Various - Ready Or Not: Thom Bell's Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978 (CD)

Sealed.

UK collection. Thom Bell, along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, was part of the holy trinity of Philly soul. Reaching an apogee in the early to mid-'70s with records for the Stylistics ('You Make Me Feel Brand New'), the Detroit Spinners ('Could It Be I'm Falling In Love'), the O'Jays ('Back Stabbers') and New York City ('I'm Doin' Fine Now'), Bell was the classically trained arranger who introduced the celeste, the French horn and the harpsichord to soul music. This is the first-ever compilation of Thom Bell's productions and arrangements. Put together by Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley, Ready Or Not combines some of Bell's biggest and best-loved hits with rarities (an original copy of Connie Stevens' 'Tick Tock' would set you back more than £200) and lesser-known work such as Dionne Warwick's seductive 'Track Of The Cat' and Johnny Mathis' epic 'Life Is A Song Worth Singing'. Star names including Laura Nyro and Lesley Gore line up alongside soul legends Dee Dee Sharp and the Delfonics.

1 Here I Go Again - Archie Bell & the Drells
2 I Can't Take It - the Orlons
3 You've Been Untrue - the Delfonics
4 Look the Other Way - Lesley Gore
5 Tick-Tock - Connie Stevens
6 What I See - Three Degrees
7 Moody Woman - Jerry Butler
8 What Kind of Lady - Dee Dee Sharp
9 Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love) - the Delfonics
10 I Wanna Be a Free Girl - Dusty Springfield
11 It's the Same Old Love - the Courtship
12 People Make the World Go Round - The Stylistics
13 Back Stabbers - the O'Jays
14 One Man Band (Plays All Alone) - Ronnie Dyson
15 Do You Remember Yesterday - the Intruders
16 I'm Doin' Fine Now - New York City
17 Life Is a Song Worth Singing - Johnny Mathis
18 Something for Nothing - MFSB featuring Thom Bell
19 Could It Be I'm Falling in Love - the Spinners
20 You Make Me Feel Brand New - the Stylistics
21 Close the Door - Teddy Pendergrass
22 It's Gonna Take a Miracle - Laura Nyro & Labelle
23 Track of the Cat - Dionne Warwick