Tag Archives: Thom Bell

The Delfonics: La La Means I Love You

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On May 14, 1968, “Philly Groove Records” label released “La La Means I Love You”, the debut Delfonics (The) album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Stan Watson and Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Wilbert Hart – vocal
  • William Hart – vocal
  • Randy Cain – vocal
  • Norman Harris – guitar
  • Robert DiNardo – guitar
  • Cliff Jackson – piano
  • Ron Baker – bass
  • Vincent Montana Jr, – percussion
  • George Harper – saxophone
  • Anthony Sinagoga, Carter Daviel, Dane Coll, Dave Barnett, Don Renalde, Floyd Snyder, Igor Seyrvec, Joseph Delengllis, Renard Edwards, Ralph Malizia – strings
  • Thom Bell – conductor, arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia – engineer
  • Forlenza Venosa Associates – design

Track listing:

  1. I’m Sorry – Thom Bell, William Hart
  2. Break Your Promise – Thom Bell, William Hart
  3. The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster
  4. Hurt So Bad – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Hart, Bobby Weinstein
  5. Losing You – Thom Bell, William Hart
  6. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  7. La La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  8. You’re Gone – Thom Bell, William Hart
  9. The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  10.  Can You Remember – Thom Bell, William Hart
  11. A Lover’s Concerto – Sandy Linzer, Denny Rendell

Jackson 5: ABC

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On May 8, 1970, “Motown” label released “ABC”, the second Jackson 5 studio album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, and was produced by Hal Davis, The Corporation and Bobby Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Jackie Jackson – vocal
  • Jermaine Jackson – vocal
  • Marlon Jackson – vocal
  • Michael Jackson – vocal
  • Tito Jackson – vocal
  • Motown Record Corp. – cover design
  • PF – Bovema EMI Art Studio – liner design
  • Joseph Hernandez – photography
  • Paul Slaughter – photography
  • Randy Kling – lacquer cut

Track listing:

  1. The Love You Save – The Corporation
  2. One More Chance – The Corporation
  3. ABC – The Corporation
  4. 2-4-6-8 – Leon Ware, Paw Sawyer
  5. (Come Round Here) I’m the One You Need – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland
  6. Don’t Know Why I Love You – Lula Mae Hardway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Never had a Dream Come True – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  8. True Love Can Be Beautiful – Leonard Caston Jr., Jeana Jackson, Bonny Taylor
  9. La-La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  10. I’ll bet You – George Clinton, Sydney Barnes, Theresa Lindsey
  11. I Found That Girl – The Corporation
  12. The Young Folks – George Gordy, Allen Story

Lou Rawls: Sit Down And Talk To Me

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In January 1979, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Sit Down and Talk to Me”, the 33rd Lou Rawls album. It was recorded in 1978, at “Sound Labs” in Hollywood, “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Thom Bell, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler and Dexter Wansel.

Personnel:

  • Lou Rawls – lead vocal
  • Larry Gold – arrangements
  • Jerry Cohen – arrangements
  • Thom Bell – arrangements
  • John R. Faith – arrangements
  • Bunny Sigler – arrangements
  • John L. Usry Jr. – arrangements
  • Dexter Wansel – arrangements
  • Dirk Devlin, Don Murray, Jeffrey Stewart, Jim Gallagher, Joseph Tarsia, Kenny Present, Peter Humphreys – engineer
  • Bruce Bluesteen, Michael Tarsia – engineer assistant
  • Nimitr Sarikananda – lacquer cut
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Phyllis H. B. – design
  • Nick Fasciano – lettering
  • Sid Avery – photography
  • Jean Scott – A&R

Track listing:

  1. One Day Soon You’ll Need Me – Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  2. Heartaches (Just When You Think You’re Loved) – Thom Bell, Archie Bell, Leroy M. Bell
  3. Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) – Deadric Malone
  4. When You Get Home – Bunny Sigler, Ron Tyson
  5. Sit Down and Talk to Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  6. You’re My Blessing – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  7. Old Times – Dexter Wansel, Cynthia Biggs
  8. You Are – Thom Bell, Casey James, Johnny Robinson, Leroy M. Bell

