The Story Behind the Hit Song "Me and Mrs. Jones". Told by Writer Leon Huff
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Today's guest is arranger, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer Leon Huff.
During the 1970's Gamble and Huff wrote and produced some of the greatest R&B music in American History.
Joe was lucky enough to be invited to Leon's house.
This clip is how they wrote and produced "Me And Mrs Jones", sung by the great Billy Paul.
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"Me and Mrs. Jones" was truly a masterpiece in every respect.
There was a great jazz standard called "Have You Met Miss Jones" recorded in the 1930's. That standard has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby to McCoy Tyner. There may some echoes of that standard in the Gamble and Huff composition?
Did you ever tell the guy the "song was about you"? No. ( but I bet there were 1000 guys and gals in Philly that thought the song was about them). What a great writer, thanks for sharing!
Hi Chuck... you’re probably underestimating how many:) Thanks again for supporting our channel... Joe
Lord have mercy. When music was real and meaningful. I remember this song walking to the school bus in 8th grade.
Great song...
These are the best Music videos anywhere. Thanks Joe!
Thanks again Phil... Joe
Gamble and Huff (super musicians) have always been my favorite musicians. Listening to their music inspired me to keep learning keyboard. From my early twenties to now sixties, I still listen to music by them!
Huff doesn't realize the reason "Me And Mrs Jones" took off wasn't because of a relatable story line. It was the amazing production. The atmosphere was profoundly majestic and it captured the listener''s attention to follow whatever story line was being presented. Gamble & Huff are legendary.
One of the greatest songs of all time. Just loved the feel and vibe it created. Brings me back to my childhood as a white kid in a predominantly black neighborhood. Some of the most lovely people friends and memories.
Hi King.... thanks for sharing your story... Best, Joe
A timeless classic and a fascinating true story behind the song to say the least! I play it all the time on my acoustic. What was that favourite song the girl played in the jukebox each time they met at the cafe?
Great interview. So Billy Paul wasn't a cheater, or was he... Love Gamble and Huff, thanks for getting Leon to tell his story.
Hi GG.... I love hearing how these great song’s happened too.... more coming... Best, Joe
This is a tune that is still in my rotation. The arrangement is absolutely stunning. The story behind the song makes it even better now. Another phenomenal interview, Joe.
Johnny ... I love that song too... everything about it was perfect. Production, performance and well written... best, Joe
Hey Joe, Sigma Sounds at 13th n Vine St. In Downtown Philly had a vibe that resonated with the world. It was more orchestrated than mo-town. Although I love both. Philly really vibed in the 70's. Great era to be a teenager in my hometown.
Hi Tom... yes I loved all the Sigma Sound records... Gamble and Huff were great..... joe
Great story, great history! I totally connected with this song as a 10 year old kid :) By the way, props to your video editor and photo-chooser. Great edit at 4:40.
Hi beast.... thanks again for watching... Our museum video editor is Jay McDowell... he finds the cool pictures and adds them to our interviews... Best, Joe
FANTASTIC many thanks for that history tale Love the sound soul
Glad you liked it Nelly.... joe
Great story. Great song 🎸
Thanks Rock.... Joe
Awesome cool video thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this video.
Thanks for watching....Joe
Joe, along with the Funk Bros., Wrecking Crew, Swampers, I’d love to know more about TSOP, Sigma Sound musicians, engineers, and producers, Mr. Huff, Gamble, and the great artists like the O’Jays, etc. Thanks!
Hi SGC.... well I just spoke to Joe Tarsia by email yesterday. Sigma Sound Studio was added to the Philadelphia historic register. Joseph was the founder and engineer for those Gamble and Huff classics. Like the other great studio groups you mentioned many of the original members have passed, especially those core members that were there from the start. As time goes on there’s always a natural influx of members coming and going. There are some still around like my friend and fabulous drummer.... creator of the disco beat Earl Young. The easiest thing to do is just google the Sigma Sound Studio Wikipedia or Gamble and Huff. Thanks for watching... Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum yes, I have- I just love your personal touch.
Thanks SGC.... Joe
This guy comes off cool as ice.
I’d eat my hand to get songwriting advice from this gentleman.( I wouldn’t really eat my hand.🤣)
Interesting, intelligent and talented.
