Philly Soul

Layering symphonic strings and jazzy horns over a street-tough rhythm section and gospel-drenched vocals, Philly soul mixed go-for-baroque ballads ("Me and Mrs. Jones") with social commentary ("For the Love of Money") and turned "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)" into the theme for American TV's legendary Soul Train.

Philly soul was not just the smooth, lush, more sophisticated cousin to the Southern and deep-soul varieties: the subgenre was also the father of disco and house. As much as the artists, Philly soul's heroes were the producers, like collaborators Thom Bell/Linda Creed (The Spinners) and Gene McFadden/John Whitehead (The O'Jays).

Beyond the biggest hits and cult jams lies a world of jaw-dropping performances from stars and lesser lights alike, all picture-perfect soundtracks for sweat-soaked dance floors (house music starts here) or smoothed-out, late-night, two-glasses-of-wine, you-and-that-very-special-someone scenarios.

With a left-right combination of street funk rhythms and super-sophisticated orchestration, Philly soul spawned house, disco, and fistfuls of hits, from plush boudoir ballads ("If You Don't Know Me By Now") to biting social commentary ("Back Stabbers") that never took a backseat to the melodies . . . or the matchless vocal performances of Jerry Butler, the Intruders, the Spinners, the Delfonics, the O'Jays, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Sweet as love, strong as death.