Tag: William Hart

Delfonics – Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

Welcome to the Powerpop.blog! I thought about renaming it to PowerKink.blog lately… but we are back to normal business again. I’m sad because there are so many more Kinks songs to explore. I have one ready to go soon. Anyway…

I’ve always liked this song and even more when it was on the Jackie Brown soundtrack. Not only on the soundtrack but it became part of the plot. Jackie Brown is one of my top Quentin Tarantino movies. Pam Grier is super (or any glorious adjective you can think of) in that movie. The song is a quintessential date song.

Thom Bell, one of the pioneers of the Philadelphia soul sound, co-wrote and produced the song along with William Hart. Bell’s orchestral arrangements and Hart’s falsetto vocals created a great sound soul sound. It became one of the group’s most successful hits and is widely regarded as an example of early Philadelphia soul sound.

A little history on them. 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 this song was their biggest hit. Bell then joined Philadelphia International Records, run by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, where he worked with The Stylistics.

Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) peaked at #10 in the Billboard 100, #12 in Canada, and #22 in the UK  in 1970. Their first hit was La-La Means I Love You which charted in 1968 and was a top ten hit as well.

Great song from a great period.

I don’t care much about awards but Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1971.

Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

I gave my heart and soul to you, girl
Didn’t I do it baby, didn’t I do it baby

Gave you the love you never knew, girl
Didn’t I do it baby, didn’t I do it baby

I’ve tried so many times and that’s no lie
It seems to make you laugh each time I cry

Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
Listen

I thought that heart of yours was true, girl
Now didn’t I think it baby, didn’t I think it baby

But this time I’m really leavin’ you, girl
Hope you know it baby, hope you know it baby

Ten times or more, yes, I’ve walked out that door
Get this into your head, there’ll be no more

Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I

Didn’t I do it baby, didn’t I do it baby
Didn’t I do it baby, didn’t I do it baby

Ten times or more, yes, I’ve walked out that door
Get this into your head, there’ll be no more

Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
I got to live you, baby

Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I
Didn’t I blow your mind this time, didn’t I

Delfonics – La-La Means I Love You

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