Well this really will put me in the lions den. Have been a big fan of Philly since the early seventies when the city was put well and truly on the music map in terms of commercial success. Mainly due to the extraordinary output from Gamble & Huff who had paid their dues in the sixties by delivering brilliant soul music on lables such as Neptune and Gamble. Over time they grew in stature and developed a sophisticated sound that still sounds fresh to this day.
However, worldwide acclaim was only theirs when they launched Philadelphia International Records when the lable became, dare I say it, as prolific as Motown. As with the Detroit lable's own Funk Brothers, PIR had a group of session musicians who had also paid their dues. They too were the somewhat unsung heroes of the day in Philly.
Those in the know knew their names. Baker, Harris, Young, Montana, Kersey, Eli, Chambers and many more. In 1972 these musicians gathered together for another day at Sigma Sound Studio to record a track written by William DeVaughn and with John Davis producing. The song, Be Thankful For What You Got, laid in the vaults until 1974 when it finally saw a release on Roxbury. It became an instant hit selling millions worldwide and I remember reordering it many times at my little record shop in Soho. One of those records that, once it gets under your skin, never let's go.
So it was with some trepidation that I decided to ask Zoe Leone to record a duet version over the original recording. I personally feel the result pays subtle tribute and complements rather than detracts from DeVaughns epic masterpiece.
Well this really will put me in the lions den. Have been a big fan of Philly since the early seventies when the city was put well and truly on the music map in terms of commercial success. Mainly due to the extraordinary output from Gamble & Huff who had paid their dues in the sixties by delivering brilliant soul music on lables such as Neptune and Gamble. Over time they grew in stature and developed a sophisticated sound that still sounds fresh to this day.
However, worldwide acclaim was only theirs when they launched Philadelphia International Records when the lable became, dare I say it, as prolific as Motown. As with the Detroit lable's own Funk Brothers, PIR had a group of session musicians who had also paid their dues. They too were the somewhat unsung heroes of the day in Philly.
Those in the know knew their names. Baker, Harris, Young, Montana, Kersey, Eli, Chambers and many more. In 1972 these musicians gathered together for another day at Sigma Sound Studio to record a track written by William DeVaughn and with John Davis producing. The song, Be Thankful For What You Got, laid in the vaults until 1974 when it finally saw a release on Roxbury. It became an instant hit selling millions worldwide and I remember reordering it many times at my little record shop in Soho. One of those records that, once it gets under your skin, never let's go.
So it was with some trepidation that I decided to ask Zoe Leone to record a duet version over the original recording. I personally feel the result pays subtle tribute and complements rather than detracts from DeVaughns epic masterpiece.
I hope you like it too.
Dave Burton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZobmPUdmqw&sns=em
Edited by soulmusicforever