BOBBY ELI - THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (International!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- PIR (Philadelphia International Records) took over from Motown as the preeminent black music label of the Seventies. I interviewed producer, songwriter, guitarist, and arranger BOBBY ELI for the BBC and for my book, “The Invisible Artist” in 2008. Bobby was a member of Mother Father Sister Brother playing guitar on many of the most successful PIR hits of the 1970s, working with their biggest artists and most significant arrangers. As a founder member of the PIR team, Bobby was able to give us an articulate and detailed understanding of the genesis and history of the Philadelphia Sound - Producers and Arrangers THOM BELL, GAMBLE & HUFF, BOBBY MARTIN, MFSB, TSOP, The O’JAYS, The DELPHONICS, LTD, and more! Here, for the first time, is our complete interview.
#bobbyeli #richardniles #radiorichard #pir #philadelphiainternationalrecords #motown #theinvisibleartist #motherfathersister #philadelphiasound #thombell #gamble&huff #bobbymartin #mfsb
BOBBY ELI - THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (International!)
Get Richard's book here!
✅ The Invisible Artist: amzn.to/3oN2DXx
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Support Richard Niles:
✅ Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our TH-cam channel:
💞www.youtube.co...
✅ Check our channel's official online shop for great & exclusive memorabilia here: richardniles.c...
✅ If you want support my channel, getting exclusive membership with exclusive content:
www.paypal.com...
/ radiorichard
✅ Get Richard Niles' "Santa Rita" album here:
amzn.to/3HEmil1
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Richard Niles' Books:
✅ All in one place: richardniles.c...
Just released and best-sellers:
✅ Piano Grooves: Keyboard Rhythms in Jazz, Pop, Funk, Latin, and More!
amzn.to/3lyoKQH
✅ How to Be an Employable Musician: amzn.to/3EpnsyM
✅ What Is Melody? amzn.to/3G8125m
✅ Adventures in Arranging: amzn.to/3nCUsxC
✅ Songwriting Notebook: Manuscript & lined paper for Music & Lyrics
amzn.to/3diGP0n
Radio Richard Theme ©2022 Niles Smiles Music (BMI) by Richard Niles
sung by Kim Chandler & Chris Hansley
That was fantastic R.I.P Bobby because of you The Philly Sound will live forever.
This interview was solid gold for me. I was so lucky to talk to him! Check out my other interviews and let me know what you think!
Sadly Bobby just passed away. Such a great talent and human being. God bless
Thanks! You might enjoy my other interviews. Subscribe! Check them out and let me know what you think!
All the singers on Philadelphia International Records were brilliant and the Musicians were the best in the world.
And let’s not forget Salsoul, another label similar to PIR. Joe Bataan was a singer and founder of the label at the time.
Yes, all the musicians from Philly were on there. Earl Young on the drums. The great Vince Montana was the writer, producer and playing the Vibes which he was known for. I’ve got all the Salsoul music as well as the Philly.
@@Musicradio77Network he did mention Salsoul in the interview.
A very special time for music!
Bobby Is Quite The Historian ... I Can Listen To Him Like He's The Old Man The Bench...Wow I'm So Full
Dude is a wealth of knowledge about that whole Philly Sound era...i learned alot
A WEALTH!!!
man this is like a philly sound history/ biography and geography where everyone was from especially the parts about Bobby Martin and the continental 4.and Norman Harris lesson all rolled into one Bobby Eli gets an A+ for this one
A great treasure for music historians. What a brilliant musician!
Don Freeman here. I’m a songwriter keyboardist producer from Philadelphia. I got my start at Philly Groove Records doing sessions for Mary Holmes - I’ll Make It Up To You and I Need Your Loving which we cut live at Sigma Sound. Rhythm section, strings with Don Renaldo and the horns. We eventually got signed to Philadelphia International by Leon Huff who is one of my favourite pianist ever, he is a monster musician! I met Larry Washington who brought so much energy into the studio it was incredible! I was the MD/ keyboardist with Sister Sledge for a few years and moved to Los Angeles to play and write songs for Michael Jackson Jeffrey Osborne Bill Withers Chaka Khan David Sanborn Hugh Masekela George Duke etc great interview with Bobby ❤
SEE, THIS IS THE REASON WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL HBO DOCUMENTARY ON THE PHILLY SOUND! THE LEGENDS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SOUND ARE LEAVING THIS EARTH! GIVE THEM THEIR TRIBUTE NOW WHILE THEY ARE STILL HERE SO THEY CAN TELL THEIR STORY!