Wonderful video.
Thank you.💪👍🎸
Hi Mick... Yea I totally agree with you... Mr.Huff is cool and humble... There’s more coming... He’s really just a good guy who loved music from a child and was incredibly talented... Joe
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
I’ll be waiting.
Content like this (and just about everything I see on this channel) is a songwriting musicians dream come true.
Best wishes always.😊👍🎸
You too.... best, Joe
When I first heard "Me & Mrs Jones" I immediately thought of "One Woman" by Isaac Hayes written by Charles Chambers and Sandra Rhodes in 1969 from his album "Hot Buttered Soul."
"Then I open the door to our favorite little coffee shop
and she's right on time..."
In "M&MJ" the line goes, "we meet everyday at the same cafe." The song mentions a time, which is "6:30." In "One Woman" there are two specific references to time, "I fight my way through the 5:00 o'clock rush hour..." Then he mentions "I fight my way through early morning traffic." I often wondered back then if the Gamble-Huff team was at least inspired somewhat by the "One Woman" theme and turned the coffee shop to a cafe as a rendezvous place.
But even at Isaac Hayes' Stax records "One Woman" wasn't their first song about infidelity. It was Stax writers wrote "Who's Making Love to Your Ole Lady" and song by Johnnie Taylor.
"While you're like cheatin on your woman
There is something you never thought of
Now tell me, who's making love
To your ole lady,
While you are out, making love?"
If memory serves this song made it to No. 1 on the R&B charts back in the late 60s.
So, song writing about infidelity was actually quite popular and profitable in those days. It wasn't that risky. Not too long after "M&MJ" was written, Don Covay had a song about him leaving a hotel with a woman not his wife. To his surprise he noticed,
"Lord, while I was checking out
my ole lady was checking in!"
Ouch for Don Covay! That one was pretty funny to me. I think it made it to the top ten on the R&B charts. Then within a few years of that song here comes another song about cheating, "Torn Between Two Lovers." It was co-written by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame). It was sung by Mary MacGregor, and it too went to No.1 (I think). Apparently not all the drama was on soap-opera TV about cheating and love triangles, but in song also. :>)
Hi Del... thanks for sharing your thoughts and watching our channel... Best, Joe
The dramatics sings it too.
Thanks for sharing Vincent…. Joe
Sexy is as sexy does. This song evokes memories of "grinding" with the ladies as a young man. Man & woman press hips against each other & "grind" delicate pelvic areas against one another. It was the rave back in the day. Light up some 🌞 Sunshine for the Mind & listen to me & Mrs. Jones. Hit it!
I love Philly Soul more than Motown or Stax or Atlantic
I’m a huge fan of the Philly sound too.... Thanks for watching Bryan... Joe
Boy, I really appreciate Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble for all the wonderful music they have given us over the decades. Again, thanks.
Thanks Don... yes they give us some great music.... Joe
I was a white suburban teenager way up here in Canada when I bought this single..loved it then, still love it. Good music transcends.
Man! Everything about this song puts you right there in the moment of two people chillin' together in a Manhattan cafe on a crisp winter evening in the 70's. The fact that they "both know that it's wrong" is sad, yet the music is so beautiful: Those strings. Those horns. The piano. The organ. The bass. The jazz guitar. The reverbed hi-hat cymbal. The vocals! All so dreamy and relaxing and nostalgic. Thank you Gamble and Huff and Billy! A masterpiece!
You’ve got a real knack for bringing out the real personalities behind a great American art form
Thanks 567.... if that’s what comes across it may be because they know I really respect them and their talent with no intent to do anything but share the their true stories... Best.... Joe
Amen buddy - I absolutely LOVE these videos. Great interviewing technique, whatever the hell it is....just kinda puts people at ease, doesn't interrupt a lot, etc.
Great song, great Vocal, and somewhere two people walked around for many years not knowing they were the "Me and Mrs Jones".....and LOVE the gold records in the background
Hi David.... yes... like I asked Mr.Huff... did you ever tell the guy:) We filmed this in Mr.Huff’s house but there were not many gold records everywhere. Very few actually considering the hundreds he and Kenny Gamble received. Thanks for watching... Joe
"It was so different, it grew on me".....Literally spent years listening to this song, as family member after family member (it seemed like) played it lol......finally hearing how it came to be is amazing, immediately had to click! Thanks you all :) Wishing ya a phenomenal year!
