| Essential Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes |  | Artists: Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $4.73
as of 9/8/2010 04:52 CDT details
You Save: $3.26 (41%)
New (23) Used (9) Collectible (1) from $4.68
Seller: -importcds
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 7,761
Format: Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 827969062722
EAN: 0827969062722
ASIN: B0002S94UW
Release Date: August 31, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin, Carstarphen, V. | | • | Don't Leave Me This Way | | • | The Love I Lost | | • | You Know How to Make Me Feel So Good | | • | If You Don't Know Me By Now | | • | Bad Luck - Harold Melvin, Carstarphen, V. | | • | Where Are All My Friends - Harold Melvin, Carstarphen, V. | | • | I'm Weak for You | | • | Hope That We Can Be Together Soon | | • | I Miss You | | • | Ebony Woman - Harold Melvin, Bailey, M. | | • | Yesterday I Had the Blues - Harold Melvin, Gamble, Kenneth | | • | Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back) | | • | Tell the World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby - Harold Melvin, Carstarphen, V. | | • | Keep on Lovin' You |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
 Seventies soul from Philadelphia October 29, 2004
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
Philadelphia is not one of the first cities that usually come to mind when discussing pop music, but during the seventies this was where much of the best soul-pop music came from, with many brilliant singers and groups showing the world what they were capable of. The Three Degrees and the O' Jays were among the most successful, together with Harold Melvin and the Blue notes, whose lead singer during their peak years was actually Teddy Pendergrass.
Singer-pianist Harold Melvin formed the group in 1954 (yes, I was surprised to learn that) and was its lead singer and songwriter for many years, during which time the group remained a local act. John Atkins took over lead vocals in the mid sixties but the group remained local. Eventually, Harold discovered Teddy who then joined the group, initially as a drummer. After John Atkins quit, Teddy was given his chance as lead singer and things happened quickly. The group were signed to a new label and given new songs by top songwriters, resulting in a series of great hits. Perhaps the name should have also been changed as Teddy was by then the star and focal point of the group.
The group had several major international hits including Wake up everybody, The love I lost and If you don't know me by now before Teddy quit the group in 1976, apparently because he resented the group name with Harold's name up front.
In the UK, the group's biggest hit was Don't leave me this way, which they had recorded in 1975 but wasn't released as a single anywhere at the time. Thelma Houston covered the song in 1977 and topped the American charts but Harold Melvin's original version was released as a UK single and made number five with Thelma's version peaking at thirteen. I wonder what might have been if their own version had been released in Britain and America in 1975. Actually, I love both these versions as well as the 1986 cover by the Communards (with Jimmy Somerville as lead singer) that topped the UK charts.
This re-mastered collection contains all the essential tracks from the Teddy Pendergrass years, including all the tracks I've already mentioned. If you enjoy seventies soul music, you'll love this collection.
classic--and a wonderful place to start as well January 14, 2010
Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes made some of the best Philly soul/pop music ever; and just one listen to this album proves it! Of course, their collaboration with Teddy Pendergrass was flawless; Teddy's passing away really makes me think of the days when this music was just hitting the airwaves. It certainly brings back memories!
There's so much fine music here that everything glows bright; but there are some songs that are my personal favorites. "Wake Up Everybody" features Teddy Pendergrass singing squarely front and center--which is quite all right by me! That music adds a wonderful feel to this song and it's hard to forget this awesome tune. "Don't Leave Me This Way" sounds as terrific as it ever did; Teddy's excellent diction bolsters his performance even more. Thelma Houston did a great job covering this but Teddy along with the rest of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes really outdo even themselves on this number; this music leaves nothing to be desired--it's all THAT good.
Other great songs include the very dynamic "The Love I Lost" which made the airwaves sizzle; "If You Don't Know Me By Now" with that beautiful music to accompany the vocals and "Bad Luck" with that amazing beat--what an exceptional song this is! In addition, "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon" with Sharon Paige really is another standout--it shows just how versatile these performers were--the slower, softer feel to this ballad works wonders for it. "I Miss You" is quite a torch song; and listen also for "Yesterday I Had the Blues" with that percussion, guitar and more that rounds out this song as Teddy and the band ace this as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing! Of course, we know it really wasn't all that easy; their talents carried them through every time.
"Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)" has Teddy Pendergrass singing at his very best with the rest of the vocalists doing an outstanding job; and I also like the relentlessly upbeat and joyous "Tell the World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby." The CD ends strong with "Keep On Lovin' You;" this is one brilliant last number that leaves me wanting more!
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes had a great deal of talent; and when Teddy Pendergrass worked with them everything was even brighter! This is a great CD for fans of Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes; and Teddy Pendergrass fans will be very pleased with this album, too.
soulful January 25, 2010
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com (usa)
philly back in the 70's had some of the most important R&B music ever made coming from the city of Brotherly love thanks in part to the Greatness of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and crew. Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes which included the late leader and the late Teddy Pendergrass made some incredible timely songs such as Bad luck, wake up everybody, the love i lost amongest others.
these songs still are cookers and sound so soulful to the ears. top tier production,songwriting and arrangements but more importantly the harmonys and vocals are on point.
OLD SCHOOL May 17, 2010
Linda S. Bostic (sc,usa)
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES WERE GREAT, BUT OH TEDDY TEDDY TEDDY. ANOTHER MUST HAVE FOR OLD SCHOOL.
Another in the Gamble/Huff stable of successes! July 26, 2010
Robert Badgley (London,Ontario,Canada)
The 70s and early 80 were THE time for the song writing and producing team of Ken Gamble and Leon Huff.They created over 170 gold and platinum records with artists like The O'Jays,the Jacksons,Lou Rawls,Patti Labelle,and this group Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes.
Harold Melvin's recording career went back to the early 50s and he had limited success until the early 70s.He was the original lead singer until he recruited Teddy Pendergrass to due to front man honours in 1970.Then they hooked up with Gamble and Huff whose producing caused the Blue Notes to soar into the heights of pop and R&B stardom with such songs as Wake Up Everybody,Bad Luck,The Love I Lost,their penultimate song If you don't know me by Now and a song better known as a hit for Thelma Houston,Don't Leave me this Way.It's all here and Sony has wisely chose to include longer LP cuts of the songs where applicable.Of course their lead singer Teddy Pendergrass went on to have a successful solo career,post Blue Notes.
This is definitely the "essential" of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes and is nicely remastered for the best sound and quality.Enjoy.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
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