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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The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 6

                                            Featuring female solo artist

"Sweet and Wonderful" classic album

Jean Carne followed in 1981 with her album “Sweet and Wonderful” on TSOP Records, a subsidiary imprint of Philadelphia International Records. The album featuring a stunning remake of the Spinners' ballad classic “Love Don’t Love Nobody”, which went to number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Singles Chart. The album also entered the top forty of the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Albums Chart.

The album containing the
 Philly class "Yes I'm Ready"

Philly great Barbara Mason (known for her 1965 Philly classic gold record  “Yes I’m Ready”) released an album on WMOT Records in 1980 entitled “A Piece of My Life”. The album’s title track “Yes I’m Ready” benefits from an updated treatment, with an early 1980s sound. Butch Ingram was the main producer and arranger, while his brother James Ingram conducted arrangements.

The by Phyllis Hyman album
 containing the Philly classic "Old Friend"

The late Phyllis Hyman recorded a come-back album after she signed to Philadelphia International Records in 1985. “Living All Lone” was released in 1986. The title track, produced by Dexter Wansell, peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Singles Chart. It was followed by another excellent track entitled “Old Friend” which was written by the late Linda Creed and produced by Thom Bell. The song went to number fourteen on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Singles Chart. It was reported by Billboard Magazine in 1986 that album sold close to half a million copies in America. This was the best performance for Phyllis Hyman since her 1979-released album “You Know How to Love Me” on Arista Records which nearly achieved gold status. Interestingly the album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in New York City by the same production team, James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, who co-produced Stephanie Mills’ three gold albums and one gold single. Many of the produced in Philadelphia recording studios featured the brilliant string and horn arrangements conducted by the late Don Renaldo, a key figure in the development of  "The Sound of Philadelphia"
 signature sound that was popular during the 1970s. He was a key member of the MFSB studio band responsible for many of hits that came out of Philadelphia during it golden era.

                               

                              
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The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 5

                                                Featuring female solo artist

The gold album "My Melody

In the early 1980s Deniece Williams co-produced a brilliant and soulful solo album with the legendary Thom Bell (one of the key music architects of the Sound of Philadelphia ) entitled “My Melody”. The album finally received gold certification from the RIAA on 13^th October 2000, having been released on CBS Records in 1980. The album was a Top Twenty success and charted to number thirteen on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Albums Chart.

"Lonely Disco Dancer" performed by
 Dee Dee Bridgewater

During the same period Thom Bell was also producing the great Jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater with her self-titled solo album “Dee Dee Bridgewater” on Elektra Records (1980). The most  memorable track from the album is “Lonely Disco Dancer”, a dynamic mid-tempo dance recording with lush string arrangements conducted by the late Don Renaldo. It was a very popular track at both parties and discos in the UK during the early 1980s. The album was similar in style to Deniece William’s album “My Melody” .

"Easy Money" performed
Dee Dee Sharp Gamble

Another female artist who had success on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Number One Singles Chart was Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, with her last Philadelphia International Records album “Dee Dee” (1980) released both domestically in North America and internationally via CBS Records. The number one dance single was “Break and Entering/Easy Money” week-ending 28^th March 1981 (4 weeks). 

Both Dee Dee Bridgewater and Deniece Williams used the same studio musicians who worked with Thom Bell on many Philly classic hit recordings during the 1970s. 

                                   Researched and compiled by               
                                   Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
                                   ©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015 

The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 4

                                              

                                                 Featuring female solo artist

The album featuring the hit single
"Baby,Be Mine"

Another female artist who achieved success with the “Philadephia Soul sound” of the 1980s was  Miki Howard, who was once signed to Atlantic Records. Her first top five hit single on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart was “Baby, Be Mine”, which reached number five , was also produced by Nick Martinelli. It features on her second studio album “Love Confessions”. She also recorded “That’s What Love Is” as a duet with the late Gerald Levert, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart. It was produced by the then up-and-coming production team of Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon who used Sigma Sound Studios as their key recording base and also used both new and old musicians who were instrumental  to development of “The Sound of Philadephia” during its golden era during the 1970s.

"Love Under New Management"
according to Miss Howard

The next monster track was a brilliant Philly classic entitled “Love Under New Management”. The song reached its peak at number two on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart week-ending 24^th March 1990 (2 weeks). The track was taken from her self-titled second studio album released in the month of November in1989.

During the same period when both Stephanie Mills and Miki Howard were at top of their game and ruling the top of the chart. Two other female artists, neither originally from Philadelphia, enjoyed tremendous sucesses with both albums and singles partially recorded at Sigma Sound Studios with the help of producers,sound engineers and studio musicians  who resided in Philadelphia during the 1980s.

                                           Researched and compiled by               
                                          Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
                                          ©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015