This was such a great song. Really interesting story about how it came to be written. Thx. for sharing.
Thanks Pamela... best, Joe
Us over the age of 40-50.. recall hearing this and just hearing the title takes us back into time- Not too many artists can do that.. This one most certainly did. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Nivasi.... Joe
Joe’s talent is that he asks a good question and then listens to the answer. So many interviewers simply don’t do this.
Thanks for watching Living.... thanks for your comments too.... best, Joe
How simple & o' so very very true. 👍
Gamble and Huff straight LEGENDS.. This channel is providing Real History.. Respect
Thanks Robert.... appreciate you watching our channel... Joe
Thank you for writing this. At the time, I was starting college, and seeing a beautiful lady, who was a nun. She left the convent, and I studied for the priesthood. I didn't last, and I became a professional musician, and still am.
Leon & Kenny, lightning struck, the music world was enriched with their soulful compositions! Me and Mrs. Jones takes me back to when I was young, turning up the AM radio, getting in the groove! Billy Paul was the icing on the cake! Another solid interview Joe, thank you!💫
Hi Larry... yes I loved hearing Mrs.Jones on my am radio too in my 1970 Firebird...Great memories... Joe
When I played with The Dramatics, we played this every night. It is the perfect song to play at weddings.................
I imagine that was a wonderful time. They have done some amazing covers. Their version of "Do What You Want, Be What You Are" is definitely in my favorite 5 covers all time. Wishing you well.
There's a live version of Me and Mrs. Jones by Hall and Oates in the early 2000s on TH-cam somewhere that explodes at the end in the best way.
Hi Shawn... Hall and Oates are great... thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts...Best.... Joe
Adultry has consiquences that said I absolute love this song.
But Billy Paul said it’s the most misunderstood song. No affair actually happened. The two people just meet everyday and make all kinds of plans in their imagination. But they never carry out those plans. She goes her way and he goes his way at the end. No adultery. They were just dreaming of what they wanted to do. But responsibilities to their marriages and family mean they can never act on what they are dreaming of. They meet every day at the same place. If they were actually having an affair, they wouldn’t be meeting at the restaurant and then going their separate ways every day.
@@rozchristopherson648 Thanks for that explanation. The song makes much more sense that way
Wow, just wow. Two of my musical hero's Gamble & Huff. Talent and hardwork just doesn't and never will get any better. God bless there contributions to the musical enjoyment of millions and millions of people, then, now and in the next ten thousand years plus.
Thanks for watching Geoffrey... Joe
"Me and Mrs. Jones" is one of my most beloved songs and Billy Paul's version is the best. Thanks for telling us the story of its creation.
Thanks Don.... best......Joe
just all came together pure perfection...
A exceptional writer and a masterful creative cat Leon Huff another amazing producer in the world of R & B so very cool to hear him speak Thanks again Joe and all the good folks at MHFM
Thank you too LSAC.... Joe
Man, I could not turn on the radio without that song being on for the longest time!!
Hi Roger.... me too but I didn’t mind it was such a great production, performance and song. Best, Joe
And still to this day.
Great song .
Keep em coming Joe! Another great one ... but what a tease...Make the interviews longer in duration please! I'm "Jonesin" for more...Just sayin..
Hi Vic.... there’s more coming from Mr.Huff’s interview... you know he and Gamble wrote a lot of great songs.... best... Joe
Very interesting!
A cool, low-key guy ...just like his music, developing the unmistakable Philly Sound. Thanks for remembering these great songwriters and musicians, Joe.
Thanks for watching Jolly.... joe
Always been a favourite of mine!🤩
So integral to the Delaware Valley back in the day. My wife came from Camden & I from Cherry Hill, NJ. Everything around the Delaware Valley & Philly seemed so vibrant back then. Musically ? Big time relevance. Stylistics, too. Many others gravitated toward Philly; Grover Washington, Jr....was from Buffalo but he started to be identified with the Philly scene, too. He brings along Steve Gadd....on and on.
