The Delfonics – The Delfonics

After having 2 consecutive years of having HITS (like "La La Means I Love You" and ""Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)"), "The Delfonics" (along with "Thom Bell" and "Stan Watson") was able to enjoy having PURE success, even getting the attention of the POP World.....

The only thing was, even with "Those Thom Bell Productions", the groups albums were slightly uneven...In my opinion, "Bell & Watson" would do the group a disservice, by having them Record a TON of remakes....

That was not the case with this "Self Titled Album!!!!!!!

This is HANDS DOWN the groups best album, and it was their HIGHEST charted as well.....Why? Because every song, except one, was Written IN HOUSE!!!!! Like I said before, having group member and main Lead Vocalist "William Hart" in the Writing process, helps the songs to have the groups personality....

From the start of this album, you can feel the groups personality because of their BEST song EVER and BIGGEST HIT, "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"...

This joint right here is THE BOMB!!!!!! With the turn of the '70's, Soul Music has been getting BETTER and BETTER!!!!! This song proved that GREAT "R&B Slow Jams" didn't have to sound predicable and could have more UMMMPPP!!!! On the surface it might sound like a typical "Slow Song", but the DEEP driving Soul drop has proven it otherwise....On top of that, the groups Vocals makes the Lyrics very believable (the benefit of having "Hart" in the Writing process)....SO MANY "TV Shows", Movies" and "Commercials" have benefited from having this joint displayed!!!!! It was especially featured in "Quentin Tarantino's" Film, "Jackie Brown", where "Robert Foster's" character went the to the Music store to buy "The Best Of The Delfonics" Cassette that came out in 1984.....A PURE MASTERPIECE!!!!!!

"Funny Feeling" is a nice BOUNCY joint....The group really didn't Record that many Dance tunes, but this one is FIRE!!!!! It even sounds like they were inspired by "The Motown Sound" a little...I also LOVE the ending Guitar Vibe!!!!!

"When You Get Right Down To It" was the only outside Written song....Even if that is the case, this "Barry Mann" tune still fits the groups personality to the TEE!!!! I also love the Interplay Vocals between the "Hart Brothers"....Along with "THAT Thom Bell Production", it sound so INFECTIOUS!!!!!!

"Baby I Love You" continues to prove that this was "The Delfonics" BEST album....The Drum Breaks in the song is just RIGHTOUS!!!!!

"Delfonics' Theme (How Could You)" though.....

This "Thom Bell Production" totally brings the group into the '70's, where "R&B Music" was FINALLY going pass just having Songs, and now the genre was having experiences!!!!!! In fact, you don't even hear the groups Vocals until about 3 minutes into the song....You can also hear where "Raphael Saadiq" got his inspiration for "Oh Girl" from his "The Way I See It" album.....

"Trying To Make A Fool Of Me" is another TRAILBLAZER!!!!!! Again, along with "THAT Thom Bell Production", this continued to take "The Delfonics" to ASTRONOMICAL HEIGHTS!!!!! Between the Guitar track and the Orchestrations, this song has been sampled so many times, that I LOST count!!!!!!

"Down Is Up, Up Is Down" is a fast BANGER, that sounds like it is going UP and DOWN....The changes in this joint is FANSTATIC!!!!! That also goes for the Drum and Conga Break....I can also see either "The Stylistics" or "The Spinners" doing this as well....

"Over & Over" just continues to make sure you don't take the needle off of this album!!!!! The groups Vocal Melody just makes you just say WOW!!!!!!!!!

"Think About Me", even thought "William Hart" wrote this by himself, "Thom Bell" made sure it was treated with care with his Production....

"Hart" also wrote the perfect album closer in "I Gave To You"....Clocking PERFECTLY at 5:45, it set the perfect standard on how albums SHOULD be closed!!!!! This FANTASTIC Soul Drivin' joint (THAT "Thom Bell Production"), just glides SOOO smoothly....The Vocal Break down at the end just put the perfect cap on this PERFECT closer!!!!! This just like other of their Classic joints has been sampled countless times....This one had "Teyana Taylor's" "Gonna Love Me" as the BIGGEST beneficiary!!!!!!

So again, I could just KICK myself.....

Why??????

Because, even when I was a Kid, I should have appreciated this MONSTER of an album!!!!!! It WAS the groups BIGGEST seller, with "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" winning the "Grammy" for best "R&B" performance.....It also RAISED the groups stock to HEIGHTS that they didn't see coming (even though they hoped for it)....

But soon, as with certain groups, things would drastically change....Why? Well this would be the last album with "THOSE Thom Bell Productions"...Again, why? Because "The Stylistics" and "The Spinners" were COMING!!!! And, let's not forget, "The Sound of Philadelphia Movement" was about to TAKE OVER the World of Music thanks to "Kenny Gamble", "Leon Huff" AND "Mr. Thom Bell" (The Mighty Three)!!!!!!

With that, unfortunately, "The Delfornics" would be left behind, leaving this album to be the PINNACLE of there catalog...Also soon, personnel changes would happen, with group member "Randy Cain" leaving in '71, after the next album was finished....I will try to review the next two albums, but HONSTLY, without "Thom Bell" being part of the process, that will be hard for me.....

Be that as it may be, I promised that I would give "The Delfonics' the consideration they DESERVE!!!! This album helped that be VERY POSSIBLE!!!!!!

PS: Oh, and if you haven't guessed it by now, THIS IS AN Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel album!!!!!!!

I have 1 copie of this release up for sale, if anyone is interested please contact me by message. Thank you

A great reissue. The vinyl was clean and in a nice sleeve, the music had great dynamics. I purchased this album together with Tell Me This is a Dream and this one is ten times better quality wise.