Society Hill Orchestra - Revisit Philly Classics - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

These tracks recorded in 1981 at Virtue Sound Studios in Philadelphia feature the cream of the crop of Philly's funk pioneers. The Philly All Stars, presented here, were comprised of charter members of Gamble & Huff's spectacular house rhythm section MFSB, featuring Norman Harris on guitar, Lenny Pakula on organ, Vince Montana on vibes, Ronnie Baker on bass, Earl Young on drums and Larry Washington on congas. Featured vocalists are Joe Freeman, who was the lead singer with Philly soul band the Ethics and later with the disco group Love Committee; Ron Tyson, who was also with Freeman in Love Committee; and David Simmons, the Philly soul singer who worked with Sister Sledge and others - and whose voice bears an uncanny resemblance to Teddy Pendergrass. The group performs a medley tying together five classics from the Gamble/Huff cannon - the O'Jay's InchBackstabbersInch and InchLove Train,Inch Harold Melvin & the Blue Note's InchBad LuckInch and InchThe Love I Lost,Inch and Teddy Pendergrass' InchI Don't Love You AnymoreInch - over a pile-driving funky disco beat. Also included are individual performances of each song in the medley, handled by Freeman and Simmons. All selections newly remastered.

This new is a great celebration of Handel in the first decades of the eighteenth century in London. One can almost imagine the musical global citizen at the harpsichord, surrounded by friends and colleagues. Works by this famous Saxon are performed, but also compositions from the pens of his by no means less distinguished orchestral musicians please the ears of excited listeners. Sometimes a movement from a favorite opus is heard, or an arrangement of a currently popular aria from an opera, and sometimes a freshly composed sonata. Mr. Handel's Musicians- this doesn't refer to just anyone several of Europe's most sought-after musicians performed among the ranks of the opera company at the Haymarket Opera House. The brothers Castrucci, John Loeillet of London, Johann Ernst Galliard, and Giuseppe Sammartini played under Handel's direction at the King's Theatre, and thereby contributed to the overwhelming success of his works. Benoit Laurent studied recorder, baroque oboe, and modern oboe in Belgium. In 2008 he was a prizewinner in the renowned competition Musica Antiqua in Bruges. He currently serves as Professor of Baroque oboe at the Conservatoire Royal in Brussels.

The first family of Philly Soul, The Ingram family - along with the Society Hill Orchestra and chorus, joined with many of the great artists they have backed or worked with over the last few years on a mission to produce a holiday album of their all-time favorite Christmas songs delivered with the heart and soul we've come to expect from the good folks at Society Hill. Everyone involved gave it their all, from Sugarbear & The Fabulous Blue Notes, Toni Richards, Donnie Tatum, Sheldon Price, Benny Barksdale Jr., Baxter, Jimmy Lee, Ter-Ree - all delivered knockout performances to insure that you and yours will have the best soundtrack possible for your holiday festivities... and with legendary Philly Soul producer Butch Ingram at the helm, all tracks were fully realized to their highest potential.