Reservoir has put out its first release from Philly Groove Records, available on iTunes today.

Entitled Philly Groove Records Presents The Delfonics: This Time, the release marks the first in a forthcoming Philly Groove album series from Reservoir, who plans to preserve the brand and legacy of the label even as it’s assimilated into the rest of the company’s thriving catalog. 

The Delfonics are among the best known in the Philly Groove catalog, with continued relevance in popular culture and contemporary media, referenced in ads like McDonalds’ 2013 Think With Your Mouth campaign, sampled in new releases like Epic Records artist Cashius Green’s “What You Like“, and chronicled in television shows like TV One’s Unsung.

Preview and download The Delfonics: This Time on iTunes today, catch the band’s Unsung episode on U.S. cable channel TV One on Wednesday November 20, and continue to discover more Philly Groove music, all available through licensing, here at Reservoir.

UPDATE 11/20/13: Read the official press release for The Delfonics: This Time and Reservoir’s entire Philly Groove project below: 

 

RESERVOIR RE-INTRODUCES R&B LABEL PHILLY GROOVE RECORDS; BEGINS CONTENT ROLLOUT WITH ‘THE DELFONICS: THIS TIME’, RELEASED NOVEMBER 19 

NEW YORK, November 19, 2013—Reservoir is pleased to announce its first release from Philly Groove Records, the historic Philadelphia-based R&B label acquired by the company in late 2012.  The inaugural release, entitled Philly Groove Records Presents The Delfonics: This Time, is the first of several collections to be made available by Reservoir over the coming year.  The album marks the independent music publisher’s first venture into record distribution.

Reservoir SVP of Creative and Business Development Faith Newman spearheaded the company’s acquisition of Philly Groove Records and its corresponding music publishing catalog, Nickel Shoe Music. The transition included the arduous task of sourcing the master recordings of both catalogs—nearly 300 titles combined—from recording studios across the country, converting the original analog tapes into digital files, and providing creative and administrative support for the new Reservoir releases.

“Other classic record labels have been really well preserved in terms of their brand and their artists’ legacies, where Philly Groove had incredible music but was relatively unknown,” Newman says.  “I felt that if no one stepped in and made it their mission to maintain this catalog, it would have been lost to history.  And the music is just too good for that.”

Philly Groove Records was founded in 1967 by record executive and Philadelphia native Stan Watson.  Under the leadership of Watson and the label’s principle A&R executive, Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Thom Bell, the roster grew over the late 1960s and early 1970s to include fifteen funk, soul, and R&B acts. Artists ranged from international successes, like The Delfonics, to rarely released acts, like socially conscious soul group The Nat Turner Rebellion.  

While each of the catalog’s artists provide invaluable historical texture to the Philly Groove Records portrait, the proven success and lasting intrigue surrounding R&B trio The Delfonics make the group a symbolic first release in Reservoir’s rollout. Several of Philly Groove and Nickel Shoe’s most prominent hits come from that act’s repertoire alone: the Platinum-selling “La La Means I Love You”; the famously Fugees-sampled “Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love)”, also borrowed by producer Missy Elliot and interpolated by Disney star Bridgit Mendler; pop crossover hit “Trying to Make A Fool of Me”; and the Nas-interpolated “Walk Right Up to the Sun” are just a few Philly Groove Records highlights originally performed by the band.  In popular culture, the group’s legacy remains timely.  McDonald’s featured the Delfonics classic “Hey! Love” in a 2013 commercial for its ‘Think With Your Mouth’ advertising campaign. Meanwhile, Comcast and Radio One-owned channel TV One will profile the group in the latest episode of their music documentary series, Unsung, to air November 20th.

“Being a native Philadelphian and a soul music enthusiast, I am humbled to have the opportunity to help bring Philly Groove back to life,” says Newman.  “It’s more than a new direction for us—unearthing these songs is a labor of love.”  

Philly Groove Records Presents The Delfonics: This Time is available beginning November 19th on iTunes in the U.S. and overseas.

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ABOUT PHILLY GROOVE RECORDS

Philly Groove Records was founded in 1967 by record executive and Philadelphia native Stan Watson. Operated by Watson and the label’s principle A&R executive, Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Thom Bell, Philly Groove quickly became one of the most culturally significant record companies of the classic soul era, both for its African American executive staff and its signing of the Grammy Award-winning trio The Delfonics, whose records would go on to sell millions of copies and top R&B and pop music charts alike.

ABOUT RESERVOIR

Reservoir is a New York City-based boutique music publisher boasting a multi-genre, hit-driven catalog. With a robust collection of over 50,000 copyrights and offices in Toronto and London, Reservoir represents more than 100 #1 singles worldwide performed by 50 Cent, 2 Chainz, Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Usher, among many others.  The company is home to the catalogs of Nate “Danja” Hills, Lil Jon, Scott Storch, John Rich, Kenny Alphin, Bruce Roberts, and Stephen “Static Major” Garrett. 

Reservoir pursues new marketing opportunities and revenue streams for its writers, providing world-class administration using the latest technology and software. The company continues to grow through the selective acquisition of new catalogs and the signing and development of creative talent from around the world.