Teddy Pendergrass: This One’s for You

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On July 23, 1982, “Philadelphia International” label released “This One’s for You”, the sixth Teddy Pendergrass album. It was recorded in 1982, and was produced by Gene Mc Fadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen, John R. Faith, Thom Bell, Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff, Charles B. Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – vocal
  • Robert LeGrand – guitar
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Anthony Bell – guitar
  • Cecil Womack – guitar
  • Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Valerie Simpson – piano, backing vocals
  • Alfred Pollitt – piano
  • Leon A. Huff – acoustic and electric piano
  • Ray Chew – electric piano
  • Barry Eastmond – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Cecil DuValle – keyboards, synthesizer
  • Thom bell – keyboards
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • James L. William – bass
  • Norman Smith – bass
  • Bob Babbitt – bass
  • Michael “Sugarbear” Foreman – bass
  • Francisco Centeno – bass
  • Daryl Burgee – drums
  • James Carter – drums
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Quinton Joseph – drums
  • Keith Benson – drums
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • David Cruse – percussion
  • Ralph McDonald – percussion
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Charles B. Simmons, Constance Harvey, Harriet L. Tharpe, Sherry Butler, Richard Roebuck, Nicholas Ashford, Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals
  • Anthony Bell – arrangements
  • Robert Martin – arrangements
  • Dexter Wansel – arrangements
  • John R. Faith – arrangements
  • John Davis – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. I Can’t Win for Losing – Gene Mc Fadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen
  2. This One’s for You – Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer
  3. Loving You Was Good – Le Roy Bell, Casey James
  4. This Gift of Life – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  5. Now Tell Me That You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  6. It’s Up to You (What You Do with Your Life) – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  7. Don’t Leave Me out Along the Road – Richard Roebuck
  8. Only to You – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson

Teddy Pendegrass: Teddy

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On June 23, 1979, “Philadelphia International” label released “Teddy”, the third Teddy Pendergrass studio album. It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell, Sherman Marshall, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, John Whitehead and Gene McFadden.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – lead and backing vocals
  • Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, Roland Chambers, Tony Bell – guitar
  • Leon Huff – keyboards
  • Thom Bell – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Bob Babbitt, Jimmy Williams – bass
  • David Cruse – percussion
  • Charles Collins, Keith Benson, Quinton Joseph – drums
  • Don Renaldo & His Horns and Strings – strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carl Helm, Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Joseph Jefferson -backing vocals
  • Jack Faith, Tony Bell, Dexter Wansel, Jerry Cohen, Larry Gold, John L. Usry Jnr., Thom Bell – arrangements
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Frank Laffitte – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Come Go with Me
  2. Turn Off the Lights
  3. I’ll Never See Heaven Again – LeRoy Bell, Casey James
  4. All I Need Is You – Darnell Jordan, Sherman Marshall
  5. If You Know Like I Know – Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  6. Do Me
  7. Set Me Free – LeRoy Bell, Casey James
  8. Life Is a Circle

Teddy Pendergrass: Life Is a Song Worth Singing

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On June 2, 1978, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Life Is a Song Worth Singing”, the second Teddy Pendergrass studio album. It was recorded 1977 – 1978, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen and Sherman Marshall.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – vocal
  • Thom Bell – arranger
  • Jack Faith – arranger
  • Dexter Wansel – arranger
  • John Usry – arranger
  • Jerry Block – engineer
  • Jay Mark – engineer
  • Jim Gallagher – engineer
  • Arthur Stoppe – engineer
  • Joe Tarisa – engineer
  • Peter Humphreys – engineer assistant
  • Darrell Rogers – engineer assistant
  • Rocky Schnaars – engineer assistant
  • Jeffrey Stewart – engineer assistant
  • Mike Tarisa – engineer assistant
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Phyllis H. B. – design
  • Ronald G. Harris – photography
  • David Nathan – liner notes
  • Pam Brady – production coordinator
  • Margaret Goldfarb – production coordinator
  • Cheryl Pawelski – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Life Is a Song Worth Singing – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  2. Only You
  3. Cold, Cold World – Victor Carstarphen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  4. Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose
  5. Close the Door
  6. It Don’t Hurt Now – Sherman Marshall, Ted Wortham
  7. When Somebody Loves You Back

Thom Bell

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On December 22, 2022, Thomas Randolph Bell died aged79. He was producer, arranger and songwriter, regarded as one of the creators of the Philadelphia soul in the 70’. As songwriter, arranger and producer he worked with Hattie Winston, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, New York City, Elton John, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denice Williams, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell, Dionne Warwick, The O’Jays, Dusty Springfield.  and James Ingram. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and into the ”Musicians Hall of Fame”.

Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M

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On November 7, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “The Divine Miss M”, the debut Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Barry Manilow. Geoffrey Haslam and Joel Dorn. The album was certified Platinum in US and Canada.

