Various Artists: "The Ultimate Sound Of Philadelphia" (Sony TV/Columbia/MCI)

And what a sound it was, too. This two-CD compilation (and limited edition triple LP, which has already been snapped up by every DJ in the house) charts the huge success of the Philly sound, as perfected by producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and performed with style by artists such as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, The O'Jays, Billy Paul and The Three Degrees. Gamble & Huff's approach to soul differed from that of the Motown moguls, and during the disco heyday, the pair etched out a sensual, string-drenched sound which oozed class from every pore. The Sound Of Philadelphia became a byword for style, and the dance floors moved to the crisp, cool beats of Love Train, Backstabbers and Don't Leave Me This Way. Many a slow set was enhanced by the strains of When Will I See You Again, Me And Mrs Jones and Don't Leave Me This Way, and the brash, big band hustle of T.S.O.P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia) by Gamble & Huff alter-egos M.F.S.B. provided the theme tune for a movement which put the flair into black disco music. There's a wealth of classic tracks on this two-CD compilation, and - unlike the grab-all TV-advertised Seventies compilations - this record is consistent in its evocation of an era. The Sound Of Philadelphia was the sultry soundtrack of the Seventies, and provided the smooth velvet to contrast with Motown's warm leatherette.