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Barbara Mason, Arctic, and Philly Sweet Soul

Garcia_VegaGarcia_Vega 2,428 Posts
edited December 2005 in Strut Central
After passing the "Yes, I'm Ready" 45 several times, I finally decided to buy it at 50 cents, and am quite glad I did. I normally don't like this sappy type stuff, but as the cold is setting in, and getting close to that special someone is so necessary, this joint is really doing it for me. The b side "Keep Him" is pretty nice pop soul sound that I can get with too. I decided to do a little reading on Barbara and the Arctic label, and I found out it was her first big hit reaching #5 on the billboard chart, heralding the Philly sweet soul sound. The Arctic discography I found was kind of short and being somehwat ignorant of this genre I ask what are other pioniring records, groups, and artists of this sound. Plaese to recommend, dollar bin and rare. Also your opinions on this sound and the genre name are welcome.P.S. Who's got a 45 for the Ambassadors "Ain't Got the Love" for me?
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  Comments

  • drewnicedrewnice 5,465 Posts
    Are you talking Philly Sweet or the Sweet Soul genre as a whole?
  • Garcia_VegaGarcia_Vega 2,428 Posts
    Lets say sweet soul as a whole and try to get this thread going.

    Although I'd like to hear more about Philly Soul in particular.
  • bull_oxbull_ox 5,056 Posts
    I was wondering about Arctic recently myself... aside from Barbara Mason and the Ambassadors, what else did they put out?
  • SwayzeSwayze 14,705 Posts
    I was wondering about Arctic recently myself... aside from Barbara Mason and the Ambassadors, what else did they put out?

    I really like the few sides that Della Humphrey released. "Don't let the good girls go bad" was on that miami soul comp.
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    Volcanos
    Eddie Holman
    Brenda & The Tabulations
    Formations
    Intruders
    Ethics
  • luckluck 4,077 Posts
    Volcanos
    Eddie Holman
    Brenda & The Tabulations
    Formations
    Intruders
    Ethics

    Honey and the Bees
    Kenny Gamble

    Aww, hell:

    Arctic Discography
    101 - Tifannys - Love Me / Happiest Girl In The World - 1964
    102 - Barbara Mason - Come To Me / Girls Have Feelings Too - 1965
    103 - Volcanos - Baby / Make Your Move - 1965
    104 - Cincy Gibson - Step By Step / Whisper You Love Me Baby - 1965
    105 - Barbara Mason - Yes I'm Ready / Keep Him - 1965
    106 - Volcanos - Storm Warning / Baby - 1965
    107 - Kenny Gamble - Down By The Seashore Part 1/ Part 2 - 1965
    108 - Barbara Mason - Come To Me / Sad, Sad Girl - 1965
    109 - Herb Johnson - Gloomy Day / Carfare Back - 1965
    110 - Lane Relations - Everything On Earth / Cleaning Up Here - 1965
    111 - Volcanos - Help Wanted / Make Your Move - 1965
    112 - Barbara Mason - You Got What It Takes / If You Don't (Love Me,Tell Me So) - 1965
    113 - Light Lunch & Freeloader - How Can I Win Your Love / Inst - 1965
    114 - Kenny Gamble & The Romeos - Ain't It Baby Part 1 / Part 2 - 1965
    115 - Volcanos - (It's Against The) Laws Of Love / Inst - 1965
    116 - Barbara Mason - Don't Ever Want To Lose Your Love / Is It Me - 1965
    117 - Mike & Ike - Ya Ya / Sax On The Tracks - 1966
    118 - Honey & The Bees - I'm Confessin' / One Time Is Forever - 1966
    119 - Brocking Choral Ensemble - How I Got Over Part 1 / Part 2 - 1966
    120 - Barbara Mason - I Need Love / Bobby Is My Baby - 1966
    121 - Jack & Jill - Take Me For What I Am / There You Go Again - 1966
    122 - Kenny Rossi - Don't Lose This Love / Turn On Your Love Light - 1966
    123 - Kenny Gamble - Don't Stop Loving Me / The Joke's On You - 1966
    124 - Lane Relations - If I Had A Hammer / In The Dark - 1966
    125 - Volcanos - Lady's Man / Help Wanted - 1966
    126 - Barbara Mason - Poor Girl I'm In Trouble / Hello Baby - 1966
    127 - Kenny Gamble - Chains Of Love / (I'll Just) Keep On Smilin' - 1967
    128 - Volcanos - Make Your Move / You're Number 1 - 1967
    129 - Lane Relations - The Blood Part 1 / Part 2 - 1967
    130 - Temptones - Girl I Love You / Good Bye - 1967
    131 - Kenny Hamber - Ain't Gonna Cry (Over One Girl) / Anything You Want - 1967
    132 - Mary Deloach - Move This Thing Part 1/ Part 2 - 1967
    133 - Brockington Choral Ensemble - I Feel The Spirit Moving / He's There - 1967
    134 - Barbara Mason - You Can Depend On Me / Game Of Love - 1967
    135 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Go Away / What Can A Man Do - 1967
    136 - Temptones - Say These Words Of Love / This Could Be The Start Of Something Good - 1968
    137 - Barbara Mason - Oh How It Hurts / Ain't Got Nobody - 1968
    138 - Dee Dee Barnes-Do What You Wanna Do / I'm Yours And You're Mine - 1968
    139 - Kenny Hamber - Looking For A Love / These Arms Of Mine - 1968
    140 - Barbara Mason - Dedicated To The One I Love / Half A Love - 1968
    141 - Honey & The Bees - Go Now / Why Do You Hurt The One Who Loves You - 1968
    142 - Barbara Mason - Half A Love / Slipping Away - 1968
    143 - Teddy & The Fingerpoppers - Soul Groove Part 1 / Part 2 - 1968
    144 - Della Humphrey - Don't Make The Good Girls So Bad / Your Love Is All I Need - 1968
    145 - Billy Floyd - My Oh My / Time Made You Change - 1968
    146 - Barbara Mason - Don't Ever Go Away / I'm So Good For You - 1968
    147 - Ambassadors - I Really Love You / I Can't Believe You Love Me - 1969
    148 - Barbara Mason - Take It Easy / You Never Loved Me - 1969
    149 - Honey & The Bees - Love Addict / I'll Be There - 1969
    150 - Ambassadors - Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl / Music Makes You Wanna Dance - 1969
    151 - Winfield Parker - Brand New Strat / Shake That Thing - 1069
    152 - Honey & The Bees - Sunday Kind Of Love / Baby Do That Thing - 1969
    153 - Ambassadors - Storm Warning / I Dig You Baby - 1969
    154 - Barbara Mason - You Better Stop It / Happy Girl - 1969
    155 - Della Humphrey - Just Like Boys Do / Over The Tracks - 1969
    156 - Ambassadors - A.W.O.I. / Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - 1969
    157 - Jimmy Bishop - A Blackman / Mr.Charlie - 1969
    158 - Honey & The Bees - Baby,Do That Thing / Sunday Kind Of Love - 1969
    159 - Della Humphrey - Will You Love Me Tomorrow / Let's Wait Until Dark - 1969
    160 - Royal Five - Ain't No Big Thing (But It's Growing) / Peace Of Mind - 1969
    201/202 - Derek Martin - Don't Leave Me / Stoned Out Of My Mind - 1969
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Lets say sweet soul as a whole and try to get this thread going.




