Search - Teddy Pendergrass :: Total Soul Classics: Life Is a Song Worth Singing

There's Always A Song Worth Singing

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 01/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been said that there was a shortage of high quality pop music in 1978. However correct or incorrect that is this would stand out as a strong example of the contrary to that point of view. As potent as the Philly sound was in the 70's there were signs in the middle of the decade that there was a need to adapt the style in order to accomodate changes in the R&B/soul/funk world in particular. Gamble & Huff already had been doing that as far back their second album with The Jacksons' Goin' Places;taking the basic Philly orchestral soul/funk/disco sound and swinging it just a bit harder driving. Wheras the orchestration was very much part of the whole on Teddy's debut this sophmore album takes a different approch already with the first two cuts,including the title song and "Only You". The strings take a strong backseat wheras the horns are upped in the mix,the slower beats and rhythms of earlier funk found on The O'Jays "For The Love Of Money" are channeled into the same forward thinking musical approch with also a strong use of rhythmic style electronics and keyboard textures while still being very recognizably the Philly Sound. The title track not only showcases this production style to a strong degree but has an excellent message about taking the time to find an inner strengh and hope in yourself in times of crisis. It's a message of self determination that Teddy is channeling directly from what James Brown,Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield did before him and extended into the disco/funk era pretty much uncut. And I also have to thank Gamble & Huff for keeping that going too. "Cold,Cold World" offers another message of hope on a great midtempo tune that looks to the same new direction as the faster beginnings: a modernistic sweet funk type of sound given a toughness largely due to Teddy's dynamics and that of the arrangement. The classic "Close The Door" and "When Somebody Loves You Back" offer up similar concepts right where one needs them. "Get Up,Get Down,Get Funky,Get Loose" is definately a classic "Philly Jump" kind of tune and one of the shimmering examples of the most positive direction disco was going during this time and,of course there's an enormous debt to funk. Now "It Don't Hurt Now" is the slowest song here however it extends on the overall positively affirming and genuine good intentions of these songs messages. As with Teddy Pendergrass before it this album makes you think,makes you happy and is romantically and creatively satisfying all at the same time. It's also a prime example of what made Teddy Pendergrass such a great voice and artist."

On A Roll!!!

Isaac Dickerson III | Houston, Tx | 09/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This man could not do no wrong by the time this album came out! I was a kid when this came out, so I didn't get it when I saw women going buck wild when Teddy sang "Close The Door". Now I get it! This was when Women were throwing themselves at him. Besides that though, he was a great singer to me, and these songs really expressed that point"