VA - Crème De La Crème 2: More Philly Soul Classics And Rarities (2005)

The Philadelphia soul sound of the early '70s represents an unparalleled zenith in the evolution of urban music -- while Detroit's Motown sound typified lush musical sophistication and Memphis' Stax-Volt sound embodied deep emotional impact, Philly soul pinpointed and then expanded the middle ground between the two, creating a sweeping, shimmering soul aesthetic that was both playful and profound, as capable of penetrating political commentary as it was smoldering sexual innuendo. While the music produced by Philadelphia International label hitmakers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell remains the gold standard among the myriad hits coming out of Philly in the pre-disco era, countless other titles were coming out of the city's studios as well -- some of them were by superstars and most of them were by unknowns, but all were possessed of the same silky smooth universal groove. Crème de la Crème Two: More Philly Soul Classics & Rarities from the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco and Warner Bros. Records 1970-1980 follows on its exemplary predecessor to further document the efforts of a major label conglomerate that throughout the decade rivaled Philadelphia International in terms of quantity and quality -- the set digs even deeper than the first volume, assembling deep album cuts and unreleased tracks, but the music is no less impressive. Highlights include Major Harris' "Each Morning I Wake Up," Bettye Swann's "When the Game Is Played on You" and the Tom Moulton remix of Sister Sledge's "Mama Never Told Me."