The Soul Train Gang - The Soul Train Gang (Soul Train Records LP, 1976)

The Soul Train Gang
The Soul Train Gang
Soul Train Records LP, 1976

A1 That Certain Way (4:55)
A2 Ooh Cha (5:09)
A3 How Much Longer (3:56)
A4 All My Life (I Wanna Live With You) (5:50)

B1 Soul Train Theme (T.V. Version) (5:06)
B2 If It Takes All Night (4:37)
B3 Country Girl (3:20)
B4 Soul Train Theme (Scat Version) (4:15)

Arranged By [Vocals] - Gray , Griffey , Cornelius Bass - Ronnie Baker Drums - Charles Collins , Earl (Trammps) Young Engineer [Mastering] - Richard Simpson Engineer [Mixing] - Kenny Present Engineer [Recording] - Carl Paruolo , Dirk Devlin , Don Holden Executive Producer - Dick Griffey , Don Cornelius Guitar - Bobby Eli , Norman Harris , T. Life , T.J. Tindell Keyboards - Bruce Hawes , Cotton Kent , Ron (Have Mercy) Kersey Other [Vibes] - Vince Montana Percussion - Ahaguna G. Sun* , Warner Schuchner Percussion [Congas] - Larry Washington Producer - "The Harris Machine" Norman Harris

Manufactured & Distributed By RCA Records.
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia & RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA

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For its second and last LP, the Los Angeles-based Soul Train Gang traveled across the U.S. to Philadelphia's legendary Sigma Sound and enlisted Norman Harris, who had been producing major hits for Blue Magic and the Spinners in that very studio. While parts of the Soul Train Gang's first album were influenced by the Philly sound, everything on this album is Philadelphia-sounding. With Harris producing and Bobby Martin helping with the arranging (Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey are listed as executive producers), the Philly influence is impossible to miss on romantic cuts like "All My Life (I Wanna Live With You)" and the Blue Magic-minded "If It Takes All Night," as well as uptempo offerings such as "Country Girl" and the funky "Soul Train Theme," which in 1976, replaced "Soul Train '75" as the program's theme music. ("Soul Train '75" had replaced MFSB's famous "TSOP"). Despite Soul Train's popularity and despite the popularity of the Philly sound, this LP wasn't a huge seller. Nor is it an album that lovers of Philly soul would consider essential. But it's a decent, if less than remarkable, footnote in the history of '70s R&B. (Alex Henderson, All Music Guide)

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