gamble and huff
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971.
The duo were already renowned songwriters and producers through collaborations with Jerry Butler, the Soul Survivors and the Intruders.
Several early ventures into label ownership, notably with Gamble and Neptune, had folded prematurely.
In 1966 Gamble and Huff created an independent label, entitled Excel Records.
Excel was then renamed Gamble Records and in 1972 it was brought into the Philadelphia International umbrella as a subsidiary.
TSOP
In 1974, the subsidiary's name was changed to TSOP Records.
The name comes from the 1974 hit single, 'TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)', by MFSB and The Three Degrees.
The artist roster for the Excel/Gamble/TSOP imprints included Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, Laura Nyro, Wilson Pickett, Dee Dee Sharp, The Intruders and Archie Bell & the Drells.
In the 1990's, Philadelphia International launched a new subsidiary, Uncensored Records.
This imprint included the newer genre's of Black Music, encompassing many of the hip hop artists on the scene.
In it's heyday, Philadelphia International was famous for showcasing the Black music of that particular part of America and it's unique Philadelphia Soul sound.
Much of the music released by the label was recorded and produced at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.
Gamble and Huff's house band included Roland Chambers and Norman Harris (guitars), Vince Montana (vibes), Ronnie Baker (bass) and Earl Young (drums).
The ensemble appeared on extra curricular releases by the Delfonics and First Choice, while David Bowie used their Sigma Sound studio to record 'Young Americans'.
Philadelphia International had more than thirty resident studio musicians, known together as MFSB (Mother-Father-Sister-Brother), were based at this studio and backed up many of these recordings.
The label had a distribution deal with CBS Records until 1984, when distribution of the catalog from 1976 to the present was taken over by EMI.
Sony Music Entertainment continued to distribute the catalog from 1969 to 1976.
gamble and huff
In 2007, Legacy Recordings regained the rights to Philadelphia International's full catalog.
Philadelphia International set benchmarks for quality and style, during the Seventies, in the same way that Motown had achieved during the previous decade.
Artists who have recorded for the label include:
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MFSB
Patti Labelle
Archie Bell & The Drells
Jerry Butler
The Ebonys
Jean Carn
The Intruders
The Futures
Yellow Sunshine
The Stylistics
Dick Jensen
The Jones Girls
McFadden & Whitehead
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
The O'Jays
Billy Paul
Teddy Pendergrass
Lou Rawls
Dee Dee Sharp
Derek and Cyndi
Bunny Sigler
Norman Harris
Peoples Choice
The Trammps
The Jacksons
The Three Degrees
Bobby Rush
Dexter Wansel
Instant Funk
Love Committee
Phyllis Hyman
along with
Johnny Williams
The Whitehead Brothers
Talk of the Town
The Force
Frantique
The Soul Survivors
No Question
