Billy Paul ”Only The Strong Survive”

Billy Paul

”Only The Strong Survive”
( LP Philadelphia International Records, 1977 )
Catalog # PZ 34923

Tracklisting:
A1 Only The Strong Survive (5:38)
Arranged By – Jack Faith
Producer, Backing Vocals – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Written-By – K. Gamble, L. Huff, J. Butler
A2 Takin’ It To The Streets (4:52)
Bass – C. J. Clark
Producer, Arranged By – Jack Faith
Written-By – M. McDonald
A3 Sooner Or Later (5:36)
Arranged By – Dexter Wansel
Producer – Sherman Marshall
Written-By – S. Marshall, V. Gray
A4 One Man’s Junk (3:17)
Arranged By – Bobby Martin
Producer – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Written-By – K. Gamble, L. Huff
B1 Everybody’s Breakin’ Up (5:05)
Arranged By – Jack Faith
Producer – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Written-By – K. Gamble, L. Huff
B2 The Times Of Our Lives (5:04)
Arranged By – Jack Faith
Producer – Dexter Wansel
Written-By – D. Wansel
B3 Don’t Give Up On Us (5:38)
Arranged By – Roland Chambers
Producer – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Written-By – T. Macaulay
B4 Where I Belong (4:07)
Producer, Arranged By – Dexter Wansel
Written-By – C. Biggs, D. Wansel

Personnel & Credits:
Backing Vocals – Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton
Bass – Derek Graves, Michael “Sugarbear” Foreman
Congas – David Cruse, Larry Washington
Drums – Billy Johnson, Charles Collins
Engineer – Carl Paruolo, Jay Mark, Jim Gallagher, Joe Tarsia
Engineer [Assistant] – Dirk Devlin, Ken Present, Peter Humphreys
Guitar – Dennis Harris, Herb Smith, Roland Chambers
Keyboards – Dexter Wansel, Leon Huff, Steve Gold
Strings, Horns – Don Renaldo , MFSB

Notes:
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.
Also contains no AL 34923, this may be a second cat no.
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977

Biography:
Billy Paul had a good run in the ’70s as an R&B vocalist, though he’d been recording since the ’50s, when he debuted on Jubilee. Paul was featured on radio broadcasts in Philadelphia at age 11 and had an extensive jazz background. He worked with Dinah Washington, Miles Davis, and Roberta Flack, as well as Charlie Parker, before forming a trio and recording for Jubilee. His original 1959 recording of “Ebony Woman” for New Dawn was later re-recorded for Neptune as the title of his 1970 LP. He signed the next year with Philadelphia International and scored his biggest hit with “Me & Mrs. Jones” in 1972, topping both the R&B and pop charts. Paul had one other Top Ten R&B single, “Thanks for Saving My Life,” in 1974. He remained on Philadelphia International until the mid-’80s. Paul recorded one LP for Total Experience in 1985, Lately, and another for Ichiban before announcing his retirement in 1989 in London. But he’s since done several club dates, both in America and overseas.
By Ron Wynn (AMG)

By Pier