This interview was such a pleasure to do, and is a valuable historical document. Most of the creators are gone.If someone would invest, I'd make the documentary immediately!
I agree with you 100%!!!!
Your style of interviewing is PERFECT, not once did you interrupt B.Ely, but your unobstrusive way of asking very important questions, really shone.!!!
I could listen for hours and hours of this legend speak.
But thanks to you, i managed to get some historical facts, in line.
Thanks so much for this wonderful interview.!!!!
Thanks! That's exactly my philosophy of interviewing: ask the right questions, and the SHUT UP AND LET THEM SPEAK.
Just as James jamerson played bass on most Motown hits... Ronnie Baker played bass on most Philly international hits. They both moved me to play bass. 💥
Ironic how he talks about those that have passed on and playing with them again one day. Well RIP Bobby with the other greats.
Bobby Eli - a legend unto himself - is an absolute aficianado regarding this epic era of Philly soul sounds. Than k you this wonderful interview.
Yes, thank you, more people should hear this. Tell your friends! And please subscribe so I can keep bringing out these important interviews from the masters!
BOBBY ELI AND BOBBY MARTIN WERE THE REAL DEAL,THIS WAS A GREAT INTERVIEW RICHARD.
Thanks! Check out my other interviews!
27:55 Incredible interview. I could listen to 3 more hours of this….
Thanks. Tel your friends and subscribe to not miss all the other great interviews! You'd enjoy Jerry Wexler@
@@DRRICHARDNILES I enjoyed the interview, i am so sorry there won't be an interview with the talented song writer, the late Linda Creed passed away 4/10/86 There is a live performance of her with the Spinners in 1974 doing then came you(audio only).Maybe you could ask around if there is a live performance and you could post. Thanks.
Me too
Bobby so nice to hear you my brother always love and peace ✌️ Rick Brennan from CHANGE N Philly love. 🙏 333.Rick
Oh yeah! No mention of The Soul Survivors? Or did I miss it?
This is a truly incredible interview. Fascinating, totally engaging and highly informative. One of the best interviews of its kind- incisive and sharp with a whole bunch of facts one after the other! Its important to capture the memories of these iconic players who contributed so much to the magic of the Philly Sound while they're still with us so that future generations can share the knowledge.
I swear, I listened back to this interview a couple of times. Great interviewer and Bobby really painted a picture for the audience.
Thanks! Subscribe and check out our other great interviews!
I am sorry of his passing. I was personally introduced to him.
I played with bobby Eli and Herb Johnson and the Impacts five years! I was the drummer. Howard Little Rice.
He co-wrote, " I Just Don't Be Lonely". I wanna be loved... needed..
Depended on the Love...I can't give 🎵🎵, when you're gone... when you're gone. I just don't wanna be lonely 🎵🎶...
I met Bobby Eli when we were kids. We live three blocks from each other. The last time I visited his house with Morris, who was the lead singer for the dream lover.
BTW - Bobby Martin's first arrangement for G &H was Cowboys to Girls. Joe Renzetti did United and Together and is indeed credited as the arranger on the label of the singles. Joe went to Hollywood and won an Oscar for arranging the music for the Buddy Holly Story.
Bobby Eli was one of my mentors in the 1980's. We recorded many song demos in my home studio. We didn't drink or get high much. But invariably Bobby would ask, "You got any cookies or something?" Haha. Great times. I'm still sad I didn't catch up with him before he passed.
I really enjoyed doing this interview. How lucky you were to know him!
@@DRRICHARDNILES He was a treasure chest of Philly Sound stories.
Thanks for this great interview, Richard. I was totally waiting for Bobby to talk about "Love Chant" which came out under Eli's Second Coming and was such a cool disco record in the summer of '76...
Made me go straight to my P.I.R albums to look at the credits and get a better perspective on some of my favourite songs, great interview!
Very informative, RIP Bobby Eli.
This interview is amazing. Talk about painting a picture of Philadelphia the producers singers arrangers song writers….. I mean amazing. It’s as if I am in each described era studio and Philadelphia neighborhood. History captured like no other. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
Great Stuff from a VIP man in the Philly sound. Loved the stuff on Bell at the end.
