A House On Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul

by John A. Jackson

"If You Don't Know Me By Now," "The Love I Lost," "The Soul Train Theme," "Then Came You," "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"--the distinctive music that became known as Philly Soul dominated the pop music charts in the 1970s. In A House on Fire , John A. Jackson takes us inside the musical empire created by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, the three men who put Philadelphia Soul on the map.
Here is the eye-opening story of three of the most influential and successful music producers of the seventies. Jackson shows how Gamble, Huff, and Bell developed a black recording empire second only to Berry Gordy's Motown, pumping out a string of chart-toppers from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Spinners, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, and many others. The author underscores the endemic racism of the music business at that time, revealing how the three men were blocked from the major record companies and outlets in Philadelphia because they were black, forcing them to create their own label, sign their own artists, and create their own sound. The sound they created--a sophisticated and glossy form of rhythm and blues, characterized by crisp, melodious harmonies backed by lush, string-laden orchestration and a hard-driving rhythm section--was a glorious success, producing at least twenty-eight gold or platinum albums and thirty-one gold or platinum singles. But after their
meteoric rise and years of unstoppable success, their production company finally failed, brought down by payola, competition, a tough economy, and changing popular tastes.
Funky, groovy, soulful--Philly Soul was the classic seventies sound. A House on Fire tells the inside story of this remarkable musical phenomenon.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Cultural, History

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Christopher Federici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now man, this book was killer! I'll be honest - it's a slow burn. The first 80 pages took a bit for me, but wow once the story is rolling, it is rollllling. I'm from right outside of Philadelphia and it pains me to see how much of this core history is essentially lost. The story of Philadelphia International and the creative workhorses that were Gamble, Huff, and Bell is beyond inspiring.

I BEG you to listen to a Philadelphia International playlist as you go through this label's amazing discography. Song after song I was blown away how much of their production I took for granted and I learned to love that 70s pre-disco soul music all over again. Thanks for the music PIR, you guys make me proud to be from Philly.

[Peter Kuchenbrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the ‘Mighty Three’ (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Thom Bell) and the rise and fall of Philadelphia International Records and the groundbreaking music created by them. Of the three, only Bell participated...perhaps Gamble and Huff are going to write their own book(s)? Without their input it’s impossible to get the full story, but I’d say this is pretty damn close. Very well-researched and a must-read for anyone interested in this incredible era of musical creativity.

[Tony Gualtieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, which focuses on the business side of Philly soul. The main story is Gamble and Huff of course, but I would have liked more about Thom Bell. I docked it one star for the simplistic background history of race relations that often seemed irrelevant to the main story.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of the role of Gamble and Huff in the development, success and decline of Philadelphia soul music.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome, meticulously researched history of Philadelphia International Records, the label that gave us the classic Sound of Philadelphia, with dozens of late 60s and early-to-late 70s R&B greats like "Cowboys to Girls," “Backstabbers,” “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind (This Time),” “I’m Stone in Love With You,” “I’ll Be Around,” "Bad Luck," and on and on. Before I was even 50 pages in I loaded up my iPod with all the music that I had of the O’Jays, the Spinners, the Stylistics, MFSB, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the Jones Girls, the Three Degrees, the Delfonics, etc., and I'm still grooving to it all days later. An assortment of racist attitudes (remember the late 70s “Disco Sucks” movement from the reactionary white male rock establishment?), as well as the passage of time, changing tastes, and sadly a lot of internal strife & personal conflicts eventually brought things to an end for PIR as the 70s drew to a close, but happily the music, as they say, lives on.

[Hillery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched book on the history of Philadelphia International Records, Philly Soul, and the huge influence both had on the music of the '70s. Of the three major figures involved---Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell--only Thom Bell was willing to talk to the author. However, the writer was able to speak a large number of all the other people involved with the making of this music and who were involved with the company. Highly recommended for anyone interested in how some of the best music of the '70s was made.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched account of Gamble, Huff and Bell's development of the "Philly sound" and Philadelphia International Records.
Too bad that Gamble would not agree to be interviewed for the book, as it he direct insights could have added some counter balance to the negative comments of the former PIR employees, songwriters and musicians.

Overall good read, I wonder in our day of digitized and decentralized music if we will see producers & songwriters of their influence again.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jackson's book is a respectable, workmanlike history of Philadelphia International Records and its prime movers, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell. It's a big story, and Jackson covers it from start to finish, but it's a somewhat rote recitation. I enjoyed this, but I think that a more definitive history is possible.