). The album features a remake of Aretha Franklin’s classic “Ain’t No Way”, produced by Nick Martinelli, which peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart.

Jean Carne last studio album
 during the 1980s
featuring the soul classic 
Ain't No Way" recorded during 
the 1970s originally by Aretha Franklin

This  was followed by Regina Belle during the same period with her second studio album which went  gold with the help of Nick Martinelli who produced five tracks on the “Stay with Me” album, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Albums Chart week-ending December 2^nd 1989 (1 week).  Taken from the album was the number one single “Make It Like Was” (produced by Nick Martinelli) which peaked at the top  of the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart week-ending February 3^rd 1990 (1 week).

During that period in the late 1980s, Jean Carne recorded a remake of the Aretha Franklin classic "Ain't No Way" on her solo album "You're a Part of Me" which was released in 1988, using many of  famous session musicians who played on many Philly classic records during the 1970s.

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The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 7

                                    Featuring female solo artist



The album "Watch Out" containing the
 Quiet Storm  single "Fantasy"

A Quiet Storm Philly classic ballad “Fantasy”, stunningly performed by Brandi Wells, is the highlight of her debut album “Watch Out”, released by WMOT Records in 1984. The track was produced by Nick Martinelli and arranged by Dexter Wansell at Alpha Recording Studio. They also produced and arranged the title track which was a top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Singles Chart.

The album "Just Like Dreamin'" featuring the Philly
 classic remake "I'll Be Around"

The now-defunct  label Philly World Records released a solo album by Terri Wells in 1984. The entire album was produced by Nick Martinelli with string arrangements by the late Norman Harris (former staff member of Philadelphia International Records during its golden era). The singles released from the album were “You Make It Heaven”, “Just Like Dreamin’” and the dance remake of the Spinners’ classic hit “I’ll Be Around”, a gold-certified single recorded originally during the 1970s at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. “I’ll Be Around” was a big hit for Terri Wells in the UK where both the single and album  has  a  cult following.

Joanna Gardner only solo
 album of her career

The following year her label mate Joanna Gardner released a studio solo album “Joanna Gardner”  and Veronica Underwood’s self-titled album “Veronica Underwood” also appeared. On both albums music styles include electronic, funk and soul. All three albums were recorded at Alpha Recording Studio, also known as Alpha International Recording Studios. The legendary Bobby Eli (rhythm guitar player in MFSB studio band) produced a track for Joanna Gardner called “I Could Never Love Another Like You” featuring string performance and arrangements by Don Renaldo and  his group of string players, with synthesizer performance by Donald R. Robinson.   The song has a 1980s sound with a 1970s Philly soul mix.

Featuring the Quiet Storm single
 "We're Gonna Make It"

“Victim Of Desire” from Veronica Underwood’s self-titled album is a definitive 1980s synthesizer sound, with a powerful vocal performance by Veronica Underwood and a backing designed for the dance floor. Another interesting track from the album is the sweet ballad “We’re Gonna Make It” which fits the Quiet Storm format on radio using live instruments and synthesizers.

                          
                                 



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