Philadelphia Sound Epiphany + "Tighten Up"

This past week while taking a nap on the floor of a darkened file room, The Stylistics' "Break Up to Make Up," produced and co-written by Thom Bell, came over my iPod earbuds. I realized right then and there that Thom Bell's rich arrangements, synonymous with the Philadelphia soul sound which he helped create, were the flip side of the Hippie revolution and possibly equally as important in dislocating the bigoted, divisive, warmongering centrism of the United States during the Watergate era.

These moments of incandescence are prized and need to be carefully cultivated. So I plan to explore the history of the "Philadelphia Sound."

Archie Bell & the Drells had a hit record with their 1968 album Tighten Up, recorded and produced in their hometown Houston. Their next record, I Can't Stop Dancing (1968), was produced by Philadelphia Sound maestros Gamble and Huff. Thom Bell, I believe, worked on the album as well.

On YouTube I stumbled across Vietnam Vet Archie Bell performing "Tighten Up" in 2012 at VFW Post 1944 in City of Industry, California. Archie's band is indeed tight. The video is a gem.