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.

©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2016

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.

                               

                              
                         ©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015 



                                                  

                                                

The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 2

Two Female artists who dominated the American Billboard R&B Singles Chart for the entire month of August 1986 with singles produced and recorded in the city of Philadelphia, at different recording studios were Shirley Jones and Jean Carne.

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

  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.

Shirley Jones achieved the top position on 16^th August 1986. Co-Produced by Kenny Gamble and Bunny Sigler. The single “Do You Get enough Love” 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, 28^th 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.

      Researched and compiled by 
                   Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
           ©Signaturesoundsonline2014-2015

The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 1

                                                Featuring female solo artist

By the 1980s, “The Sound of Philadelphia” was no longer the dominating musical force in the music industry, but it still managed to record outstanding tracks of high quality and impact. The sound was eventually overtaken by the “Minneapolis Signature Sound” according to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who were responsible for Janet Jackson major success and other artists.

The album containing the hit single.

During 1980s several Philadelphia based record producers managed to produce bona fide classic hits as early as 1982, starting with Deniece Williams hit single “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” which peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart week-ending 15^th May 1982 (2 weeks) .Both the single and the entire album "Niecy" was produced by the legendary Thom Bell ( one of the key music architect of Philadelphia Sound) and supported by many of the musicians who worked at the famous Sigma Sound Studios during the golden era of the “Philadelphia Soul Sound”. 

The gold certified album "I'm In Love Again"

The following single to make 

 it to the number-one position on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart was a song recorded by Patti LaBelle entitled “If Only You Knew”. The single was produced and co-written by Dexter Wansel with Cynthia Biggs and Kenny Gamble. The song was extracted from Patti LaBelle’s first gold album of her career. The album “I’m In Love Again” was the last Top 40 album on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart listing for Philadelphia International Records and the first for Patti LaBelle. The single “If Only You Knew” peaked at number-one week-ending 28^th January 1984 (4 weeks). Also Patti LaBelle was the first female solo artist on the world famous record label to have a gold album and a number-one single on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart. 

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