Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook.
Label: Kent Soul.
Format: CD.
Release Date: 27th June 2025.
Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff have been familiar faces on the Philly music scene since the early sixties. The pair first played on a session by Candy and The Kisses in October 1964. Gamble cowrote 'The 81' with Jerry Ross, who also produced the track. The piano player for the session was Huff. He played on both tracks. Little did they know that they would form a formidable songwriting and production partnership.
Gamble and Huff met by chance. The pair were in an elevator and got talking. They got on, became friends and within a couple of weeks, the pair arranged and produced 'There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do For You' for Dee Dee Sharp. She would later marry Gamble, and signed to Philadelphia International Records. That was still to come.
By 1967, Gamble and Huff had formed what was a full-time musical partnership. Soon, some of the biggest names in music were recording tracks penned by them. This includes some of the tracks on 'Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook.'
This new compilation features twenty-four tracks, and will be released on Kent Soul on 27th June 2025. There's tracks from Elvis Presley, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Wilson Pickett, The Supremes, Barbara Mason and four tracks released on the label Gamble and Huff founded in 1971, Philadelphia International Records.
The new label became a showcase for the city's musical talent. This included Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Billy Paul, The Three Degrees, People's Choice, Dexter Wansel, Teddy Pendergrass and McFadden and Whitehead. However, this is just part of the story.
Other artists and groups that were signed to Philadelphia International Records saw a change in their fortunes. Among them, were The O'Jays, Lou Rawls and later, The Jones Girls and Patti LaBelle. However, it wasn't just Gamble and Huff who were responsible for the unmistakable sound of Philly Soul.
There's the third member of The Mighty Three, Thom Bell, a truly talented songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and innovative producer. Along with Gamble and Huff he was one of the architects of Philly Soul.
Many others played their part in the sound and success of Philly Soul. This includes the legendary MFSB, who were the Philadelphia International Records' house band, and played on so many Philly Soul classics that were recorded for other labels.
So did backing vocalists The Sweethearts of Sigma. Their unmistakable backing vocals can be heard on countless Philly Soul classics. Many were arranged or produced by Vince Montana Jr, Don Renaldo, Bobby Martin and Jack Faith. They all played an important part in the sound and success of Philly Soul, which was the soundtrack to much of seventies. A number of the track on 'Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook' were part of that soundtrack.
In 1967, Gamble and Huff formed their full-time musical partnership. Just a year later, The Vibrations released 'Love In Them There Hills' on the Okeh label in 1968. They cowrote the song with Roland Chambers who later, would become part of MFSB. Richard Rome arranged this funky and soulful Gamble and Huff production which features Earl Young on drums. It reached thirty-eight on the US R&B charts, and was one of the first hits the nascent songwriting and production partnership enjoyed.
Philly-based soul group The Intruders, released the Gamble and Huff composition 'United' in 1966. It was released on the Gamble label, stalling at 78 on the US Billboard 100, but reaching 14 on the US R&B charts.
Two years later, in 1968, Peaches and Herb covered the track, and the single was released on the Date label. It was produced by Gamble and Huff and arranged by Richard Rome. This beautiful soulful ballad reached 46 on the US Billboard 100, and 11 on the US R&B charts. It was the single that brought Gamble and Huff to the wider record-buying public's attention.
'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' was the first song that Gamble and Huff penned. It was recorded by Madeline Bell, and in 1967, featured on her debut album for Phillips, 'Bells A Poppin.' This was the first of three versions Bell cut, and features a hopeful and heartfelt vocal from an underrated vocalist.
On June 2nd, 1969, Elvis Presley released his ninth studio album 'From Elvis in Memphis' on RCA Records. One of the tracks on the album was a cover of 'Only The Strong Survive' which Gamble and Huff cowrote with Jerry Butler. Chips Moman produced what was a deeply soulful version of a song that's one of the highlights of Elvis' comeback album.
Gladys Knight and The Pips released their third album, 'Silk N Soul' on the Soul label, in 1967. One of the tracks on the album was the Gamble and Huff's 'Together'. It was produced by Norman Whitfield and features a tender, impassioned and emotive vocal where Knight breathes meaning into the lyrics to this beautiful love song. It's a welcome addition to the compilation.
