Billy Paul: War Of The Gods [STRONGLY FELT]

Why you'll love it

This edition comes in a gatefold jacket. War of the Gods reached No. 12 on the Billboard soul chart, and "Thanks for Saving My Life" went top 10 soul and top 40 pop.

This edition

• Gatefold jacket

About the album

After a smash like "Me and Mrs. Jones," most singers would have made the same record again. Billy Paul went the other way. War of the Gods holds six songs, most of them extended psychedelic soul suites that fold jazz, funk, Latin, rock and pop into the Philadelphia sound, and Paul later called it "the best album I've ever done in my life."

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff produced, with Bobby Martin and Lenny Pakula arranging. The title track was split into two parts for a promo single, "I See the Light" opens big, and "Peace Holy Peace" closes on a spiritual note. "The Whole Town's Talking" is the uptempo floor-filler, "I Was Married" is pure storytelling soul, and "Thanks for Saving My Life" is as smooth as anything Philadelphia made.

Paul took "Thanks for Saving My Life" and "The Whole Town's Talking" to Soul Train in January 1974, where Don Cornelius introduced him as "Super smooth Billy." He wore a grey suit and a hat tilted just so, and we've been trying to pull off that look behind the counter ever since.

Also at Kops: more Billy Paul on vinyl · browse 70s Soul On Up

Tracklist

Listen

On Strongly Felt (cat# SF73004), a reissue of the 1973 album.