Just a very interesting interview with Bobby Eli, hearing how the Philly sound was manufactured by some very talented people. Just great music.
You do realize Gamble and Huff are misrepresented with the names under their picture? Anyway, met Bobby many years ago at a birthday party for a friend of mine, the late Keith Barrow, who Bobby was producing at that time. Nice guy.
Sorry about that. My channel is a 2 man operation, and I do my best. I hope you can subscribe and check out some of the other great interviews. Thanks for watching.
No problem. Just thought you'd want to know. Enjoyed the vid.
Wow, Keith Barrow was very underrated. I really liked his song You know you want to be loved. He had a great voice, thanks for sharing.
Brilliant interview the kind of clarity and details we love! i have subbed to your channel
Thank you for capturing the excellence of the history of the Philadelphia sound by presenting in this interview the master musician/historian Bobby Eli. Truly loved it. An inimitable, incomparable, sound that is still so utterly pleasing. I hope that you will interview someone who can tell us the background as to why PIR had such a vibrant but comparably short run given all of the dynamic musicians that worked that pleasing magic together so well making one think it would be ever lasting. What happened after a strong run throughout the 70s and even placing its stamp on the Disco era to where it appeared to ultimately flame out by maybe 1980?
Bobby Martin wrote songs for The Invitations, with Lee Kirton, Look on the good side on Siver Blue Records.
the Jackson's. great music
Excellent interview. Way too short.
He just breezed through some of the most impactful songs of my life like he was talking bout the weather.
Always saw his name on records.
Him being the guy on the Sitar and seeing a picture of it just blew my mind.
That was the most defining single instrument of the era for me.
It’s like all my young memories are tied to it.
This is education! I love it...!
Amazing interview......I'm exhausted!
The sound of philly / motown / stax / solar/ they were all fantastic. Funk with a bow 🎀 👔, that sounds sophisticated. I can picture 📸 Barrack Obama bopping his head to phillys great music. This was an excellent informative enjoyable post. Fav chilly acts the ojays and the Jones girls.
Merci beaucoup 🕺
I used to read the album credits on the records created by these guys. Bobby's memories
brought back so much.
I love these behind the scenes stories. This interview should be required in contemporary music history and composition courses at Berkeley
Thank you for documenting this important piece of history.
Philly Love 215 Peace!
I always felt that the sound of Philadelphia was underrated and somewhat overshadowed by other labels, such was the amazing competition in the 70’s soul scene.
I played with Bobby and Earl. Back in the day did a. B..SIDE FOR SWEET INSPIRATION CALLED MIGHTY JOE
Great stuff, Thanks for the information, Bobby.
By the way Richard…a proper musical interview needs to be done with Thom Bell…like a lot of guys from the past…they have been overlooked by the industry!Most of MFSB have passed on…get to the rest quick…! Bobby Eli actually wrote some classic ballads like ‘Love Won’t Let Me Wait’…Just Don’t Wanna be Lonely…Sideshow etc etc…if you can get him to talk about his own writing…that would be cool…nice one Richard!
I would LOVE to interview him. Any ideas of how to contact him? I'll look into it!
Man I agree. I’ve been looking for another one the past 2 years now
@@DRRICHARDNILES Bobby Eli or Russell Thompkins of the Stylistics should be able to put you in touch.
I do wish you would have gotten to the incredible songs Bobby wrote with Vinnie Barrette, but this interview was extremely engaging and informative.
Thanks. This was done in 2008. And for the time I had, Bobby gave me so much. I am so honored to have had the chance to talk with such a great story teller, filled with so much detail and heart. And proud that it's available for music lovers and scholars to hear. You'd really enjoy my book of interviews THE INVISIBLE ARTIST.
Bobby Eli produced one of my favorite groups, Blue Magic
Thanks for a very informative trip into Philly Sound. Appreciate your work.
Great interview I truly Love ur interview with Bob Eli .& he's speaking on Linda Creed & so great people behind The sound of Philadelphia..please have more.They use to have Motown & Philly Songs going Back to Back.ButGreat People behind Great Artist.Thank You Very Good.
RIP Bobby Eli.
