Post Description

BBE Records proudly presents its 5th and arguably most exciting compilation with the French dj and ambassador of disco, Dimitri from Paris. This compilation focuses on Dimitri’s essential disco era tracks - made in Philadelphia, that feature the core of the rhythm section that created and defined the sound of the genre. For this compilation Dimitri has exclusively reworked 5 tracks from the original multitrack tapes of Gamble and Huff with a further 4 being edited from the original 2 track stereo masters.

It should be noted that nearly all of the disco output from Philadelphia between 1973-1980 featured the work of the same studio musicians known as –The Family, MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother), The Salsoul Orchestra, Baker - Harris -Young Productions, The John Davis Monster Orchestra or the Montana Sextet depending on who the recording was for. The classic line up of musicians included Karl Chambers and Earl Young (Founder of The Trammps and creator of the disco drum pattern which laid the template for every dance record since) on drums; Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli (Original MFSB member), and TJ Tindall on guitar; Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass; Vince Montana (vibes/arranger and founder of the Salsoul Orchestra) and Larry Washington on percussion and Leon Huff, Thom Bell and Ron Kersey on keyboards. Don Renaldo taking care of strings and horns featuring soloist John Bonnie Rocco Bene on Trumpet.
Last but not least the remixers and Tom Moulton (Pioneer of the Disco Mix, the 12 inch vinyl format, the break down sections of records and supplier of missing masters for this compilation) who influenced the popularity of songs with his legendary mixes. For Salsoul Walter Gibbons was the owners choice. Honorable mentions go to Larry Levan and Shep Pettibone for their contributions in this field.
These guys were the bridge between the labels and the club dancers and understood how to make a record work in a club.

Undisputedly, as producers Thom Bell and Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia soul sound evolved from the simpler arrangements of the late 1960s into a style featuring lush strings, thumping basslines and sliding hi-hat rhythms; Philadelphia gave birth to and defined the brand new Disco genre. The anthemic “The Love I Lost” is recognised as the first commercial disco record and was recorded at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia in 1973. Recording engineer, Joe Tarsia founded Sigma Sound in 1968 where virtually of all the disco recordings on Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International, Salsoul, Philly World, Gold Mind, Atlantic were made, thereby maintaining the unique sound of Philadelphia. Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the USA to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console automation. David Bowie recorded his Young Americans album at this legendary studio as was Dusty Springfields - A Brand New Me, while Elton John's 1977 Philadelphia sessions were in such demand recently that they provided a hit single ('Are You Ready For Love') and CD re-issue 3 decades after the recordings were first made.

By 1975, Philadelphia International and the Philadelphia soul and disco genre’s it helped define had largely eclipsed Motown and the Motown Sound in popularity and Gamble and Huff were the premiere producers of soul with nearly 200 gold and platinum records to their credit. Salsoul capitalized on the success of the sound by employing the same musicians whilst focusing on club music predominantly.
In a recent Blues and Soul interview Kenny Gamble admits to passing over Prince’s demo. Other acts for whom Philly collaborations didn’t happen were Miles Davis, Bob Marley, Barry White and Earth Wind and Fire. Time simply didn’t allow these to happen.

Notable acts rushed to Philadelphia to capture the sound. Ex Motown cohorts The Jacksons and Eddie Kendricks utilized the above classic line of musicians up to embrace the new sound and extend their careers. Simultaneously, Salsoul Orchestra and the John Davis Orchestra were essentially basically a moniker core rhythm section of MFSB and recorded several disco hits outside of the PIR umbrella.

Now for the first time ever Gamble and Huff have given a label access to the multi track tapes of some Philly International platinum selling classics such as The Love I Lost, Bad Luck featuring the vocals of the late great Teddy Pendergrass, the first black male to release 5 consecutive platinum albums in the United States.

Dimitri's selection on CD1 traces the evolution of the 70’s disco groove from the first ever disco hit record, to the rejuvenation of the Jackson 5’s career. Interspersed with obscurities such as Charles Mann to the magnificent Teddy Pendergrass, Philly International’s answer to Marvin Gaye. CD2 of the compilation pays homage to the original creators and innovators of the remix and extended edits with reworkings exclusively by Dimitri from Paris.

Tracklist

CD1 The Originals :
04:09 | 01. Teddy Pendergrass - You Can't Hide From Yourself
04:45 | 02. Eddie Kendricks - He's A Friend
05:39 | 03. Philly Devotions - Hurt So Bad
08:00 | 04. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Bad Luck
04:28 | 05. The Jacksons - Living Together
05:57 | 06. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Tell The World How I Feet About 'Cha Baby
05:09 | 07. John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Night And Day
07:51 | 08. Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way
07:06 | 09. The Trammps - The Night The Lights Went Out
06:25 | 10. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - The Love I Lost
04:56 | 11. Charles Mann - Do It Again
04:28 | 12. Teddy Pendergrass - The More I Get, The More I Want
09:47 | 13. TJM - I Don't Need No Music

CD2 The Reworks:
11:43 | 01. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - The Love I Lost (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
09:43 | 02. Philly Devotions - Hurt So Bad (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
07:55 | 03. The Jacksons - Living Together (A Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)
09:12 | 04. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Bad Luck (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)
08:27 | 05. Teddy Pendergrass - The More I Get, The More I Want (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
06:27 | 06. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Tell The World How I Feel About ‘Cha Baby (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)
08:58 | 07. Teddy Pendergrass - You Can’t Hide From Yourself (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
07:39 | 08. Eddie Kendricks - He's A Friend (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
07:33 |09. The Trammps - The Night The Lights Went Out (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)

CD3 Japan Only Bonus Disc
10:44 | 01. The Love I Lost (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Blend - Take 2)
09:32 | 02. The Love I Lost (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Instrumental)
08:56 | 03. You Can't Hide From Yourself (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Version)
06:37 | 04. You Can't Hide From Yourself (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Instrumental)
09:42 | 05. Hurt So Bad (Dimitri From Paris Crooze Groove)
08:26 | 06. Hurt So Bad (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Instrumental)
08:34 | 07. The More I Get, The More I Want (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Instrumental)
11:29 | 08. He's A Friend (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Instrumental)