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Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating read on incredible music
Review: I believe the soul music coming out of Philly in the 1970's is the best music ever made, and this book gets on the inside on how it all came together.
Jackson's exhaustive research is impressive. He has documented everything in detail, talked to 100's of people, read many documents, and just plain got his reserach down perfectly.
Jackson tells how the music was made with interesting anecdotes throughout the book. Mostly it's about the business side of music and how Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell not only created and produced, but also assembled teams of amazing musicians, writers, and singers to develop this amazing music.
It doesn't always paint a rosy picture, remember this is not only the rise, but also the fall of Philly soul. And if you're a Kenny Gamble fan, this book doesn't portray him in the most positive light, though much of it is earned by Mr. Gamble himself. One can put the blame on his big, fat ego for the downfall of the world's most incredible music company, Philadelphia International.
All kinds of musicians are interviewed. I would've preferred to have heard more words from The O'Jays and Spinners, and other big groups, but clearly Jackson's intent was to focus on Gamble, Huff, and Bell, and the backing musicians who labored hard without much glory. (But what's a music book without whiney studio musicians?)
Philadelphia soul hit its peak in the early and mid-70's led by The O'Jays, Spinners, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and The Stylistics just to name a few .. then the decline set in caused by -- no surprise here -- too much ego.
The author, Jackson, puts it all together in this fantastic read.
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