The Delfonics

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The Delfonics were an American soul band from the late 1960s and early 1970s. They are considered to be important representatives of the Philly Sound .

Members

all: singing

  • William Hart (born January 17, 1945)
  • Wilbert Hart (born October 19, 1947)
  • Randy Cain (May 2, 1946 - April 9, 2009), until 1971
  • Major Harris , from 1971

Band history

The brothers William and Wilbert Hart, along with Randy Cain, founded The Delfonics in high school in the early 1960s . In their hometown of Philadelphia , they quickly became a household name on the local music scene. The Delfonics achieved their nationwide breakthrough in 1968 with the release of the single La-La (Means I Love You) , which is considered the first recording for Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

The style of the Delfonics was gentler than traditional soul music. She was heavily influenced by Phil Spector's Wall of Sound productions. The band was productive and created numerous soul classics; In addition to Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) , Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love) also La-La (Means I Love You) , of which Prince featured a cover version on his album Emancipation in 1996 published.

In 1971 Cain left the group and was replaced by Major Harris . The Delfonics' commercial success waned in the mid-1970s, and the band broke up in 1975. Major Harris then had success as a soloist: Love Won't Let Me Wait reached number one on the R&B and number five on the pop charts in 1975.

The music of the Delfonics experienced a small renaissance in the mid-1990s when the American director Quentin Tarantino wrote the two songs La-La (Means I Love You) and Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) in his film Jackie Brown. in a central scene as well as Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack as the musical leitmotif of the film. In 1999 the CD Forever New was released .

Major Harris died in 2012.

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1968 La-La (Means I Love You) - US100 (6 weeks)
US 		-
1969 Sound of Sexy Soul - US155 (6 weeks)
US 		-
1970 The Delfonics - US61 (18 weeks)
US 		-
The Delfonics Super Hits - US111 (18 weeks)
US 		-
1972 Tell Me This Is A Dream - US123 (11 weeks)
US 		-

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1968 La-La (Means I Love You)
La-La (Means I Love You) 		UK19 (10 weeks)
UK 		US4 (15 weeks)
US 		R&B2 (15 weeks)
R&B
Only charted in the UK in 1971
I'm Sorry
La-La (Means I Love You) 		- US42 (9 weeks)
US 		-
He Don't Really Love You
 - US92 (4 weeks)
US 		-
Break Your Promise
La-La (Means I Love You) 		- US35 (10 weeks)
US 		R&B12 (10 weeks)
R&B
Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)
Sound of Sexy Soul 		UK41 (4 weeks)
UK 		US35 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B14 (7 weeks)
R&B
Only charted in the UK in 1971
1969 Somebody Loves You
Sound of Sexy Soul 		- US72 (3 weeks)
US 		-
Funny Feeling
The Delfonics 		- US94 (2 weeks)
US 		-
You Got Yours and I'll Get Mine
 - US40 (10 weeks)
US 		R&B6 (11 weeks)
R&B
1970 Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
The Delfonics 		UK22 (9 weeks)
UK 		US10
gold
gold

(14 weeks)US 		R&B3 (14 weeks)
R&B
Only charted in the UK in 1971
Trying To Make A Fool Of Me
The Delfonics 		- US40 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B8 (9 weeks)
R&B
When You Get Right Down to It
The Delfonics 		- US53 (8 weeks)
US 		R&B12 (8 weeks)
R&B
1971 Over And Over / Hey! Love
The Delfonics 		- US52 (7 weeks)
US 		R&B9 (6 weeks)
R&B
Walk Right Up to the Sun
Tell Me This Is a Dream 		- US81 (6 weeks)
US 		R&B13 (8 weeks)
R&B
1972 Tell Me This Is a Dream
Tell Me This Is a Dream 		- US86 (3 weeks)
US 		R&B15 (11 weeks)
R&B
1973 I Don't Want to Make You Wait
Alive & Kicking 		- US91 (4 weeks)
US 		R&B15 (11 weeks)
R&B

literature

  • Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, p. 168 - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .
  • Warner, Jay: The Billboard Book Of American Singing Groups. A History 1940-1990 . New York City / New York: Billboard Books, 1992, pp. 354f.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b chart sources:
  2. ↑ Music Sales Awards: US

Web links