Research Catalog

A house on fire : the rise and fall of Philadelphia soul

Title
A house on fire : the rise and fall of Philadelphia soul / John A. Jackson.
Author
Jackson, John A., 1943-
Publication
Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2004.

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StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library ML3537 .J33 2004Off-site

Details

Description
xii, 338 pages : illustrations; 25 cm
Summary
  • "Here is the eye-opening story of three of the most influential and successful music producers of the seventies. John A. Jackson shows how Gamble, Huff, and Bell developed a black recording empire second only to Berry Gordy's Motown, pumping out a string of chart-toppers from Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Spinners, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, and many others. The author underscores the endemic racism of the music business at that time, revealing how the three men were blocked from the major record companies and outlets in Philadelphia because they were black, forcing them to create their own label, sign their own artists, and create their own sound.
  • The sound they created - a sophisticated and glossy form of rhythm and blues, characterized by crisp, melodious harmonies backed by lush, string-laden orchestration and a hard-driving rhythm section - was a glorious success, producing at least twenty-eight gold or platinum albums and thirty-one gold or platinum singles. But after their meteoric rise and years of unstoppable success, their production company finally failed, brought down by payola, competition, a tough economy, and changing popular tastes."--Jacket.
Subjects
Genre/Form
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Note
  • ‏נושא ישן: Soul music - United states - History and criticism.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references (p. [319]-328) and index.
Contents
I'll get by (1942-1962) -- Who do you love (1963) -- Mixed-up shook-up girl (1964) -- Expressway to your heart (1965-1967) -- Cowboys to girls (1968) -- Only the strong survive (1969) -- Betcha by golly, wow (1970-1971) -- Love train (1972) -- Am I black enough for you? (1973) -- I'll be around (1974) -- TSOP (the sound of Philadelphia) (1975) -- Wake up everybody (1975) -- Philadelphia freedom (1976) -- Kiss and say goodbye (1977-1978) -- Ain't no stoppin' us now (1979-1982) -- Love, need, and want you (1983-2001).
ISBN
  • 0195149726
  • 9780195149722
LCCN
2004015648
OCLC
  • ocm55886361
  • 55886361
  • SCSB-14691407
Owning Institutions
Princeton University Library