I first heard about this band after watching the movie Jackie Brown. I heard of a few of their songs through the years but found out more about them after I saw the movie. They are as smooth as it gets in the 60s and 70s soul.
The song was written by Thom Bell and lead singer William Hart.
This song was the first hit for The Delfonics and was produced by Thom Bell, who helped craft the Philadelphia Soul sound. Bell, and The Delfonics, worked for Cameo-Parkway Records in Philadelphia, which was looking to compete with Motown. The Delfonics are credited with significantly contributing to the development of the Philadelphia sound.
Thom Bell also produced for The Stylistics, Chubby Checker, and Elton John. But his main focus was the Philly sound, which is soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements.
The Delfonics were known as The Five Guys and played their own instruments. Bell cut them down to a trio and made them a vocal group, with Bell playing most of the instruments himself. He recorded three albums with the group and had one more big hit with them: Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) in 1970. Bell then joined Philadelphia International Records, run by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, where he worked with The Stylistics.
This song peaked at #4 on the Billboard 100, #2 on the R&B Charts, #11 in Canada, and #19 in the UK in 1968. They only had one more top-ten hit…Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).
La-La Means I Love You
Many guys have come to you
With a line that wasn’t true
And you passed them by
(Passed them by)
Though you’re in the center ring
And their lines don’t mean a thing
Why don’t you let me try?
(Let me try)
Now, I don’t wear a diamond ring
I don’t even have a song to sing
All I know is
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
Oh, baby, please now
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
If I ever saw a girl
That I needed in this world
You are the one for me
(One for me)
Let me hold you in my arms
Girl, and thrill you with my charms
I’m sure you will see
(You will see)
The things I am sayin’ are true
And the way I explain them to you
Listen to me
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
Ooh, baby
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
The things I am sayin’ are true
And the way I explain them to you,
Yes to you
Listen to me
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
Oh, you’ll have to understand now
La la la la la la la la la means
I love you
Come on and take my hand
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Great movie Jackie Brown. Nice pick here Max!
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“I didn’t know you liked The Delfonics.”
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new one to me, but you can’t go very far wrong with that Philly sound. Delfonics weren’t big in Canada, O’Jays, Spinners and Stylistics were though.
Funny both of us featured Thom Bell today!
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That is cool! This post is the last one of the 70 I had built up…so I drained my reserve of posts lol. I had to write new ones.
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I’ve always loved this song as well as “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).
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Didn’t I Blow Your Mind is what got me into them…
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It sounds more 70’s than 60’s in feel. Its as warm and smooth as butter left out at a barbecue.
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Ah…. “smooth as butter left out at a barbecue”…. I learn daily from you obbverse.
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Swing Out Sister (who we were just talking about) did a really good version of this, but there’s nothing like the original. “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind” is another great song. Whatever happened to them?
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John I think those two were the only top ten hits they had…they had many in the top 100. From what I remember only one is still living today.
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They did well on the R&B chart, with 12 songs in the Top 20, including five in the Top 10. They only ever had the two on the Hot 100. I really regret not giving more attention the the R&B stations in Chicago…
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Beautiful tune! Or as Obbverse very eloquently put it, “warm and smooth as butter left out at a barbecue” – can’t beat that characterization! 🙂
The name Delfonics definitely rings a bell and the song sounded vaguely familiar, so I probably had heard it before.
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He is great at them!
The one that you might know is Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
They had two big hits.
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Really like these guys,great song. Btw Max it peaked at #11 the week of March 23 in 68 here in Canada.
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THANK YOU…. where did you find it????
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Oh man you gonna make me reveal my source! What about freedom of the press or in this case cover song bloggers?
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Ok…I’ll let you off lol
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OK Max you have worn me down, I’m giving up my source. LOL. Check your inbox for the link.
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Cool dude thank you! The reason I took so long to get back…my family all has a stomach virus…NOT a fun time but thank you!
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I suspected something might be up. Hope everyone gets well soon , that’s no fun at all .
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I fixed it…thank you so much
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Fantastic song. Good slow dancing song. How he can get his voice that high is impressive.
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Thanks Lisa… we all have a stomach virus…so if you don’t see me reply much that is the reason.
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Oh no, how unfortunate 😦 Please take care, Max.
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Oh man, this is a cool blast from the past! Listening to it brought back fond memories of working a couple months for a soul station in the 70s … not as a deejay but to catalog the music inventory for the new owners. A lot of great music we rarely hear in public anymore.
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I recall several slow dances to this song. Great to see it get some love here, Max. Our Philly area is proud of our “sound!”
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I love this one, even though I find their greatest hits a bit samey. Todd Rundgren (also from Philly) covered it as part of a medley on his terrific 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star.
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Thanks Graham…I’ll check it out.
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