Little Sonny (Sam Brown) returns to join his buddies, Phil Terry,
The Intruders were one of the first groups to work with the Gamble and Huff team and their sides for the team from the 60s have an amazingly professional approach to harmony soul, never afraid to hit a good hook or go for a strong image to sell a song, yet still quite raw and honest in the vocal department, where things really matter. This record is one of two late albums they recorded once Gamble & Huff had gotten a bit more fame and a lot more money and it’s an interesting transition to the slicker Philly International mode of the 70s.
The band make the transition wonderfully, though and even though they’re couched in tight MFSB orchestrations, the vocals shine through brilliantly, with a less-polished quality that’s a welcome change from some of the other Philly groups of the time.
Gamble and Huff spotlight the return of Little Sonny on “I Wanna Know Your Name“; the song employs a convincing rap by the singer. It also became a popular remake, as versions by the Force MD’s and Wallace & Scotty (of the Whispers) have since been waxed. “To Be Happy Is the Real Thing” and “Hang On In There” are two upbeat, positive-thinking songs that make you feel better about yourself. The Philadelphians reveal their doo wop roots by doing a credible rendition of Lee Andrews and the Hearts’ “Teardrops.” The cream is the spirited, tear-inducing “I Always Love My Mama,” the best mama song ever, which has some of the sweetest lyrics you’ll ever hear on a Philly soul album and which is served up here in the extended version that features some great talking near the end! But most of the rest of the cuts are fantastic, too like the group’s wonderful version of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Save the Children“. The Intruders rap about their teen years during the break before the song builds to a frantic end. A mellow rendition of Paul Simon’s “Mother and Child Reunion” shows the group’s versatility.
02. "Mother And Child Reunion" (Paul Simon) - 4.04
03. "I Wanna Know Your Name" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) - 5.49
04. "To Be Happy Is The Real Thing" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) - 3.28
05. "I’ll Always Love My Mama" (Victor Carstarphen, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, John Whitehead) - 6.36
06. "Memories Are Here To Stay" (T. Conway, Theodore Life) - 3.15
07. "Teardrops" (Roy Calhoun, Edwin Charles, Helen Stanley) - 5.07
08. "Hang On In There" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) - 3.21
Little Sonny (Sam Brown)
Phil Terry
Eugene “Big Sonny” Daugherty
Robert “Bird” Edwards
Design – Ed Lee
Liner Notes – Kenny Gamble
Musician [Music By] – MFSB
Photography By [Back Cover] – Ed Lee
Photography By [Front Cover] – Don Hunstein
Producer – Gamble - Huff
Notes
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mastered at Frankford/Wayne Recording Labs, Philadelphia, Pa.
Genre: Philly Soul
Length: 38:18
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