Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

by Bill Pollak

Originally published in MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide, Gary Graff, Josh Freedom du Lac, and Jim McFarlin (eds.); Visible Ink Press (Detroit, MI): 1998.

Formed 1954 in Philadelphia, Pa. Lawrence Brown, bass; Jerry Cummings, 1st tenor/lead-tenor (1974-1977); Harold J. Melvin, 1st tenor/manager (1954-1997) (died in 1997); Lloyd Parks, 1st tenor/lead-tenor (1972-1974); Theodore D. "Teddy" Pendergrass, lead-baritone (1972-1976); Bernard Wilson, baritone/arr/choreographer (1972-1977); Sharon Paige (1975-1980); David Ebo (1977-1980); Dwight Johnson (1977-1997); William Spratelly (1977-1997); current members: Rufus Thorne, Anthony Quarterman, Johnson, and Spratelly.

The Blue Notes of Philadelphia, Pa., led by original lead vocalist Harold Melvin, began their career in 1954, recording a handful of records for small labels. Not until 1972, however, when drummer Theodore "Teddy Bear" Pendergrass became their lead vocalist, did they begin to make their mark. Supported by the high-gloss production and songwriting of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records and propelled by the crack TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) rhythm section, Pendergrass's muscular, impassioned baritone was equally effective on lush ballads ("If You Don't Know Me By Now," "I Miss You"), uptempo pop/soul songs ("Where Are All My Friends," "Satisfaction Guaranteed"), and extended disco/funk workouts ("Bad Luck," "The Love I Lost"). The recordings of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, along with those of the O'Jays, represent the artistic pinnacle of Gamble and Huff's legacy.

Despite their 1970s success, however, a group whose musical focal point (Pendergrass) took second billing to its leader (Melvin) proved inherently unstable. Pendergrass left the Blue Notes to launch a solo career on Philadelphia International in 1976 and achieved brief status as a macho heartthrob before a tragic 1982 automobile accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Meanwhile, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes continued to record with other lead vocalists, including David Ebo and Sharon Paige, without achieving the artistic or commercial success that they enjoyed with Pendergrass.

Buy first: [Collector's Item] (Sony, 1976, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (5 bones) - Despite the fact that there are fewer songs on this disc than on the 1995 "Best of" collection on Sony, [Collector's Item] alone contains one of Teddy Bear's deepest and most intense performances--"Be For Real"--which makes this disc the place to start.

Buy next:

• [Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now - Best of] (Sony, 1995, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (4 bones) contains all of the big hits. Demoted 1/2 bone for bizarre, irrelevant liner notes.
• Yet another largely overlapping package is [Greatest Hits] (Philadelphia International, 1977 / Sony, 1985 / Columbia, 1990, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (3 1/2 bones) which, unfortunately, contains only Part 1 of four of the group's extended workouts, which isn't enough.

Avoid: Post-Pendergrass recordings that are of little interest:

• [Don't Leave Me This Way] (Embassy, 1978, prod. Harold Melvin) (1 bone)
• [Blue Album] (Valley Vue, 1980, prod. Harold Melvin and Sharon Paige; also released on Source and Million Dollar Records) (1 bone)
• [Reaching for the World] (MCA, 1977, prod. Harold Melvin) (1 bone)
• [All Things Happen in Time] (MCA, 1981, prod. Harold Melvin)

The rest:

• [Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes] (Philadelphia International, 1972, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (4 bones)
• [Black & Blue] (Philadelphia International, 1974, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (4 bones)
• [To Be True] (Philadelphia International, 1975, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (4 1/2 bones)
• [Wake Up Everybody] (Sony, 1975, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (3 1/2 bones)
• [All Their Greatest Hits] (Philadelphia International, 1976, prod. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (4 1/2 bones)
• [Now Is the Time] (ABC, 1977, prod. Harold Melvin) (2 1/2 bones)

Worth searching for: None

Influenced by: Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dells, Four Tops, Williams Brothers, O'Jays

Influenced:Boyz II Men, Simply Red

Read more soul articles by Bill Pollak

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Last update: 12/15/2004