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1. During the late 60's, a special kind of R&B was emerging out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Dubbed the 'Philadelphia Sound' or 'Philly Soul', it experienced its greatest wave of creativity and popularity during the 1970's. Record labels sprang up overnight to tap into the pool of musical talent. Although groups such as the Delfonics and the Spinners were signed to different Record Labels, they were backed at one time or another by the same collection of studio musicians who scored with the instrumental hit "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974. What was the collective name the musicians went by?
2. "T.S.O.P." was catchy enough to be adopted as the opening tune for an excellent singing/dancing TV series in the 70's. What show was it?
3. One of the earliest groups to showcase 'Philly Soul' was the Delfonics, featuring brothers William and Wilbert Hart and Randy Cain. Signed by Cameo Records and with legendary producer Thom Bell at the helm, their first collaborative album in 1968 produced what is considered the Delfonics's signature song. Which song was it?
4. In addition to directing the Delfonics, Stylistics, and Spinners in the 70's, Thom Bell also produced the soundtrack for this 70's movie that starred basketball legend Julius "Dr. J." Erving of the Philadelphia (!) 76'ers. What movie was this?
5. Randy Cain left the Delfonics to branch out on his own in 1971, and in 1973 he hired Theodore Mills to write songs for the singing group 'Shades Of Blue'. The group signed with Atlantic Records, Mills became part of the singing team, and the expanded 'Shades Of Blue' adopted a new name. What were they called?
6. With Randy Cain gone, The Delfonics brought in singer Major Harris as his replacement. Later as a solo act, Major Harris would record a hit song. What was Major Harris's major hit?
7. Around the same time that Randy Cain left the Delfonics, producer Thom Bell also left to eventually produce for the Stylistics and later the Spinners. While producing for the Stylistics, who signed with Avco Records, Bell teamed up with this songwriter-lyricist to create some of the group's most memorable tunes. Who was this talented woman?
8. Originally formed in 1968, the Stylistics comprised lead falsetto Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. Their very first U.S. hit occurred in 1971. What was it?
9. For his 1996 album "Emancipation", music superstar Prince covered two classic "Philly Soul" songs, the Delfonics's "La La Means I Love You" and one by the Stylistics. Which Stylistics song did Prince cover?
10. Unlike the Stylistics, the Spinners were a Motown group created much earlier in 1954. Times were lean and hits were few until 1972, when the group left Motown and signed with Atlantic Records. There, they teamed up with Thom Bell, adopted the 'Philadelphia Sound', and produced a slew of major hits. Their first hit, "I'll Be Around", reached no.3 on the Billboard 'Hot 100' (no.1 on R&B) and was ironically meant to be the 'B' side on the released single. What song was on the 'A' side?
11. In 1974, the Spinners teamed up with this superstar to record a song that became their number one hit. Which superstar recorded "Then Came You" with the group?
12. Another popular "Philly Soul" group was 'Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes", formed by Melvin in 1954. Major success came in the early 1970's after signing with Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records' label in 1972. Their signature song came out that same year. What was the song's title?
13. As the Philadelphia-based singers were busy churning out memorable hits in the 1970's, other soul groups were also creating 'good music'. One such group, based in Chicago, was the Chi-Lites. Led by producer-composer Eugene Record, they recorded many popular hits. One of their songs, recorded in 1972, made it to no.1 on the U.S. Billboard chart and is arguably their most popular tune. What was that classic tune?
14. One important reason for the rising popularity of 'Philly Soul' in the early 1970's was the collaboration of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. In addition to forming 'Philadelphia International Records' in 1971, the duo composed music for a wide variety of recording artists. One such hit reached no.1 on both the U.S. Pop and R&B charts and stayed there for almost a month. Who sang the Gamble and Huff megahit "Me And Mrs. Jones"?
15. Competing with the "Philly Soul Sound" was Motown, who had among their own hitmakers the Temptations, formed in Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1960 and one of the most successful R&B groups in history. In December 1964, they released what was to become their signature song and first ever no.1 Pop hit on the Billboard charts. Who co-wrote the Temptations' classic, "My Girl"?
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