THE 138th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 138th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Submitted to the Website "6 Million Steps", by Alan Champ, Its from a Series of 5 Mixes, Featuring Music from the Great Record Label "Philadelphia International" its called "6MS Philly Mix-2" I will be Featuring All the Mixes over the Next Month, there's some Classic Philly Tracks on here, including some Teddy Pendergrass, Jean Carne, O'Jays, M.F.S.B, Archie Bell & the Drells, and Dexter Wansel!

Press play button below, check Full playlist here!

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FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 8

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have them on CD today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

# 8...ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS........DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY

Released in December of 1975, Archie Bell & the Drells Debut Album for TSOP was called "Dance Your Troubles Away" it had been over 6 years since their previous release, "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" on Atlantic Records!

The Album, Recorded at the Sigma Studios in Philadelphia, had 7 tracks (as follows) varying from Disco to Ballads to Mid-Tempo Tracks, this was because TSOP (Gamble & Huff) were uncertain how to Market the Band!


A1 : Let's Groove
A2 : I Could Dance All Night
A3 : I Wont Leave you Honey, Never


B1 : Dance Your Troubles Away
B2 : The Soul City Walk
B3 : Let's Go Disco
B4 : I love You (But You Don't Even Know It)


Several different Writers and Producers were Employed for the making of the Album, the Producer's were as follows:


Bunny Sigler : A2 A3
Gene McFadden : A1 B1 B2 B4 
John Whitehead : A1 B1 B2 B4
Kenny Gamble : B2
Leon Huff : A1 B1 B2 B3 B4
Victor Carstarphen : A1 B1 B2 B4 

Their were 3 Single Releases from the Album, The First was 6 months Prior (in June) to the Album Release was "I Could Dance All Night" which Reached # 25 on the US R&B Chart,  the Second Single was "The Soul City Walk" which reached # 42 on th US R&B Chart, it also Charted in The UK Pop Charts at # 13, the third & Final Single was "Let's Groove" which was the Highest Placed Single at # 7 in the US R&B Chart. 


The Album turned out to be "Archie Bell & Thr Drells" Best Selling Album in the US, Charting at # 95 in the Pop Chart.

The Backing Vocals and Rhythm Section for the Album were supplied by "Instant Funk"

It was a Great Album with only One Track I didn't Like too much, and that was "Let's Go Disco" My Favorite Tracks were "Let's Groove " and of course "Soul City Walking" 

I can quite clearly remember Buying this Album from "Airfield Tapes & Records Too" (a Record Shop in My Town, back then) and walking back to Work, that Afternoon and then going Back Home, to put it on my "GEC" Record Player!


A few facts concerning the Band:   
Archie Bell & the Drells came from Houston, Texas, as well as Archie, the Drells were Lee Bell (Archie's Brother) James Wise and Willie Purnell.

They had Recorded for "Gamble & Huff" previously in the 60's, but on the Atlantic Record Label.


The Band had Re-United for this Album and this was their 4th out of 8 Albums Recorded during their Recording History.

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM HERE

CHECKOUT ALL PREVIOUS RELEASES HERE

CHECKOUT  IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE ALBUM HERE

FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 1

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's


The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I would have purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have many of them on CD today.


You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!


# NUMBER ONE


ARTIST..........THE INTRUDERS
ALBUM..........ENERGY OF LOVE
YEAR OF RELEASE..........1974
RECORD LABEL..........T.S.O.P
Tracklisting:

A1  Energy Of Love (3:33) 
A2  Rainy Days And Mondays (6:28) 
A3  A Nice Girl Like You (3:30) 
A4  Jan (4:35) 
A5  Be Thankful For What You Got (3:13) 

B1  What's Easy For Two Is So Hard For One (2:23) 
B2  Lonely Lonely (3:30) 
B3  Everyone's A Star (5:42) 
B4  Plain Ol' Fashioned Girl (2:50) 
B5  Be On Time (4:54)

The First Track "Energy of Love" is my Favorite, what a Great Track that is!


The Album contained a Couple of Great Remakes from other Artists, including:


Rainy Days and Mondays, a Carpenters Original from 1971. A Great Remake, but I liked the other Remake even more, the Great Track, Be Thankful For What You're Got, written by (and a Hit for) William DeVaughan ( I dont know which Version is the Best!).

The other 3 Tracks I used to play all the Time back then and Now on CD (in the House and Car) are "A Nice Girl" Whats Easy For Two" and "Everyones a Star" 


Incidentally, do think, like me that "Everyones a Star" is very Similar to "Be Thankful"


All and All, this is a Great Album, I'm still Playing it some 37 Years later, so it must have Something!


The Album had 3 Single releases, they were Tracks A.3, A.2 and A.1 in that order.

The Intruders Originally formed in 1960 as a Doo-Wop Group, by around 1966 they had linked up with Songwriters and Producers, Gamble and Huff, during the 60's they had several Tracks Released on the Gamble Record Label.


They later moved to Gamble and Huff's more Successful Record Labels, "Philadelphia International" and "T.S.O.P"


During their time "The Intruders" had several Different Line-Up changes, and in 1975 they Disbanded after about a 6 Album Career, when they Re-Formed in 1984, with a Release on a British Record Label, non of the Original Members were Present!   

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM