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Our Top 10 Delfonics songs list celebrates the music of one of the most inspiring and sweet sounding vocal soul groups to come out of the 1960s. This was a group that not only recorded and performed brilliantly, they wrote many of their own songs unlike most r&b vocal groups that came out of the 1960s. Their original songs were written by their lead vocalist William Hart along with their music producer Thom Bell who would become a soul music legend himself as a producer. As a band based out of Philadelphia, the Delfonics helped spark the Philly soul sound that would also be fueled by Thom Bell’s work with The Spinners and The Stylistics. In the mid 1970s, artists like Hall & Oates and Elton John further celebrated that sound with big hits of their own basked in Philly Soul.
The members of the Delfonics consisted of William Hart, Wilbert Hart and Randy Cain. Major Harris replaced Randy Cain in 1971 when Cain left to form Blue Magic. After the last Delfonics studio album was released in 1974, the group spilt up into two separate groups. Major Harris had a huge hit in 1975 with “Love Wont Let Me Wait.” Over the years, the Delfonics toured and performed as two separate groups. Randy Cain and Major Harris have since both passed away.
Our Top 10 Delfonics songs list looks back at the band’s glory days and chooses our favorite songs from the group five albums released between 1968 and 1974.
# 10 – He Don’t Really Love You
Well why not start right out at the beginning. Opening up our top 10 Delfonics songs we go all the way back in time to the group’s first single “He Don’t Really Love You.” The song was released in 1966. It was the group’s first ever single release. From the start it was easy to hear that this was a special group
# 9 – Alfie
There have been many artists that have covered Burt Bacharach songs over the years, but no group has ever covered Burt Bacharach with such brilliant high harmonies like The Delfonics. This great recording was released on the Delfonics debut album La La Means I Love You. The record was released in 1968. While most fans are well aware of the Dionne Warwick version of the song, it’s the Delfonics that really ignite this one.
# 8 – Hey! Love
Continuing with our Top 10 Delfonics songs list we turn to the great recording “Hey! Love.” Within two seconds of this song’s introduction, you will be hooked into this one. The song was released on the group’s fourth album entitled Tell Me This Is a Dream. The album was released in 1972. “Hey! Love,” was written by William Hart.
# 7 – I Told You So
This great Delfonics song “I Told You So,” was released on the album Alive & Kicking. The album would serve as the last Delfonics studio album of their career. The record was released in 1974. Most of the songs on the album including “I Told You So,” were written by William Hart. The groove on this one is fabulous, the horns and strings gorgeous, and the vocals of course are to die for. Pure Philly Soul at its finest.
# 6 – Break Your Promise
The song “Break Your Promise,” has always been a fan favorite. The song was released on the group’s first album La La Means I Love You. The strings, the melody and the groove are very similar to the album’s big hit “La La Means I Love You.” “Break Your Promise” was released as the album’s fourth single. It was very successful as it broke the Billboard’s Hot 100 Top 40 chart and peaked at number 35. The song was written by Thom Bell and William Hart.
# 5 – Funny Feeling
As we enter the second half of our Top 10 Delfonics songs list we present a very Motown style type track entitled “Funny Feeling.” The song was released on the band’s third album entitled The Delfonics. Sounding somewhere in between The Temptations and the Fifth Dimension, “Funny Felling,” clocks in at under two and a half minutes. It hits you hard and fast. Another great Thom Bell and William Hart composition.
# 4 – Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love)
This amazing recording starts out with some intense minor key stings and low sounding horns of doom that creates a feeling of excitement that something special is on its way. It does not disappoint. This is easily one of the great soul recordings of the 1960s.“Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love),” was released on the album La La Means I Love You It was the fifth single released form that amazing album. Even as the fifth single, it still broke the Billboard Top 40. The song was written by Thom Bell and William Hart.
“Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love),” is also one of the most covered Delfonics songs ever released. It has been sampled by many hip hop artists over the years and used as grooves for many hip hop songs from artists like Missy Elliot, Eminem, Nelly, Li Kim and more. The song was also covered by The Jackson Five.
# 3 – I’m Sorry
As we begin to wind down our top 10 Delfonics songs list, we turn to the memorable recording of the great Delfonics song “I’m Sorry.” This fantastic tune was released on the album La La Means I Love You. The song “I’m Sorry,” was released as the follow up single to the album’s smash single “La-La (Means I Love You).” The slow ballad complete with its heavy use of strings was written by Thom Bell and William Hart. The song just missed breaking the Billboard Top 40 in 1968 as it peaked at number 42.
# 2 – Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
You don’t have to be a Delfonics fan to know the next two songs on this list. At number two on our top 10 Delfonics songs list, we present the group’s big hit “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).” The song was released in 1969 as a single. It also opened up the group’s third album The Delfonics which was released in 1970. “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).” was the Delfonics’ second top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also hit number three on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
“Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” won a Grammy Award in 1969 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The song was written by the great songwriting team of Thom Bell and William Hart. The song was featured heavily in the Quentin Tarantino motion picture Jackie Brown. The song has been covered by hundreds of artists over the years.
# 1 – La-La (Means I Love You)
We close out our top 10 Delfonics songs list with the group’s biggest hit of their career. The song “La-La (Means I Love You)” served as the title track to the group’s classic 1968 album La La Means I Love You. The song hit number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 making it one of the biggest songs of the year. The melody and vocals on this one are so beautiful they are almost indescribable. You just have to sit back and listen to this one. If you in a bad mood. a little grumpy or just kind of down, all you have to do is put this tune on and if will lift your spirits instantly.
“La-La (Means I Love You)” was not only the highest charting single the group ever released, it was their most covered. This original Delfonics song written by Thom Bell and William Hart has been covered by some pretty big names in the music business. Todd Rundgren released a brilliant version. Great versions were also released by Prince, The Jackson Five, and the great Booker T. & the M.G.’s
Top 10 Delfonics songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2020
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