About this episode
In this episode we welcome the great soul scribe Tony Cummings to Hammersmith to discuss the subject of his classic 1975 book The Sound of Philadelphia . Tony travelled all the way down from his adopted Stoke-on-Trent to answer our questions about his earliest musical passions in his native Plymouth and the launch of his pioneering '60s fanzines Soul , Soul Music and Shout . He goes on to talk about his contributions to (and editorship of) Black Music magazine – and his deep immersion in the "Philly Soul" sound patented by Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff and Thom Bell . We hear about the extraordinary stable of musicians who performed on timeless hits by acts such as the O'Jays , the Three Degrees and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes . Clips from audio interviews with Kenny Gamble and – from 1976 – the Stylistics' Herb Murrell prompt reflections on the lavish sound and sophistication of R&B classics by everyone from the Delfonics and Jerry Butler to Teddy Pendergrass and McFadden & Whitehead . Many thanks to special guest Tony Cummings . Pieces discussed: Inside the Philly Sound , MFSB, TCB , The Stylistics , Gamble-Huff, Thom Bell and the Philly Groove , Hit Producer Thom Bell: Philly Soul & the R&B Flugelhorn , "Philadelphia was the party with a tormented soul" , Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff audio , The Stylistics' Herb Murrell audio , Why are we so hard on our music press? and Linkin Park .