For the followup to 'Dusty In Memphis,' Atlantic decided to send Dusty Springfield to Philly, to work with Gamble and Huff. One of the tracks they cowrote was 'Let's Get Together Soon.' It features a tender, needy and hopeful vocal. The song features an understated arrangement by Roland Chambers, and features MFSB with Don Renaldo and His Horns and Strings playing an important part in the sound and success of the track. It's one of the highlights of an album that was undoubtably, one of best of Springfield's career.
'Drowning In The Sea Of Love' was the title-track to Joe Simon's 1971 album for Spring. This mid-tempo track was written and produced by Gamble and Huff. However, Thom Bell was responsible for what's a captivating and melancholy-sounding song. When it was released as a single in 1971, it reached number 11 in the US Billboard 100 and 3 in the US R&B charts. It was one of the biggest singles of Simon's career, and helped introduce his music to a wider audience.
A year after The O'Jays enjoyed a number one on the US Billboard 100 and US R&B chats with 'Love Train,' it was covered by The Supremes. They had planned to release the song as a single, but The O'Jays beat them to it. However, their slick, smooth, soulful and poppy cover featured on 'The Motown Sound Volume Two' when it was released in 1973. It's an irresistibly catchy cover of Philly Soul classic.
Billy Paul enjoyed the biggest hit of his career in 1972, with 'Me and Mrs Jones.' Gary Gilbert wrote the song with Gamble and Huff.
A year later, in 1973, Philly-born soul singer Barbara Mason released a response song, 'Me And Mr. Jones' a nine minute epic that arranged by Ron Baker that opened her album 'Lady Love.' There were plans to released the track as a single with the two parts edited. Sadly, it never got beyond an acetate being produced. 'Part 1' of this oft-overlooked track response to Paul's classic is a tantalising taste of what was Mason's finest album.
'I Love Music (Part 1)' was written and produced for The O'Jays by Gamble and Huff. The song was arranged by Norman Harris, and features MFSB at the peak of their powers. They combine Philly Soul and funk on this joyous and uplifting disco classic with a message that's delivered with aplomb by The O'Jays. Unsurprisingly, it reached number 5 in the US Billboard 100, topped the US R&B charts and was certified gold in 1975.
Another Philly Soul classic is 'Don't Leave Me This Way' by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. It featured on their album 'Wake Up Everybody,' which was released in late 1975. It was their final album for Philadelphia International Records. This was the end of an era.
The song was produced by Gamble and Huff who cowrie it with Gary Gilbert. Norman Harris arranged what became another Philly Soul classic. Harris was a member of MFSB and his unmistakable guitar playing can be heard on a track where Philly Soul, disco, drama and one of Teddy Pendergrass' finest vocals on the album combine. Despite that, the single stalled at number 20 in the US R&B charts.
Closing 'Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook' is 'Hey Western Union Man' by Bobby Rush. This twelve bar blues cover featured on the album 'Rush Hour,' which was released on Philadelphia International Records in 1979. The album wasn't a commercial success but this is one of Rush's debut album's highlights.
'Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook' is a lovingly-curated compilation where compiler Tony Rounce digs deeper than many other compilers. Previously, many compilers stick to familiar tracks, and their compilation is full of Philly Soul classics. While there's some on this compilation, Rounce eschews many of the old favourites and familiar faces for songs that many people won't be familiar with. Instead, there's tracks from Barbara Mason, Joe Simon, Dusty Springfield and not forgetting Peaches and Herb, Madeline Bell and Gladys Knight and The Pips. These are welcome additions to the compilation.
With the tracks that were written by Gamble and Huff, and made in Philly, the success of these songs aren't down to two men who wrote and sometimes, produced them. Far from it. Credit must be given to MFSB, the Sweethearts of Sigma and arrangers and producers like Thom Bell, Don Renaldo, Vince Montano Jr, Bobby Martin, Norman Harris and Jack Faith. They're the unsung heroes who were also architects of Philly Soul, and made the songs that Gamble and Huff sound so good. So much so, that fifty years later, many of these songs are timeless soul classics. This includes some of the tracks on 'Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook,' which will be of interest to anyone interested in Philly Soul.
Love Train - The Gamble and Huff Songbook.
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