It's interesting that the proto-disco was not the product of some artsy avant-garde,
but rather of a craftsman-like approach to commercial music. These were
not only composers, songwriters and musicians, they were very shrewd
businessmen. The production mill approach to pop music had fallen out
of favor in the rock world, but basically, Gamble and Huff can also be
seen as carrying on the ambitious orchestral pop approach of Pet
Sounds/SMiLE era Brian Wilson, or Phil Spector.
MFSB, the band, and the Philly sound nexus or producers and recording professionals, constitute the artistic community that created the original disco. Seen in this light, MFSB is one of the most important groups in the history of American pop music. Largely unheralded outside the dance music community, MFSB deserves a place on Mt Olympus or wherever the gods of music abide.
.
MFSB, the band, and the Philly sound nexus or producers and recording professionals, constitute the artistic community that created the original disco. Seen in this light, MFSB is one of the most important groups in the history of American pop music. Largely unheralded outside the dance music community, MFSB deserves a place on Mt Olympus or wherever the gods of music abide.
.
Philly soul is cooler and smoother than disco. Little
more than a faster tempo and a change of venue was needed to tweak cool
Philly soul into hot New York disco.
Due to arguments about money, the core of MFSB including bassist Ronnie
Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young left Gamble and
Huff. They were recruited by New York-based SalSoul Records where they formed the core of what would become the SalSoul Orchestra
--- the successors of the MFSB magic and the house band for the label. The
transition from Philadelphia to New York marks the true beginning of
disco, and the separation of Philly Soul and disco into distinct but
overlapping genres.
This 1973 song written and produced by Gamble and Huff couples the disco sound with a really great song.
1975, by McFadden and Whitehead, produced by Gamble and Huff.
This 1973 song written and produced by Gamble and Huff couples the disco sound with a really great song.
1975, by McFadden and Whitehead, produced by Gamble and Huff.
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Also from 1975, and not really disco but pure soul, this McFadden and Whitehead song hit the emotional keynote of the later garage/house music.
This 1975 track written and produced by Gamble and Huff was a kind of peak for the Philly sound.
Another Gamble and Huff 1975 classic.
(to be continued...next: the full-on SalSoul disco sound)
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