Philadelphia Soul Rarities

Joe Shamwell Loving You Is An Everyday Thing Snippet


Lou Gordon Sweet Memories Snippet


Jimmy Randolph No More Beautiful Days Snippet


Unknown Artist Keep On Believing Snippet


I must thank Weldon McDougal 111 for sending me an advance copy of the above CD. I mentioned how good this Philadelphia Soul Rarities was in a post last month when Weldon sent me over some snippets.

The CD hasn't been off the player since it dropped through the door! We are lucky that Weldon kept these tapes safe and that we now able to listen to so many unissued sounds from the golden days of Philly soul music. I must also praise Andrew Demetriades who has backed Weldon on this release as well as writing a definitive set of sleeve notes to publish the stories behind each track based on an interview with Weldon.

The highlights for me are Rain and Lies by Sharon Paige which has only ever been available as a 45 on Mel-ady after being wrongly attributed to Gwen Owens and pressed up by a UK dealer! We can also hear Universal Love's Glades 45 It's You Girl which is a perennial favourite in the UK but we also have 2 other tracks by the group which demonstrate the tlaents of the group. Another killer side for me is the ballad Sweet Memories by Lou Gordon who was unknown to me. One big surprise is an unissued side by the late Joe Shamwell better known for his work at Malaco.

Please support this CD which is now available in the UK via Soul Brother Records and Crazy Beat Records.