The Tymes - The Tymes (1974)

From The Lost Record Covers Club One of my favourite 70s soul album. Discovered on the back of the singles "Trustmaker" and the massive no1 Uk hit "Ms Grace" this set really hangs together with a great production and set of songs.  The longtime vocal group were well into their second career bythen having emerged in the 50s.  The album was a Philly triumph featuring production by Billy Jackson. Recording was split between the New York RCA studios and Sigma Sound in Philadelphia. Strings and horns throughout were from TSOP (the Sound Of Philadelphia) - possibly including most of MFSB. Apart from the singles the standouts are  the reworked "So Much In Love"; "Someway, Somehow I'm Keepin' You" and "The Sha-La Bandit" but the crown goes to my must have "Are You Lookin'" which I have seen referred to as "Same Cloud" in other places.  A brilliant vocal perfomance against a top arrangement and gathering crescendo of an ending. This copy is an orginal US pressing: RCA APL1-0727 available on CD coupled with the "People" album under the collected title "Grace and Favour"

Major Harris - My Way (1974)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Unknown as a solo in the UK before "Love Won't Let Me Wait" a huge single here and around the world, Harris had spent 3 years, from 1971, in the Delfonics, a group who are a key part of the development ofthe smooth soul sound of Philadephia. Whilst his tenue in the band was after their run of major hits ("Ready or Not", "La La Means I Love You" being massive poo as well as RnB hits) the band's contiuning collabratons with Philly musicians  and pproductions teams set this solo outing up perfectly.

This album is Philly soul at it's best.  Produced by Bobby Eli and Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey the participants are the cream of that smooth soul sound.  Yes people would later call this DISCO and you could dance to it but that description alone sells it short.  Even the version of the Sinatra standard "My Way" carries itself well.  "Two Wrongs" and "Loving You Is Mellow" keep to the the groove and the album works as a package really well.

Recommended


Atlantic - US Album SD 18119 (has been issued on CD in the UK in the last couple of years after some time of only being available on Japanese import).

Elton John - Mama Can't Buy Me Love (1979)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

In '76 when Philadelphia Soul was at it's peak, Elton John went into the studio with producer Thom Bell (The Stylistics, Johnny Mathis, The Spinners) and recorded an album called "Victim Of Love".  This would sit on the shelf until 1979.  By this time Elton had moved his label (Rocket) to Phonogram and returned to the charts with the succesful "A Single Man" album.  He followed up by dusting these tracks off and issuing them as "Victim Of Love" subtitled "The Thom Bell Sessions".  This was the first single - it was poorly received as was the follow up "Are You Ready For Love" although that track had a revival in the early noughties.  A Missed Gem.

The sessions featured the Spinners together with a band supplemented by MFSB and were recorded at Sigma Sound and in Washington.

This is a US 7" version (issued on MCA) with a Cat No. of MCA-41042