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• Track Listing

We can trace the rise of Philly soul back to Arctic Records, one of Philadelphia’s most important early soul labels. Kenny Gamble started out as a songwriter/producer/singer at Arctic; you’ll hear his silky smooth voice on Chains of Love; The Joke’s on You, and many other tracks here. You’ll also hear a young Daryl Hall singing Girl I Love You; Goodbye; Something Good, and more songs with the Temptones, and lots of sides by Barbara Mason, the label’s flagship artist, including her 1965 smash Yes, I’m Ready plus her hits Girls Have Feelings Too and Sad, Sad Girl. That last track brings us to the 45s you get here: six 7" vinyl records featuring single sides by Barbara and Kenny plus Volcanos, Lane Relations, Light Lunch and the Freeloaders, Mike and Ike and Mary De Loach. Filling out the CDs on what is surely the soul-music boxed set of the year: I Dig You Baby Ambassadors; Happiest Girl in the World Tiffanys; A Changed Man Rotations; Shake That Thing Winfield Parker; Step by Step Cindy Gibson; The Rock Combo Kings; Go Away; What Can a Man Do Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (in their pre-Teddy days), and more! Jamie/Guyden.