Wow! Great interview! I never got to meet Bobby but got a chance to talk with him in a group discussion. I was a member of the Prime Cut band that was backing First Choice. Stan Watson hired me to play with them, i think because i was a Wes Montgomery fanatic which led to me becoming a Norma Harris fanatic, and they said I reminded them of Norman who was their producer. I can't describe the excitement when i got the chance to meet him. I enjoyed this so much.
great job; i owned so many of those projects and remember seeing all those great names you mentioned. greatest era for RnB and stands the test of time from songwriting, producing, AND arranging standpoint
The Ojays was my first concert without a chaperone. My girl was ecstatic and we looked the part. 💃🏾🕺🏾
Very informative
Thanks!
Great interview
This is amazing! Thank you so much!
I sang at Bobby Eli’s memorial 10/10/23. He engineered my last cd. He was the best. The name of my cd is Anticipation! My name is Crystal Spivey- check it out! Song 🕊🎶
this man has died. Bobby Eli (born Eli Tatarsky; March 2, 1946 - August 17, 2023) was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB.[1]
NO mention of this.. too bad.
This interview was done in 2003 when Bobby was very much alive, so there would be no mention of his death. His biography is mentioned clearly both in the video and in the description of the video clearly printed above.
no man, I mean IN THE NEWS.. he went without any announcements, like they do celebrities who have died this year, that sort of thing.. not you on youtube..
.. @@DRRICHARDNILES
Sorry to misunderstand you.I do this for music lovers and I am so happy that people like youwho care still exist!
And don’t forget, Bobby Eli was part of the Salsoul Orchestra. He had two different orchestras in the 1970’s, MFSB, and the Salsoul Orchestra, featuring another MFSB member, Vincent Montana Jr. who was part of the band.
Thank you! Love his fuzz guitar in "Engine Number 9" by Wilson Pickett, never guitar soling like that to this day!
That was an amazing interview. What a guy! He gave everything. So many interesting stories from that era. This is priceless
Yes, I loved doing this interview. It was part of my project on arrangers in Pop and it's all transcribed in my book "The Invisible Artist" [available on Amazon]. Other arrangers featured include David Van DePitte, Arif Mardin, Bobby Martin, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Thom Bell, Nile Rodgers, and many more. You'll love it!
Thank you so much Richard for this monumental incredible interview. I would love to stay in contact with you. Peace, Jamaaladeen Tacuma
That was fantastic. Full stop.
Reading The Invisible Artist, right now. Great resource.
Thanks! Tell the world!
Rest In Peace Bobby Eli
Thanks
no mention of the stylistics?
Thanks for sharing this priceless information.
Radio Richard
Solid!!!
Ps. I just thought of something are you related to Chuck Niles Dj he used to be on KBCA 105.1 . Located in Los Angeles Ca.?
Thanks! We have a lot of other great interviews on the channel. Subscribe! Check them out and let me know what you think!
When I think of Philly Soul, I think of: I Can’t Give You Anything by Stylistics. It just doesn’t get any better I’m tellin ya! It’s all just SO good. It all disappeared though as the eighties rolled in…and it was terrible.
I could listen to SEXY ALL DAY......REST ASSURED 🌹
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
On your picture of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, you have the names reversed - as is incorrect. BTW there was a major arranger you didn't name JOE RENZETTI one of Huff & Gamble's first arranger.
One of the best singer out of Philly is Terry Collins
Bobby worked with him on one of the greatest soul ballad “The show must go on” on Kwanza records
The photo of Gamble and Huff, the names are switched.
Philadelphia International records was the real good "Disco"
Not only that, the second coming of PIR was Salsoul who was founded by singer Joe Bataan, both labels dominated the Philly sound.
@Musicradio77Network Yes
the word "arrangement" and 'legato" and more... WORDS OF REAL MUSICIANS... during a hip hop album, who says the world "arrangement" and "legato" ? NO BODY...
You have the names of the men backwards. It's Kenny first then Leon on the left
F……brilliant…far too short!
👍🏿
What a bullshit commentary....James Brown was " funk for the streets" and Philly international was for the elite"?....what one loves and identifies with musically has nothing to do with class.
The " skin im in" makes me similar to others of my tone in appearence only...what moves me emotionally or what I find interesting has nothing to do with. me being " bougios" or poor ....no matter you social position...if James Brown don't make you move...youre dead.
Whether you have on a bow tie or not.