The tune Billy sang just exemplified the soul of the era, in a big way. Philly was hot. Flyers winning Stanley Cups, other teams HATING having to play at the Spectrum. Eagles & Harold Charmichael steady getting better. Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Gary Maddox & Bake McBride workin' toward a World Series victory. Sixers with Doc gettin' mad respect...The movie Rocky showing the grit & determination of the city. Frank Rizzo lording it all over the city, too. Rizzo's Raiders.... the Bicentennial celebrations. Gene Hart doin Flyers broadcasts on AM radio. John Facenda.... One things for sure- it was a time & a place and Gamble & Huff were the kings of it all, naturally. 'Cause they were coming at us from the most important aspect in life: musically. Even David Bowie gravitated toward Philly, if you remember that. There's pics of a mid-1970s Phil Collins wearing a Sigma Sound Studios t-shirt. And let's not forget Todd Rundgren, while we're at it. That time & place couldn't be beat. And the future won't yield a scene that is similar for Philly- that time & place won't ever be replicated because all those I'd just mentioned, the individuals, were truly one-of-a-kind. This is a testament to all that made that era so uniquely great. I, for one, am proud to remember that that scene once existed, and it was truly great !! 😎🇺🇸
Craig... thanks for sharing your comments... Best..... Joe
So true.
As someone who grew up in Cherry Hill during this time as well you can't forget Latin Casino, Valentinos, Some Place Else and the Winner's Circle and grabbing a late night snack at Ponzio's Diner. Oh BTW, I attended high school with Huff"s daughter Debbie and his wife's youngest brother Michael Boone.
So interesting... glad I found this personal interview with song history. Been listening to Daryl Hall’s cover and was very curious about lyrics. Thanks for sharing. Great artistry and nothing can compare (Leon Huff, Gamble & Billy Paul) 💕
Marsha.... thanks for watching... best, Joe
Dam i wanted to know what song she was playing on the jukebox
Certainly one of the Top Five song writing teams of all time and all music , as a lover of R and B they wrote the story of my life throughout the seventies . It sure was fun !
I totally agree with you Sly…. Thanks for watching our channel…..Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum I enjoyed this very much . I've always had an interest on how music is created and what inspired the writers to write the songs we love . They are so blessed to have such a talent I could listen endlessly of interviews of writers describing how songs came to be . I sure remember Me and Mrs. Jones (Holy Cow) that was such a mega hit back then ( I was 13 ) ,thanks for the interview it was fun
The twist is the guy is singing about his wife😂😂
Beautiful song. Great artist. Rest in peace brother.
For me it had a bit of a blues taste to it. Great song.
Thanks for watching Robert, Joe
Huff is super smooth! They don’t make men like these guys anymore
Hi Stuart... yes hugely talented and extremely kind.... great guy... Best, Joe C.
Great interview! Thank you for doing this. It’s so enjoyable to hear the story behind the song.
Thanks for watching Frank… Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum You’re welcome! It was a pleasure.
Great video Joe! Amazing story told by Leon Huff. Now I know how one of the most incredible R&B songs was composed. Many great songs were written from true life events. One that comes to mind is when Glenn Frey & Don Henley were sitting in a diner having breakfast one morning & in walks this old codger with a young chick attached to his arm. So Glenn looks at Don and says "look at her shes got those lying eyes". The words no sooner left his mouth & they immediately wrote the lyrics on the back of a napkin! Thus was born one of the Eagles greatest hits Lyin' Eyes. Hope that you are doing well & staying safe.....👍👍😉😉
Hi Steve... yes... I love that story about Lyin Eyes... one of the greatest songs ever written. There’s more stories coming from Mr.Huff.... best... Joe
Great song.
👍🏻
The Expressway, it’s not the best way! At five o’clock it’s too crowded, much too crowded! I love the Gamble and Huff music! I moved from a small town that played mostly country and top 40 white kid music ( I was a white kid, now I’m white haired) to a city that had a station that played soul music all night long. I would hear the music of Gamble and Huff, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green etc. and it was very musically nutritious.
Humble and unpretentious. Love his work.
This is very interesting and this is one of my favorite R&B songs.
