Arthur Prysock (January 1, 1924 – June 14, 1997) - All I Need Is You Tonight (1976)
This superb soul-disco jam was produced by John "Monster" Davis and co-written by brothers Mervin and Melvin Steals, aka Mystro and Lyric.
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The late great R&B pioneer Arthur Prysock would have celebrated his centennial birthday today.
See our earlier post on Prysock for more on his lengthy musical career.
The pair of albums Prysock recorded in the mid-1970s with producer John Davis (of the Monster Orchestra) were true Philly soul classics, both released on Sam Weiss’ Old Town Records. The first was All My Life (1976).
Among the great Philly soul session players Davis assembled for the album were Larry Washington on congas, Charles Collins on drums, Michael “Sugar Bear” Foreman on bass, and Dennis Harris on guitar, who was the cousin of core original MFSB member turned producer Norman Harris. Many of them would go on to play with Davis in his own Monster Orchestra. Davis was featured on keyboards, sax and flute, Don Renaldo handled strings, and the Sweethearts of Sigma provided backing vocals (Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, and Evette Benton).
One highlight was an upbeat cover of “I Love Makin' Love To You,” originally a moderate hit for Evie Sands in 1974 (which she co-wrote with Richard Germinaro and Ben Weisman, the latter who wrote a staggering 57 songs for Elvis, more than any other songwriter).
Another was the superb soul-disco jam “All I Need Is You Tonight,” co-written by brothers Mervin and Melvin Steals, aka Mystro and Lyric.
Davis returned the following year to produce Arthur Prysock Does It Again! (1977). Prysock’s upbeat Philly soul-disco cover of “Love Is What You Make It” was a standout cut, originally co-written by the songwriting team of Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, and Joe Jefferson, and produced by Thom Bell for New York City in 1974.
The epic jam “You're The Best Of All Ladies” was co-written by LeRoy Bell, Casey James (aka Bell & James), and Larry James, the leader of Fat Larry’s Band.
Happy Heavenly 100th Birthday to the great Arthur Prysock.
Further info:
“Arthur Prysock, 68, a Rhythm-and-Blues Singer,” obituary, The New York Times, June 25, 1997.
#soul #disco #ArthurPrysock