Within a year of opening 309 Joe expanded his thriving business to New York. Sigma leased space in the same building that houses the Ed Sullivan Theater. Joe built three studios there. Some of the greatest artist of the 70’s and 80s used them: The Talking Heads, Steely Dan, and[…]
Chapter 5 Requested and then assigned to Joe! “The Love I Lost” / “Mighty Love” / “I Love Music” / “Stairway to Heaven” After a few months Joe wanted to see if I had learned the ropes and if I was ready for sessions with the bigger clients, I guess.[…]
Chapter 4 Philly Soul The Spinners Live / “Love Don’t Love Nobody” “Kiss and Say Goodbye” / “K-Jee” / “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind” / “Love Epidemic” I once, as an assistant, was requested to work a live recording in the now non-existent nightclub The Latin Casino. It was Thom[…]
One day as I was assisting on a string session for Thom Bell and one of the violinists, whose first name was Americus I believe, came into the control room to listen to a playback. He was an elderly Italian American. He stood there listening and looking at the console[…]
Chapter 3 The Rhythm Section MFSB’s “Touch Me in the Morning” Strings and Horns Another memorable project I was proud and happy to have participated in was assisting Jay Mark while he mixed an album for Taj Mahal. Taj is a large man. I am 6’ 1” and I[…]
Chapter 2 Thom Bell and Linda Creed Today, I’m a Pro! “You Make Me Feel Brand New” / Mighty Love / “For the Love of Money” In the first few months, I got to work with Thom Bell on two projects while assisting Don Murray at night. Thom who had[…]
Logo created by Arthur Stoppe The day arrived for my interview at 212 N. 12th Street (the address of Sigma Sound Studios) and I interviewed with Harry. I definitely felt a bit of an edge to my attitude and approach to the interview because I was asking questions like “Is[…]
Inside the Philly Sound (My Time in the Music Business) by James P. Gallagher Copyright © 2021 Edited by Vince Warsavage Jim Gallagher and Thom Bell in Studio 2 Photo: Arthur Stoppe Dedicated to my loving, brilliant and supportive wife Palmina Mammarella, without whom I would never have made it[…]
As children, seeing things for the first time was always exciting. There was so much wonder and delight in peeling away mystery like the layers of an onion. (What a surprise to find the third and fourth layers weren’t like paper anymore.) “Brand new” wasn’t so hard to come[…]
rings of hematite rings of jade hard but brittle rings of old rings of gold bands bonds firm but crystalline circular manifestation rotating ramifications phases in fluxation seasons in secession seized and ceased scenes and dreams phobias and paranoias fits of weeping floods of joy and laughter the[…]