Philly Soul

A basic guide to "Philly Soul," its best and most popular artists, bands, singers, and songs, and a history of how the style fits into other areas of popular music. From the Oldies music guide at About.com.

One in a series of profiles on rock and roll's most important record labels of the oldies era, written and compiled by your Guide here at oldies.about.com.

The O'Jays were the most popular of the Philly Soul superstars, moving from protest funk ("For The Love Of Money") to pop anthems ("Love Train") and even through the disco era ("Use Ta Be My Girl"). This O'Jays profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

The Spinners, while from Detroit, were nevertheless one of the most critically and commercially successful of the "Philly Soul" groups, scoring with "The Rubberband Man," "(One Of A Kind) Love Affair," and "It's A Shame." This (Detroit) Spinners profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes were arguably Philly Soul's greatest balladeers, thanks in no small part to Teddy Pendergrass' booming baritone on classic singles like "If You Don't Know Me By Now." This Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

The Stylistics were the vocal group most responsible for popularizing "Philly Soul," that early-Seventies brand of heavily orchestrated R&B that paved the way for disco. Their forte lay mostly in ballads, however, classic gold like "Break Up To Make Up," "Betcha By Golly, Wow," and "You Are Everything." This Stylistics profile is the latest in a...