Jean Carn/Happy to Be With You

The late '70s found Jean Carn making the transformation from esteemed jazz singer to session musician to lead vocalist in her own rite, courtesy of the mighty juggernaut production machine that was Philly International's Gamble & Huff. These two albums -- 1977's eponymous debut and the 1978 follow-up -- were the inaugural releases for her stewardship with the label and find Gamble & Huff collaborating with Dexter Wansel and the other powerhouse production team of McFadden & Whitehead to produce 17 tracks of distinctive Philly soul, with "Free Love" being her most commercially successful recording. Many of the songs would later go on to be popular cult favorites at such esteemed disco clubs as the Paradise Garage, Heaven and Studio 54. Carn's vocal stylings closely resembles Phyllis Hyman's (who would also record for Philly International in the twilight of her career), and fans of either singer will enjoy having all of these fantastic tunes together in one place. ~ Rob Theakston