Last year Legacy released the CD version of Love Train, an amazing four-disc box set packed with vintage Philly soul cuts. This concert, filmed in 2008, is a very nice add-on for anyone who bought the box or for those who cherish hits like the Stylistics’ “I’m Stone in Love with You” or “La-La Means I Love You” by the Delfonics. Both of those songs are performed here, as are another 10 favorites by artists like Jerry Butler (“Never Gonna Give You Up”) and the Soul Survivors (“Expressway to Your Heart”).

All of these artists are, of course, way up there in age and many of these songs therefore are not performed by the original artist or lineup; Harold Melvin is dead, but his Blue Notes check in with “Wake Up Everybody” and “The Love I Lost,” while Bunny Sigler takes over for Billy Paul on “Me & Mrs. Jones” and G.C. Cameron, former member of the Spinners, handles that group’s “The Rubberband Man.”

The concert is done “revue” style with the Sound of Philadelphia Orchestra and vocal group the Three Degrees backing up each performance, and the O’Jays close out the show with a moving version of “People Get Ready/Love Train.”

Grade: B



Love Train is currently available.