Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American R&B/Soul vocal group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco.
Harold trudges on, Teddy Pendergrass-less, on a lackluster effort. The Blue Album only has six songs; one, "Tonight's the Night," rambles on for over eight minutes. Gene McFadden and John Whitehead contribute three of the six songs -- not their best, but "Your Love Is Taking Me on a Journey" isn't half bad. Harold puts some nice touches on "I Should Be Your Lover," a Gamble & Huff song originally recorded by the O'Jays. Harold added some lyrics and monologue and gets co-writer credits on the new version.
The album is titled "The Blue Album" but, it could easily now be called "The Lost Album". When inquiries come up about those remembering songs with Sharon Paige & the Blue Notes, this is the album the songs are on. The cover is actually white and blue and reads "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" and just below that "Featuring Sharon Paige". To the writer it was the last excellent album released by H. Melvin's group. Does one recall Sharon Paige doing "Tonight's The Night"? The original album was produced in Philadelphia. Source Records believed enough in H. Melvin & his Blue Notes to back them to album release. Keep in mind that once Teddy Pendergrass left the group, for a solo career, Philly Intl. Records unceremoniously released Harold and the remaining group members. It wasn't the easiest going for the group and changing members thereafter. If listening to urban radio stations during time of this release, how can one not remember the now sought after song "I Should Be Your Lover"?
Track listing
01. "Tonight's The Night" (A. Myers, K. McCord) - 8:09
02. "Prayin'" (McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 5:58
03. "Baby I'm Back" (J. Mitchell) - 4:50
04. "I Should Be Your Lover" (H. Melvin) - 5:50
05. "If You're Looking For Someone To Love" (G. McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 4:50
06. "Your Love Is Taking Me On A Journey" (G. McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 5:55
Credits
Performer [Harole Melvin & The Blue Notes Are] – David Ebo, Dwight "Blockie" Johnson*, Harold Melvin, Jerry Cummings, Sharon Paige, William Spratley
Piano – John Whitehead, Nat Lee
Bass – Robert Hines
Grand Piano – Micki Horton, Bobby Dukes
Guitar – Kenny Jackson, Martin Cornwell
Electronic Drums [Syndrums] – Ella M. Hilton
Congas, Drums – Daryl Burgee
Coordinator [Organizer] – George "Prettyman" Williams
Design, Concept By [Album] – Ralph Bates
Engineer – Al Alberts
Mastered By – Larry Nixon, William Brown
Mixed By – The Souly Ghost
Arranged By – Leon Mitchell
Art Direction – George Osaki
Executive-Producer – Logan H. Westbrooks
Producer – Harold Melvin
Wood Block – Harold Melvin
Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – MCA Records, Inc.
Distributed By – MCA Records, Inc.
Marketed By – MCA Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Source Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Source Records, Inc.
Notes
John Whitehead courtesy of Philadelphia International Records
Produced for Million Dollar Record Company
Recorded at Alpha Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Mastered at Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN
Genre: Philly Soul
Length: 35:32
© 1979
Label - Source Records
The album is titled "The Blue Album" but, it could easily now be called "The Lost Album". When inquiries come up about those remembering songs with Sharon Paige & the Blue Notes, this is the album the songs are on. The cover is actually white and blue and reads "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes" and just below that "Featuring Sharon Paige". To the writer it was the last excellent album released by H. Melvin's group. Does one recall Sharon Paige doing "Tonight's The Night"? The original album was produced in Philadelphia. Source Records believed enough in H. Melvin & his Blue Notes to back them to album release. Keep in mind that once Teddy Pendergrass left the group, for a solo career, Philly Intl. Records unceremoniously released Harold and the remaining group members. It wasn't the easiest going for the group and changing members thereafter. If listening to urban radio stations during time of this release, how can one not remember the now sought after song "I Should Be Your Lover"?
Track listing
01. "Tonight's The Night" (A. Myers, K. McCord) - 8:09
02. "Prayin'" (McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 5:58
03. "Baby I'm Back" (J. Mitchell) - 4:50
04. "I Should Be Your Lover" (H. Melvin) - 5:50
05. "If You're Looking For Someone To Love" (G. McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 4:50
06. "Your Love Is Taking Me On A Journey" (G. McFadden & J. Whitehead) - 5:55
Credits
Performer [Harole Melvin & The Blue Notes Are] – David Ebo, Dwight "Blockie" Johnson*, Harold Melvin, Jerry Cummings, Sharon Paige, William Spratley
Piano – John Whitehead, Nat Lee
Bass – Robert Hines
Grand Piano – Micki Horton, Bobby Dukes
Guitar – Kenny Jackson, Martin Cornwell
Electronic Drums [Syndrums] – Ella M. Hilton
Congas, Drums – Daryl Burgee
Coordinator [Organizer] – George "Prettyman" Williams
Design, Concept By [Album] – Ralph Bates
Engineer – Al Alberts
Mastered By – Larry Nixon, William Brown
Mixed By – The Souly Ghost
Arranged By – Leon Mitchell
Art Direction – George Osaki
Executive-Producer – Logan H. Westbrooks
Producer – Harold Melvin
Wood Block – Harold Melvin
Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – MCA Records, Inc.
Distributed By – MCA Records, Inc.
Marketed By – MCA Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Source Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Source Records, Inc.
Notes
John Whitehead courtesy of Philadelphia International Records
Produced for Million Dollar Record Company
Recorded at Alpha Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Mastered at Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN
Genre: Philly Soul
Length: 35:32
© 1979
Label - Source Records
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