Best Of The Intruders: Cowboys To Girls CD

The Intruders: Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards, Phillip "Phil" Terry (vocals).
MFSB: David Bay, Ronald Chambers, Bobby Eli, Michael "Sugar Bear" Forman,
Dennis Harris, Norman Harris, Reginald Lucas, Bunny Sigler, T.J. Tindall
(guitars); Don Renaldo (strings); Zach Zachary (alto saxophone); Tony Williams (saxophone, flute); Sam Reed (horns); Eddie Green, Leon Huff, Harold Williams (piano); Victor Carstarphen, Lenny Pakula (organ); Dexter Wansel (keyboards); Vince Montana (vibraphone); Ronnie Baker, Anthony Jackson (bass); Karl Chambers, Charles Collins, Norman Farrington, Earl Young (drums); David Cruse, Larry Washington (congas, bongos).
Producers: Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff (tracks 1-17, 19-20); C. Gilbert, T. Life (track 18).
Compilation producer: Leo Sacks.
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Includes liner notes by Carol Cooper.
This is part of Legacy's Rhythym And Soul series.
Personnel: Reggie Lucas, Dennis Harris, T.J. Tindall, Michael Forman, David Bay, Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli, Bunny Sigler (guitar); Don Renaldo (strings); James Calvin Wilsey (flute, saxophone); Zach Zachary (alto saxophone); Sam Reed (horns); Eddie Green , Harold "Ivory" Williams, Leon Huff (piano); Lenny Pakula, Victor Carstarphen (organ); Dexter Wansel (keyboards); Vince Montana (vibraphone, background vocals); Karl Chambers, Earl Young, Norman Farrington, Charles Collins (drums); David Cruse, Larry Washington (congas, bongos).
Liner Note Authors: Carol Cooper; Samuel "Little Sonny" Brown.
Recording information: Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.
Unknown Contributor Roles: The Sound of Philadelphia; Don Renaldo; MFSB.
Arrangers: Joe Renzetti ; Bobby Martin ; Lenny Pakula; Norman Harris.
The prototype for Gamble & Huff's classic Philly soul groups of the early '70s, the Intruders didn't spend much time in the pop Top 40 -- especially compared to heavy-hitters like the O'Jays or Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes -- but their smooth performances and Gamble & Huff's strong arrangements usually triumphed over the occasional novelty-ridden nature of their songs. The title track, "Cowboys to Girls," isn't a novelty by any means; it's one of the paragons of soul music, a delicious blend of subtle strings, punchy brass, and crystal harmonies from the group, with Samuel "Little Sonny" Brown's strong lead keeping it all together. The follow-up (and their only other Top 40 hit), "(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game," was a novelty, but a good one, as were the R&B hits "A Love That's Real" and "(Win, Place or Show) She's a Winner." At 20 tracks, Cowboys to Girls: The Best of the Intruders has room for all the Intruders' hits, including a few engaging latter-day entries like 1969's "Sad Girl" and 1970's "When We Get Married" (the latter during Bobby Starr's brief tenure at the head of the group). ~ John Bush