Year: 2019
Director: Olivia Lichtenstein
The story of a black singer with a beautiful soulful voice, who rose to fame in the Philly soul scene in the mid seventies, had a terrible car crash which left him in a wheelchair but still able to sing.
That’s the short version. The long detailed version is in this doco, which is brilliant. Utilising the now familiar documentary techniques of interviewing everyone still alive who remembers the artist, getting the original band back together, and doing accurate and respectful reconstructions of key events – this is a great film.
I have to say I’m not a huge fan of Philly soul, a few great classic hits notwithstanding. It often seems to me like the showbiz end of black music. But seeing Teddy’s life laid out here and what he went through, it gave me a bit more appreciation of what was going on. And you see Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff reminiscing like the old gentlemen they are.
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
Philly soul, Sigma Sound Studios, Young Americans
Teddy started out as the singer in Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes – yep there’s a lot about Harold in the film – here’s a couple of their hits you may know
And this is the original version of the song that was a huge hit for Thelma Houston
I’m a fan of Philly Soul. Where did you see this?
It was put on by this mob http://www.groovescooter.com who put on an underground film festival every year. Their next music film is the story of Trojan Records!
Sydney thing. Bugger
Love Teddy. Still haven’t got round to reading his autobiography yet though, which Amazon tells me I bought six years ago. Yikes!
Yes where did you see this? Sounds essential. Any excuse to post the magnificent Love TKO
This, and many Teddy moments, features on my beloved K Tel TSOP album – four sides of magnificent brotherly love. Billy Paul! Backstabbers! Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now! Aceness.
You can’t go wrong with a best of Philly comp.
OK ……. I’m known for closing many threads on here and this will be no exception.
This guy is anathema to all on this site but Mick Hucknall ripped the roof off the Manchester Arena singing this a couple of years ago ( I kid you not ).
Anyway now that I’ve killed this, let’s move on to the next thread.
Hucknall? Pah! No Pendergrass-a-like tops Theophilus P Wildebeest:
I am definitely a Teddy Boy so this sounds right up my street.
I checked IMDB. Surprisingly perhaps, it is a BBC production and Ms Lichtenstein is from South Africa.
It’s on HBO…..and yes, it’s brilliant….
Love the last couple of minutes here. Teddy sticks it to the man.
If you have Sky in the UK it’s available to download for the next year on Sky Arts.