OMG…loved that song. I was a soldier at Ft Campbell(just returned from 'Nam) and was dating a girl way out of my leaque. Thaat song was about me and her, in a sense. Loved Billy Paul!
Thanks for sharing Gary.... Joe
Me and Mrs. was a great song but..."For that mean,mean MEAN GREEN" was always my favorite Gamble and Huff song...terrific bass line in "For the love of money".. thanks Joe...
Hi 6412.... I’ve got more from Mr.Huff... we touch on Back Stabbers and For The Love Of Money.... best, Joe
Years & years& years ago, Kenny Gambles house( mansion) was on my delivery route.
A real down to earth gentleman who took time to talk about music to a delivery kid who grew up on Motown&The Philly Sound .
Hi Live Wire..... yes I felt the same way... very kind down to earth guy.... and way talented.... Joe
Joe ..back when top 40 shredded the 6th Commandment.. and he didn't mention co writer Gary Gilbert .. Thanks Joe ...Michael
Hi Blue... Thanks for watching and mentioning Co-writer Gary Gilbert. Best, Joe
Very cool. Just shared your interview on Facebook.
Thank a lot Buzz... best........ Joe
That is fantastic thanks!
Cool...now we know the story behind the song. Thanks Joe!
Hi Kathy... you’re very welcome... thank you too for watching... Best......Joe
Thanks for posting this. Joe I always look forward to these videos. Another bit of history worth remembering.
Thanks Rick.... Joe
This is a great interview!! Do you have anymore of it to share with us from Leon Huff? Would be great to see that :)
Hi Rick... I’ll check to see if there’s enough good content to put out more. Glad you like it. He’s a very nice man and so talented... best, Joe
Great song, great story...Thanks!! 👍🏽👍
Thanks Robert... Joe
Did Gamble and Huff own the restaurant or was it just "their" restaurant?
GG...,I think they just ate there.... Joe
Thank you Joe for your great presentation. As always, i learned a lot.
Thanks Ivan... Joe
I love this great video of the best songwriting team that brought out the hit songs like Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul, If You Don't Know Me By Now by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Love Train by The O'Jays!!! Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff made some of the best hits of all time on Philadelphia International Records great songwriting is at it's best!!!! Thanks so much for posting this video!!! I love it!!!! I love the 70s!!! Can you dig it!!!!😃😃😃😃✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️☕☕☕☕☕☕🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
Thanks for watching too Shaheed... I love those great recordings also... best, Joe
Yw Joe ty so much!!!!
Love the song & thanks. Nice video.
Thanks NYC.... Joe
Such a great story💋
Thanks for watching Leslie.... Joe
Such. GREAT and POWERFUL tune!! The lyrics of the story are so true to life. One has all these hopes and dreams with that woman from the "greener grass" side of the fence... but knows deep inside it's never gonna work- just a short- lived moment in the journey of life. Another memory to dwell on when as age takes the spotlight. "Hey... I wonder what happened to that lady who leased my heart for a year. God... I can still smell her perfume and feel how much she really cared. Man 'O man... these tears gettin' heavier year after year. How did I ever get here." Yeah... this song resonates because "Mrs. Jones" is lady who touched many hearts and a woman who loved when needed the most. GREAT INTERVIEW!! Love the song!!
Thanks mmo.... joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum U R the man Joe. BEST interviews of/with musical artists I've ever viewed!! Sometimes it hits me right in the ole ticker!!
MMO..... thank you very much... Joe
Great interview. Very intriguing story and I enjoyed it,
Thanks Guy... Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum high fives from the monsoon in India!
WOW - so there was no Woman involved as a catalyst in the writing of the song. Some kind of way, I feel dispirited
Hi Way.... thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.. just not sure what you mean. Of course there was a woman along with a man who inspired the song. Is this what you’re referring too? Thanks again for watching... Best, Joe
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum Gentlemen, I am sorry. I suppose I was distracted because of awe. To see and hear how this classic of classic songs was written by one of the magnificent writers just elevates my mind and heart into the stratosphere. I did listen again and gained insight and understanding. Thank You all for the patience and guidance
Hi Way... glad you enjoyed it and thanks again for watching our channel... best, Joe
Thank you, Joe. Love that song.
Thank you too Kelly... Joe