Song of the Day: Do it Any Way You Wanna, composed by Leon Huff, was recorded by the Philly funk band, People’s Choice, and went to #1 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart in 1975. Released on TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia record label), the song is a classic blend of Philadelphia Soul, Disco, and Funk. Huff and Kenneth Gamble, who composed over 3,500 songs together—including 50 top pop and R&B hits in their long career—pioneered the Philadelphia Sound. Having been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995, they were honored in 2014 with the Johnny Mercer Award, “the most esteemed honor.” The team has written structurally intricate ballads and songs with complex harmonic changes. However, Huff’s focus here is on the power of a raw, hypnotic rhythm. The beauty of this hit lies in its simplicity—its straightforward, propulsive, infectious groove.
The song was among those heard at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia this week, introducing the players at Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. The American League ultimately topped the National League, 4-0, and the Yankees’ Cody Bellinger was the game MVP! Check out this classic dance track [YouTube link].
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