Personnel:

  • Bette Midler – lead vocals
  • Dickie Frank – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Don Arnone – guitar
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Barry Manilow – piano
  • Pat Rebillot – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass guitar
  • Michael Federal – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Ted Sommer – drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Kevin Ellman – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion instruments
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Tender Loving Care (Renelle Broxton, Diedre Tuck, Beverly McKenzie) – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester – backing vocals
  • Merle Miller – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Selwart Clarke – viola
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • Thom Bell – horn and string arrangements
  • Barry Manilow – arranger, conductor
  • William S. Fischer – string arrangement
  • Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Lew Hahn – engineer
  • Richard Amsel – illustration
  • Richard Mantel – art direction, design
  • Kenn Duncan – photography
  • Geoffrey Haslam, Lew Hahn, Bob Liftin – remix

Track listing:

  1. Do You Want to Dance – Bobby Freeman
  2. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  3. Superstar – Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
  4. Daytime Hustler – Jeff Kent
  5. Am I Blue – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  6. Friends (Session 1) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart
  7. Hello in There – John Prine
  8. Leader of the Pack – George Morton, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
  9. Delta Dawn – Larry Collins, Alex Harvey
  10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Don Raye, Hughie Prince
  11. Friends (Session 2) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart

The Stylistics: Round 2

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In October 1972, “Avco” label released “Round 2” is the second Stylistics (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Russell Thompkins, Jr. – lead vocals
  • Airrion Love, James Smith, Herb Murrell, James Dunn – backing vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram – additional backing vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Tony Bell, Eli Tartarsky – guitar
  • Thom Bell – piano, harpsichord
  • Joe DeAngelis, Stephanie Fauber, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • George Shaw – flute
  • Vincent Forchetti, Bob Moore, Richard Genevese – trombone
  • Don Renaldo, Tony Sinagoga, Albert Berone, Rudy Malizia, Angelo Pretrella, Romeo Di Stefano, Charles Apollonia, Davis Barnett, Richard Jones, Herschel Wise – strings
  • Mary Gale – harp
  • Fredric Cohen – oboe
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Earl Young – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • Vince Montana – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, except where noted.

  1. I’m Stone in Love with You – Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Anthony Bell
  2. If You Don’t Watch Out
  3. You and Me
  4. It’s Too Late – Carole King, Toni Stern
  5. Children of the Night
  6. You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  7. Break Up to Make Up – Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenneth Gamble
  8. Peek-a-Boo – Gregory Guess, Norman Knox
  9. You’re asd Right as Rain
  10. Pieces

Isaac Hayes: Black Moses

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In November 1971, “Stax” label released “Black Moses”, the fifth Isaac Hayes studio album. It was recorded March – October 1971, and was produced by Isaac Hayes.

Personnel:

  • Isaac Hayes – lead and backing vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, vibraphone, arrangements
  • Hot Buttered Soul – backing vocals
  • The Bar-Kays – instrumentation:
  • The Isaac Hayes Movement:
  • Ronnie Hudson – bass
  • Lester Snell – electric piano
  • Charles “Skip” Pitts – guitar
  • Sidney Kirk – piano
  • Gary Jones – bongos, congas
  • Willie Hall – drums, tambourine
  • Johnny Allen, Dale Warren – arrangements
  • Ron Capone, William Brown, Henry Bush, Eddie Marion, Dave Purple – engineer
  • Ron Capone, Dave Purple, Isaac Hayes – remix engineer

Track listing:

  1. Never Can Say Goodbye – Clifton Davis
  2. (They Long to Be) Close to You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. Nothing Takes the Place of You – Toussaint McCall, Alan Robinson
  4. Man’s Temptation – Curtis Mayfield
  5. Never Gonna Give You Up – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Butler
  6. Medley: Ike’s Rap II /  Help Me Love – Isaac Hayes, Johnny Baylor, Mickey Gregory, Luther Ingram, Tommy Tate
  7. Need to Belong to Someone – Curtis Mayfield
  8. Good Love – Mickey Gregory, Isaac Hayes
  9. Medley: Ike’s Rap III / Your Love is So Doggone Good – Isaac Hayes, Difosco Ervin, Rudy Love
  10. For the Good Times – Kris Kristofferson
  11. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  12. Part-Time Love – Clay Hammond
  13. Medley: Ike’s Rap IV / A Brand New Me – Isaac Hayes, Kenneth Gamble, Thom Bell, Jerry Butler
  14. Going in Circles – Jerry Peters, Anita Poree