Motown vs. The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP)...

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob Bainbridge on February 27, 2008 at 9:17am

You can always have the best of both worlds - have you checked out the CD - A Soulful Tale of Two Cities yet?
15 superb Motown tracks performed by classic Philly artists... then 15 superb Philly tracks performed by Motown legends.

Phil Hurtt gathered a host of stars together to produce this - just ask Bobby Eli - he was part of it!

Check the web site: www.soulfultale.com

or drop me a note via here for more info!!

Rob

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TGrundy on February 27, 2008 at 2:56pm

Rob, Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about this album *SMH* Now that you mention it I remember hearing something about it when it was first released (obviously, though, I didn't follow through and pick it up at the time). Gotta put this at the top of my "must get real soon" list.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rob Bainbridge on February 27, 2008 at 4:43pm

I thoroughly recommend it!!

Although I am biaised as a personal friend of Phil Hurtts and his daughter Sierra Hurtt!!

but in truth - best produced piece of work I have heard for a long time and well worth it

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by drake on February 27, 2008 at 10:36am

Tgrundy, how are you. This is a good question. Being from Detroit, and being a fan of both I think about this from time to time. Beyond the Motown vs TSOP comparison, however, I find the parallels between the two cities amazing. Here are a few that I like to point out:

1.) Detroit is the oldest city in the midwest, older even then Chicago, but got its "Big City" status debunked by Chicago; Philadelphia was the first Capital of the United States, then that distinction was given to Washington, DC.

2.) Both are historically blue collar towns that, where long before they could find opportunity elsewhere, African Americans migrated, en masse, and were able to gain entry in to the middle class. I believe this is in part responsible for fostering mucisianship, because familes could afford to buy expensive instruments for their children.

3.) Detroit provided the World with Alice Coltrane and Philly provided the world with John Coltrane (although he was born in North Carolina)

4.) Philly produced Jazzy Jeff, Vikter Duplaix, King Britt, and maybe less known domestically, but widely known throughout the world, Detroit produced Derrick May, Juan Atkins, and Carl Craig.

5.) Though former NBA coach Larry Brown moved around alot, arguably, his most defining moments were 1.) as coach of Alan Iverson and the 76ers and 2.) As Coach of the Detroit Pistons, accented by his leading them to a championship.

6.) Philadelphians are closet (don't believe me, check the stats) 'pop' drinkers and Detroiters are devout pop drinkers--forget soda around these parts!! lol

7.) Dwele, from Detroit, sang 'Philadelphia' on Bahamadia's second CD

8.) Boys to Men --from Philly signed to Motown Records

9.) The Jones Girls, responsible for songs like "Night over Egypt," I Just Love The Man," and "You Gonna Make me Love Somebody Else were sisters from Detroit who moved to Philly to record those songs.

10.) Ok, I am having trouble thinking of a 10th!! Hell let's see...hell..My mother was born in Philadelphia. That should count for something. cause she now lives in Metro Detroit.

So, Tgrundy, this is a hard one for me, because, as you can see I have pulled some perhaps dubious comparisons of things that make a lot of sense to me. So, I guess, being from the D, I would have to say, that Detroit get's the edge in the Motown vs TSOP question. Besides, I don't know any of my Philly friends who talk about taking me to the TSOP museum when I am there, and you can't say that about Motown.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TGrundy on February 27, 2008 at 2:43pm

Drake, excellent list of comparisons! Most of which I did not know (I follow basketball [only while waiting for baseball season to start up again, though] so the Larry Brown connection I was familiar with).

Truth be told, this question is probably like the "Kobayashi Maru" test, a no-win situation (actually, in this case more like a no-lose situation, how can you really go wrong with either choice; BTW, for those of you who didn't pick up on it that is a Star Trek reference {smile})

Love the last bit you throw in there about the "TSOP museum", made me laugh out loud!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Artluv on February 27, 2008 at 2:10pm

Drake I'll give you 10) Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff went to work for Motown before they started Philadelphia International Records. Being born in the 60's (Motown era) and being raised in the 70's (Philly International Records) its hard for me to pick just one. But if I had to choose I would go with Motown cause we are about the same age.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TGrundy on February 27, 2008 at 2:46pm

Artluv, great 10th point. I'm ashamed to say I did not know this fact either. Time to hit the R&B/Soul history books I guess!

These replies are great! I hope some more folks decide to chime in.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reya on February 27, 2008 at 5:38pm

Can I go for a number 11? The Spinners, Detroit Born, originally on Motown, but achieved most of their success with the Philly sound.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TGrundy on February 27, 2008 at 6:09pm

Hey Reya. That's a good one! I think their original hit (or at least one of their early ones) was "It's A Shame" which, as you reminded us, was while they were still with Motown.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Constance Diggs on February 28, 2008 at 12:58am

I was just checkin' out some music by the Gamble and Huff team. That's a hard choice to make. Both empires were genuinely full of greatness. I will check out that CD Rob. Sounds amazing. Do you know if Leon Huff made anything, solo, other an Here to Create Music.

- Constance

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Artluv on February 28, 2008 at 1:30am

This Sunday at 1pm eastern my radio station WITD will be airing a tribute to Gamble and Huff hosted by Mimi Brown. Check it out if you get a chance.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reya on February 29, 2008 at 8:17pm

Would it be reasonable to say that Motown in some ways gave birth to Philly?

▶ Reply to This

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page