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 13th 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 28th
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.
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 24th
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.
Kevin Tomlin has over 34 years of teaching experience in Jamaica, England and America, including 15 years teaching music history of black origin and visual art in South Florida, U.S.A., through Arts in Education.
Tomlin created special training programmes and workshops for music teachers in South Florida schools, using music history as the foundation, to build exciting programmes of study and support materials for education professionals.
Since 2000, he’s taught music history, geography, religious education, history, visual arts and performing arts at schools in Hertfordshire and Essex, at both primary and secondary levels.
He conducts research and provides consultancy services for multi-media organisations, schools, recording artists, cultural and faith-based groups and entertainment professionals.
