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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
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