    Well, if you wanna hear the Chicago equivalent:

    - Artistics

    - Barbara Acklin

    - Gene Chandler

    - Radiants

    - Major Lance

    - Walter Jackson

    - Josephine Taylor



    Can't forget the Motor City!

    - the Fantastic Four

    - J.J. Barnes

    - Steve Mancha

    - Detroit Emeralds

    - too many Motown acts to mention



    On to L.A.

    - Brenton Wood (a coworker just asked me about him!)

    - several productions on the Mirwood label



    Back to Philly:

    - "Don't Throw Your Love Away," Orlons

    - "I Really Love You," Dee Dee Sharp

    - the Magnificent Men (esp. their self-titled debut on Capitol - actually from Harrisburg, PA)



    And I'm not clear on where Carl Carlton was from, but his records on the Back Beat label were sweet soul goodness all the way.
  • SupergoodSupergood 1,213 Posts


    And I'm not clear on where Carl Carlton was from, but his records on the Back Beat label were sweet soul goodness all the way.

    Yes. BIG favorite of mine. I celebrate his entire catalog.

    How 'bout Ronnie McNeir? Some of his early tracks were very sweet sounding.

    SG
  • SexyBNyceSexyBNyce 371 Posts
    Here's some rare ones on arctic.





    Thats Kenny Gamble of Gamble & Huff fame. The Temptones was Hall or Oats first group, I forget which. Philly has love for blue eyed soul.
    Honey & the Bees have a lot of nice cheep records on josie. Not this one though. If you got any of these I want to talk to you.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts

    The Temptones was Hall or Oats first group, I forget which.

    Darryl Hall's. And they sounded pretty good, going by what I've heard on that compilation, Storm Warning, which contains a lot of Philly Sound goodness originally released by the J/G family of labels (including Kenny Gamble's "The Joke's On You").
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    And I'm not clear on where Carl Carlton was from, but his records on the Back Beat label were sweet soul goodness all the way.

