Classic Philadelphia Years

AMG Review of Classic Philadelphia Years

Andrew Hamilton
All Music Guide

The rights to Philadelphia International Records (PIR) Masters are obviously available to anyone with money and the where with all to master, manufactured, and promote a CD. Get ready for PIR overkill. This 16-song compilation is strange. Only six of the 16 tracks were bonafide hits, but that's not the problem, it's the lesser hits and album tracks that keep this from rising above C level. The jubilant doo-woping "Use To Be My Girl," and is the only big crossover hit; the other five did score heavily on the R&B chart. Of those, the dramatic "Lovin' You," and romping "Darlin', Darlin' Baby," are two excellent examples of Philly Soul. Many cuts will be unfamiliar to casual fans, and will keep them from spending their benjamins. Particularly when they scan the song titles and find "Back Stabbers," "992 Arguments," "For The Love Of Money," "You Got Your Hooks In Me," "Love Train," "Let Me Make Love To You," "Family Reunion," "Sunshine," and other goodies missing. Still, any O'Jay release that includes the smoldering "Your Body's Here With Me But Your Mind Is On The Other Side Of Town" can't be all bad.