“Philly soul” was a phrase used to describe and categorize a distinctive style of music produced and pressed on the Philly Groove label located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Delfonics, who pioneered the sound, released a chain of hit singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s, which all appear on this aptly christened audio documentation.
Set in chronological order, La-La Means I Love You: The Definitive Collection (Arista Records) plugged in as a pristine portrait of a group that was faultlessly dependable and durable. Right from the get go, the Delfonics struck gold with a winning formula and remained thoroughly faithful to such fare throughout their entire career.
Carved of silky smooth harmonies and elegant string arrangements, the music of the Delfonics blinks and blossoms with sweet and classy moves. Songs like “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind),” “La-La Means I Love You,” “Break Your Promise,” “I’m Sorry,” “Somebody Loves You” and “I Don’t Want To Make You Wait” emit a creamy, dreamy fragrance rippling with lush textures. Narrating the highs and lows of romance, the Delfonics delivered their valentines and soap operas with total conviction. Whirling with mesmerizing rhythms, “Delfonics Theme” posts as another goosepimple-inducing cut included on the disc.
There’s no argument the Delfonics were one of the finest soul acts around, and La-La Means I Love You: The Definitive Collection serves as a nice overview of their accomplishments.
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