Search - Delfonics :: La La Means I Love You: The Definitive Collection

You Can't Hide From Love!

David Wayne | Santee, CA United States | 05/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to love and romance, you can't hide, and you can't hide from The Delfonics. They took their sound from the doo-wop tradition. Lead singer and chief songwriter William Hart was heavily influenced by Frankie Lymon and Eddie Kendricks. But he went on to himself influence other high tenors like Russell Thompkins (of the Stylistics) and Ted Mills (of Blue Magic), and dozens of teen-age groups of the 70s (Black Ivory, Jimmy Briscoe and The Little Beavers). Their major hits ("La La Means I Love You" "I'm Sorry" "Break Your Promise" "Didn't I") are all here, as are their lesser successes and significant album tracks. This really is a great collection! Even non-lp singles like "I Told You So" and "Lying To Myself" are here. The one brilliant b-side they did not include was "Baby I Love You." With that one, the collection would have been perfect. "Baby I Love You" will soon see the light of day again, as the studio album "Delfonics" is being released next month. For completists, pick up either "The Professionals" or "More Of The Best" and you'll find other songs the group recorded that were part of an unreleased album, or were otherwise never previously released. But in this album, you have the cream of The Delfonics output, so relax and enjoy. But if you're singing along, try not to strain your voice on those high notes!"

THIS DELFONIC CD WILL DEFINITELY BLOW YOUR MIND!!!

David Wayne | 06/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Delfonics are my absolute favorite group of all time. Their music seems to speak to me. I swear I think William Hart wrote,"I'm Sorry", especially for ME! The words say exactly what I was feeling at a particular time in my life. My heart cries everytime I hear it. My other favorites are, "Loving Him", "Hey Love", and of course their Grammy winning song, "Didn't I(Blow your mind)" Why The Delfonic haven't been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, is appalling! I saw them live here in Atlanta last year and let me tell ya'll, the boy's still have it! Groups today just don't compare to their talent, and the just plain feel good music of the late 60's and early 70's. This Delfonics CD was the very first CD I ever bought.(late bloomer) I absolutely LOVE IT! The Delfonics will always be and remain number "ONE" in my Heart, FOREVER!!!"

A good start..., and didn't War sing...."where was you at"..

William Blackshear | West Orange, NJ USA | 04/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rhythm & blues music listeners were not necessarily Doo-Wop listeners, who did not necessarily move to the new sound of the sixties, Motown etc., and those not necessarily to the sweet soul sound of the early 70s, or on to the disco sound of the later 70s and on......... Point being, music has always had a tendency of impacting (especially teenagers) the listener as tied in to the era released. That does not mean old school music cannot be enjoyed by non era listeners, good music, as Lou Rawls so eloquently put it.... "will last forever" but, as an example if the question is raised "where was you at" when you first heard the 45 "My New Love" by the Delfonics (so often played on urban radio stations in '68 (also on the "Sounds Of Sexy Soul" lp) and an overlooked song on "hits" cds (do the cd song compilers even know?), what is one's reply? Beginning with their debut single, 1966 "He Don't Really Love You" on the obscure "Moon Shot" record label, followed in 1967 by the 45 "You've Been Untrue"- Cameo-Parkway label, through the last album release in 1974 on Philly Groove Records, the Delfonics music has been sought by those who know and love, "East Coast Sweet Soul" and the Philly Sound". It is a type of music! The writer is taken aback when reading, "This stuff can transcend it's own schmaltz"? "Stuff"? Whoa-a! This is music of an era, late 60s - mid 70s. "Where was we at...., when these songs and albums were released? Fifties "Doo-Wop" or 90s "House" music may be far from everyone's taste but, for those impacted by the music of, at the time, just as relevant to them as the various types and era of music listened to and enjoyed by others, are to them. I personally find it difficult to believe a truly insightful review can be written about music unless the writer was "there" during the era of release. An era has it's own "feel". For those who liked/loved the music of the Delfonics, this compilation is a good start, it has 20 songs on it. The reason the Delfonics albums have long since been chased collectible albums is because the songs not on the few, "hits" cds are harbored there, "My New Love", "For The Love I Gave To You", etc., etc., etc., not on the "hits" releases. Recently, all their albums except "Tell Me This Is A Dream"-1972, have been reissued, finally! With "La La Means I Love You"-1967, "The Sounds Of Sexy Soul"-1968, "The Delfonics"-1970, "Alive & Kicking-1974", and the unreleased (in 1976) lp "The Professionals", released on cd, the music of the Delfonics (minus their first 2 releases, the two 45s) is now availible to all, at digital sound quality! This cd, loaded with sweet soul classics but, not all! The album reissues contain more! The Delfonics, it's Buy Time!"