Philly Soul

Philly Soul, also known as "Philadelphia Sound," epitomizes the lush, sophisticated brand of soul music that emerged from the African American community in Philadelphia during the late 1960s and 1970s. Distinguished by its smooth, creamy instrumentals and polished production, Philly Soul merges the soulful vocals intrinsic to rhythm and blues with rich orchestral arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings, elegant brass, and smooth rhythms. The result is a unique sound that is as danceable as it is sumptuous. This genre laid the groundwork for the eventual development of disco, while heavily influencing the smooth soul and quiet storm styles that followed. The music's emotive lyrics typically explore themes of love and relationships, communicated through the heartfelt performances of its artists, making Philly Soul a quintessential element of the era's musical tapestry.

Latest Philly Soul Release
undefined album image
danny, don't swing that knife
Single - Released February 27, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 48 Philly Soul artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 887 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Philly Soul artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
Archie Bell & The Drells
Billy Paul
Ceol Mor
Cintron
Cliff Nobles
Clifford Thornton
Dexter Wansel
Donald Lindsay
Eddie Holman
Femi Temowo
First Choice
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Instant Funk
Jean Carn
Jerry Butler
Joe Simon
Lady Alma
Loleatta Holloway
Lou Rawls
MFSB
Major Harris
McFadden & Whitehead
Notekillers
Nyxy Nyx
Oliver Lake
Patti LaBelle
Patty & The Emblems
Phyllis Hyman
Prince Naz
Sister Sledge
Teddy Pendergrass
The Delfonics
The Dramatics
The Intruders
The Jones Girls
The O'Jays
The Orlons
The Philadelphia Orchestra Pops
The Philly All Stars
The Ritchie Family
The Spinners
The Stylistics
The Three Degrees
The Trammps
The Tymes
The Winchester Club
Todd Rundgren
William DeVaughn
Teddy Pendergrass
The O'Jays
The Spinners
Todd Rundgren
Sister Sledge
Patti LaBelle
Billy Paul
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
The Trammps
The Stylistics
Lou Rawls
The Dramatics
The Delfonics
The Three Degrees
Loleatta Holloway
William DeVaughn
The Intruders
McFadden & Whitehead
MFSB
The Jones Girls
Archie Bell & The Drells
Jerry Butler
Phyllis Hyman
Eddie Holman
First Choice
The Ritchie Family
The Orlons
Dexter Wansel
Lady Alma
Jean Carn
Joe Simon
The Tymes
Major Harris
Instant Funk
Cliff Nobles
Prince Naz
Patty & The Emblems
Nyxy Nyx
Cintron
Oliver Lake
The Philly All Stars
Femi Temowo
Ceol Mor
The Philadelphia Orchestra Pops
Donald Lindsay
Clifford Thornton
Notekillers
The Winchester Club