Bad Luck (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song)

Last updated
"Bad Luck"
Bad luck pt 1 by harold melvin and the blue notes US single side-A.png
Side A of the US single
Single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
from the album To Be True
A-side "Bad Luck (Part 1)"
B-side "Bad Luck (Part 2)"
ReleasedFebruary 1975
Recorded1974
Studio Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre
Length3:10 (single version)
6:29 (full-length version)
Label Philadelphia International
Songwriter(s) Victor Carstarphen, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead [2]
Producer(s) Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes singles chronology
"Where Are All My Friends"
(1974)		"Bad Luck"
(1975)		"Hope That We Can Be Together Soon"
(1975)

"Bad Luck" is a song recorded by American vocal group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes from their album To Be True . Released as a single in 1975 by Philadelphia International Records, the song was written by Victor Carstarphen, Gene McFadden, and John Whitehead and produced by Gamble and Huff, with MFSB providing instrumentals. The single was number one on the Billboard Disco Action chart for eleven weeks, also peaking at no. 4 on Hot Soul Singles and no. 15 on the Hot 100. [3] [4] With an unusually loud hi-hat by session drummer Earl Young, "Bad Luck" is considered a signature disco song.

Contents

Development

After moving into the former headquarters of Cameo-Parkway Records, Philadelphia International Records began using Cameo-Parkway's old Studio B for recordings in 1974. Sigma Sound Studios audio engineer Joseph Tarsia upgraded Studio B to become an extension of the original Sigma Sound Studios. Among the earliest albums to be recorded at the new Sigma Sound Studios room was To Be True by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, including "Bad Luck". [5]

With Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes providing vocals, the ensemble of studio musicians known as MFSB provided the instrumentals, including Earl Young on drums and Ronnie Baker on bass. [6] [5] [7] During the recording sessions, Young's hi-hat was so loud that it could not be quieted in the final mix. [8] The 2004 book A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul credits this recording error for influencing disco to include loud hi-hats. [5]

Composition

According to the sheet music published by Alfred Music Publishing at MusicNotes.com, "Bad Luck" was composed in the key of A major, with a beat of 120 beats per minute. The vocals range is from E4 to F#5. [9]

During the introduction, the bass utilizes a Mixolydian phrase and syncopation based on an E chord. During the verses, the bass line starts with a basic root fifth octave and expands into a chromatic line. [6]

Critical reception

Reviewing To Be True in the February 8, 1975 issue of Billboard, Tom Moulton compared "Bad Luck" to "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" and called it "the strongest cut" on the album. [10] In their 1996 book Precious and Few: Pop Music of the Early '70s, Don and Jeff Breithaupt wrote that the bass line on Bad Luck "deserves serious consideration as the best of the PIR era." [11] In a 2003 review for Allmusic, Craig Lytle said the song has "an incessant grooving rhythm where Teddy Pendergrass cuts into the lyric with conviction." [12]

Chart history

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco</span> Music genre

Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric piano, synthesizers, and electric rhythm guitars.

Philadelphia soul, sometimes called Philly soul, the Philadelphia sound, Phillysound, or The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP), is a genre of late 1960s–1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements. The genre laid the groundwork for the emergence of disco later in the 1970s by fusing the R&B rhythm sections of the 1960s with the pop vocal tradition and featuring a more pronounced jazz influence in its melodic structures and arrangements. Fred Wesley, trombonist with the J.B.'s and Parliament-Funkadelic, described the Philadelphia soul sound as "putting the bow tie on funk."

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s, the group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes, the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976, although they performed and recorded until Melvin's death in 1997. Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing, the Blue Notes' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International. The remaining members of the Blue Notes have reunited for Soul Train Cruises in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Trammps</span> American disco and soul band

The Trammps are an American disco and soul band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands.

MFSB, officially standing for "Mother Father Sister Brother", was a pool of more than 30 studio musicians based at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, the Spinners, Wilson Pickett, and Billy Paul.

Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was an American record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff along with their longtime collaborator Thom Bell. It was known for showcasing the Philadelphia soul music genre that was founded on the gospel, doo-wop and soul music of the time. This sound later marked a prominent and distinct era within the R&B genre. During the 1970s, the label released a string of worldwide hits that emphasized lavish orchestral instrumentation, heavy bass and driving percussion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)</span> 1974 single by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 recording by MFSB featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. It was written by Gamble and Huff as the theme for the American musical television program Soul Train, which specialized in African American musical performers. The single was released on the Philadelphia International Records label. It was the first television theme song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salsoul Records</span> US record label based in New York City

Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre. Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/post-disco 12-inch releases, and a string of albums in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Vincent Montana Jr., known as Vince Montana, was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist, and percussionist. He is best known as a member of MFSB and as the founder of the Salsoul Orchestra. He has been called "the Godfather of disco". Montana was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.

The Salsoul Orchestra was the backing band of session musicians for many acts on the New York City label Salsoul Records and, under its own name, recorded several hit singles and albums between 1975 and 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigma Sound Studios</span> Former recording studios in Philadelphia and New York City

Sigma Sound Studios was an American independent recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1968 by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia. Located at 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia, Sigma Sound is closely associated with Philadelphia soul, and was the location of numerous recordings of Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records, the group of session musicians known as MFSB, and producer Thom Bell.

<i>To Be True</i> 1975 studio album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

To Be True is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in February 1975. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff.

<i>Wake Up Everybody</i> (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes album) 1975 studio album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Wake Up Everybody is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in November 1975. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff. This would be the last album to include Teddy Pendergrass before he left the group for a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Train</span> 1972 single by the OJays

"Love Train" is a hit single by the O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached No. 1 on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100 in February and March 1973 respectively, and No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was the O'Jays' first and only number one record on the US pop chart. The song has been considered one of the first songs of disco music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Young (drummer)</span> American drummer

Earl Donald Young is a Philadelphia-based drummer who rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of the Philly Soul sound. Young is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno". Young, along with Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, was the owner of the Golden Fleece record label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Around (The Spinners song)</span> 1972 single by The Spinners

"I'll Be Around" is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners. It was co-written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt and produced by Bell.

"Mighty Love" is a 1973 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners. The song was co-written by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes and Charles Simmons and was produced by Thom Bell.

<i>I Miss You</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

I Miss You is the debut album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, released on Philadelphia International in August 25, 1972. Produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, the album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

Bobby Eli was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB.

<i>When Love Is New</i> 1975 studio album by Billy Paul

When Love is New is an album by soul singer Billy Paul. It was produced by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff; arranged by Bobby Martin, Dexter Wansel, Norman Harris, and Jack Faith; and engineered by Joe Tarsia. Released in December 1975, it reached #139 on the Billboard Pop Album chart and #17 on the Soul chart. It includes the singles "Let's Make a Baby" which hit #83 on the Pop singles chart, #18 on the Soul chart, and #30 in the UK and "People Power" which reached #82 on the Soul chart and #14 on the U.S. Dance chart. The album was reissued on CD in 2010 by the U.K.'s Edsel Records. This was the final album where Paul was backed by MFSB, the house band of Philadelphia International Records (PIR).

References

  1. 1 2 Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000). Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s. St. Martin's Press. p. 2. ISBN   978-0-312-19821-3.
  2. ↑ "discogs.com". discogs.com. 1975. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 393.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 173.
  5. 1 2 3 Jackson, John A. (2004). A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul. Oxford University Press. pp. 155–157. ISBN   9780195149722.
  6. 1 2 Fletcher, Tim (July 18, 2019). "Bass Transcription: Ronnie Baker's Bass Line on "Bad Luck" by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes". No Treble. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ Werner, Craig (2006) [1998]. A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America (Revised ed.). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 199. ISBN   978-0-472-03147-4.
  8. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (2021). Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres. New York: Penguin Press. p. 364. ISBN   978-0-525-55959-7.
  9. ↑ "Bad Luck (Part 1)". MusicNotes. 14 July 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ Moulton, Tom (February 8, 1975). "Disco action" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 87, no. 6. p. 43 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (1996). Precious and Few: Pop Music of the Early '70s. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 55. ISBN   0-312-14704-X.
  12. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Bush, John; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 465. ISBN   0-87930-744-7.
  13. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-06-14. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.