“Together” (The Intruders)

Today’s forgotten Philly Soul song of the day is “Together” by the Intruders. It reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on Billboard’s R&B chart. The track sounds like classic 70s soul even though it was released in April of 1967. That’s because it has that glossy Philly Soul sound we associate with 70s soul, not the more pop-oriented Motown sound we think of when we think of 60s soul.

“Together” was first notable hit written and produced by the legendary team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who were largely responsible for crafting the Philly Soul sound. It predated their productions of “Expressway to Your Heart” by the Soul Survivors (July 1967) and the Intruders’ biggest hit, 1968’s “Cowboys to Girls.” The track was featured on the Intruders’ first album, The Intruders Are Together, released on Gamble Records, the precursor to the more famous Philadelphia International label.

Like many of the Philly Soul vocal groups, the Intruders came from the street corner doo-wop tradition. They first started singing together all the way back in 1960—in Philadelphia, of course. The group originally (and still in 1967) featured members Sam “Little Sonny” Brown, Eugene “Bird” Daughtry, Phillip “Phil” Terry and Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards. The group was the initial focus of Gamble and Huff when they left the Cameo-Parkway label in 1965 and struck out on their own. The duo’s success with the Intruders convinced Columbia Records to front the money they needed to form Philadelphia International Records, and the rest is history.

Thanks to Gamble and Huff, the Intruders ended up having 14 songs hit the Billboard Hot 100 (and 24 on Billboard’s R&B chart). “Cowboys to Girls” (#6 on the Billboard Hot 100) was the big one and the one I’ll always remember, but you might also recall “I’ll Always Love My Mama” (#36), “When We Get Married” (#45), and this one. Kenny and Leon had success with many other groups through the 70s, of course, including The O’Jays, MFSB, and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, as well as Billy Paul, Jerry Butler, and other solo artists.

Kenny and Leon are both still kickin’ and Philadelphia International is still releasing records. The Philly Soul sound will never die.