Getting to the Heart of Philadelphia Soul with Vinyl Me, Please
At the heart of the Philadelphia Soul movement is the legendary Philadelphia International Records. Over 50 years ago, the label—with the help of talent like Patti Labelle and Teddy Pendergrass—defined what came to be known as “The Philadelphia Sound.”
Research / Strategy / Podcast Production / Sound Engineering & Design / Mixing & Mastering / Project Management
Client
VMP (Vinyl Me, Please)
Services
Overview
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records, record club VMP (Vinyl Me, Please) reissued a collection of eight classic albums from the Philadelphia International Records catalog. To accompany this release, they hired Rowhome to produce a podcast that told the story behind the music.
VMP was founded by a group of music experts who love sharing their expertise in the form of collectable records. In our own unique ways, both Rowhome and VMP are equally passionate about audio storytelling. Rowhome’s founders have spent decades producing immersive audio documentaries and interviews with musicians, and this endeavor also tapped into our relationship with the history of Philadelphia.
Together, we would craft something that music lovers could truly embrace.
Legendary Sigma Sound Studios Photo by Arthur Stoppe | Image courtesy of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
The Story of Philadelphia International Records is a podcast series as bright, catchy, and timeless as the Philadelphia Sound itself. Hosted by Philadelphia native, DJ and music writer John Morrison, the episodes treat listeners to exclusive interviews with label founders Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The series takes a deep dive into hits like the O’Jays “Love Train” and legendary locations like Sigma Sound Studios.
“For the podcast, we worked with the incredible Rowhome Productions’ Alex Lewis and John Myers. It was clear they were subject matter experts and remarkable audio producers, so I was thrilled when they were interested in working with us.”
— Amileah Sutliff, Head of Editorial, VMP
Gamble and Huff with sound engineer Joe Tarsia at Sigma Sound | Photo by Don Hunstein/Sony Music Archives
Podcast
“We were excited to work with members of the Philadelphia creative community to support us in building the narrative,” says the staff of VMP. “For the podcast, we worked with the incredible Rowhome Productions’ Alex Lewis and John Myers. We found their work when we were researching the project and came across an audio documentary co-produced by Lewis called Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio. It was clear they were subject matter experts and remarkable audio producers, so I was thrilled when they were interested in working with us.”
Storytelling through sound is at the heart of Philly soul artists, and it’s also at the heart of everything we do. The Story of Philadelphia International Records gave Rowhome the opportunity to help VMP connect with fans—and fans connect to the music they love.
