It's a hot and steamy night at the stadium in South Philadelphia, and I'm watching the Phillies, and their MVP slugger, battling for playoff contention. Only the year isn't 2007, but 1980, and the song playing after another victory is McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". Throughout the run to the World Series that year, it was the unofficial anthem of the team. There were a lot of great players on the Phils then, but the team behind the song was pretty remarkable too.Gene McFadden & John Whitehead sang together as the Epsilons and toured with Otis Redding, before going to work for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records. In addition to producing, they wrote or co-wrote, such Philly soul classics as "Back Stabbers" by the O'Jays, "I'll Always Love My Mama," by the Intruders, "Wake Up Everybody", by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and many others. When they decided to become performers as well, they reportedly said "ain't no stoppin' us now" as they headed to Sigma Sound Studios for their first record.
In 1979, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" went platinum, going to #1 on the R&B chart and #13 on the pop chart. McFadden & Whitehead were native sons of Philadelphia, working for a Philadelphia-based record label known for the Sound of Philadelphia, in a city that seemed down on its luck. To long-suffering Phillies fans, the message was more than just in the groovin' music, it was in the positive lyrics: have hope, be strong, we're going to win:
But we won't let nothin' hold us back,With scrappy players like Larry Bowa, Pete Rose, Bake McBride, Tug McGraw, the Phillies gelled as a team, and won their first, and to date, only world championship.
we're putting our selves together,
we're polishing up our act!
If you felt we've been held down before,
I know you'll refuse to be held down anymore!
A live version of "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
Fast forward to November 2001: my friend and co-worker, Ellen D., got me tickets to Me & Mrs. Jones, a musical based on the Billy Paul song, that was playing at Philadelphia's Prince Music Theatre. Starring Lou Rawls, Darlene Love, and 'Nita Whitaker, the show included over three dozen of Gamble & Huff's greatest songs, including "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". Listening to all of this wonderful music again, now as an adult, with an orchestra backing up the terrific singers, did even more than give me great appreciation for the huge contributions of Gamble & Huff, and their fellow artists. It also took me right back to the Vet and that magical Phillies season.
Where are they now?
John Whitehead was shot dead on May 11, 2004 while working on his car outside his home in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia; his murder remains unsolved. His widow began the John Whitehead Foundation in his honor.
Gene McFadden died of lung and liver cancer on January 27, 2006.
Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff continue to work together. Their Sound of Philadelphia Souvenir Shop, which includes displays of their platinum records and their original mixing board, is located at 309A South Broad Street in Philadelphia.
UPDATE: This post is now up at the XPN MMMM site here:
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