    Detroit
  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    in addition to some what's been mentioned - think the following are rather sweet



    Donnie Elbert

    Gino Washington

    Ruby Johnson

    Baby Washington
  • djrdjr 511 Posts


    The Joke's On You - What a tune!!!
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    in addition to some what's been mentioned - think the following are rather sweet

    Donnie Elbert
    Gino Washington
    Ruby Johnson
    Baby Washington

    Ruby seems bluesier than the other acts mentioned here, but I do like her records.
  • drewnicedrewnice 5,465 Posts
    You might also want to check out this previous thread:

    Essential Sweet Soul LPs and 45s
  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    in addition to some what's been mentioned - think the following are rather sweet

    Donnie Elbert
    Gino Washington
    Ruby Johnson
    Baby Washington

    Ruby seems bluesier than the other acts mentioned here, but I do like her records.

    you're right, i took a bit of license - "here i can go again" is one of my favourites and that's bittersweet
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    I think of 'sweet soul' as primarily a male group harmony sound with falsetto lead - the chilites & the delfonics are probably the first groups that jump to mind.

    look at this odd blog I ran across last week: http://soulgb.exblog.jp/
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    I think of 'sweet soul' as primarily a male group harmony sound with falsetto lead - the chilites & the delfonics are probably the first groups that jump to mind.

    so what do you consider female and mixed groups in the same vein? 'cause honey & the bees, patti & the lovelites and the sequins (to name three all-femme examples) KILLED IT in the soft-soul category, IMO
  • drewnicedrewnice 5,465 Posts
    I think of 'sweet soul' as primarily a male group harmony sound with falsetto lead - the chilites & the delfonics are probably the first groups that jump to mind.

    so what do you consider female and mixed groups in the same vein? 'cause honey & the bees, patti & the lovelites and the sequins (to name three all-femme examples) KILLED IT in the soft-soul category, IMO

    Well, here's the distinction:
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    I'm primarily defining 'sweet soul' by what its modern-day collectors are looking for - in the late 60s when the music was being made the term had a broader meaning - for ex: the kelly brothers had an lp called 'singing sweet soul' but it certainly doesn't sound very philly .



    micro-genre distinctions are pretty arbitrary anyway.
  • Garcia_VegaGarcia_Vega 2,428 Posts
    Thanks for the info everyone, I will be on the lookout!
  • djrdjr 511 Posts
    believe this is a northern record, but has a great falsetto lead and it's so soulful.

    been spinning this alot as of late.



    I have a noisy spare if you're interested.



  • Garcia_VegaGarcia_Vega 2,428 Posts
    Post deleted by Garcia_Vega
  • djrdjr 511 Posts

    believe this is a northern record, but has a great falsetto lead and it's so soulful.
    been spinning this alot as of late.

    I have a noisy spare if you're interested.

    what record are you talking about?

    see above - forgot to paste in the image....
  • JazzsuckaJazzsucka 720 Posts
    If someone has copies to let loose of either of these, I want to talk to you.

    149 - Honey & The Bees - Love Addict / I'll Be There - 1969

    154 - Barbara Mason - You Better Stop It / Happy Girl - 1969
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    believe this is a northern record, but has a great falsetto lead and it's so soulful.

    The line between northern soul and the sweet sound we're talking about is very thin. These sounds could cross over to either category at any time.
  • JKrissJKriss 167 Posts
    I guess this is the perfetct threa to ask about this lp


    Does anyone have this, how is it?, mp3's? BTW, is there any arctic comps out there? there r so many tracks id love to hear, such as the ambassdors and the temptones stuff, however most of it is probably to rare for nme to ever hear on final. Id love to ehar sum of this stuff, so if anyboyd has or could get sum mp3's get at me. id be willing to trade sum records and or pay cash.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    is there any arctic comps out there? there r so many tracks id love to hear, such as the ambassdors and the temptones stuff

    There's a compilation on J/G I mentioned earlier in this thread called Storm Warning. It's not all Arctic, but it does cover a bunch of labels that J/G distributed in the sixties.
  • BreakSelfBreakSelf 2,925 Posts
    If someone has copies to let loose of either of these, I want to talk to you.

    149 - Honey & The Bees - Love Addict / I'll Be There - 1969

    154 - Barbara Mason - You Better Stop It / Happy Girl - 1969

    You mean the two funk 45s on Arctic?
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    I guess this is the perfetct threa to ask about this lp


    Does anyone have this, how is it?, mp3's? BTW, is there any arctic comps out there? there r so many tracks id love to hear, such as the ambassdors and the temptones stuff, however most of it is probably to rare for nme to ever hear on final. Id love to ehar sum of this stuff, so if anyboyd has or could get sum mp3's get at me. id be willing to trade sum records and or pay cash.

    Great album! It has been reissued on CD, and as Pickwick mentioned the 'Storm Warning' comp features some Arctic sides (though there was a CD reissue on the Temptones). Keep an eye out for the Ambassadors Atlantic sides as well. They're excellent.
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