Mel and Tim
Mel and Tim were an American soul duo active from 1969 to 1974, best known for hits like "Backfield in Motion."
Cousins Melvin McArthur Hardin (born November 30, 1948) and Hubert Timothy McPherson (born December 9, 1949) hailed from Holly Springs, Mississippi. As teens, they wrote songs and performed with the gospel group The Welcome Travelers before moving to St. Louis in 1968 and then Chicago to chase music careers.
Discovered by R&B legend Gene Chandler, they signed with his Bamboo Records in 1969. Their debut single "I've Got Pure Dee" led to the million-selling "Backfield in Motion," which hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the R&B chart.
"Good Guys Only Win in the Movies" (1970, Bamboo): Reached R&B Top 20.
Switched to Stax Records; "Starting All Over Again" (1972) became their second Top Five R&B smash (#4) and a million-seller.
They performed at the 1972 Wattstax concert and appeared in its documentary.
Released a self-titled Stax album in 1973 before fading from the scene. No major activity noted post-1974.
Mel and Tim
Written-By – Mark James 3:56
A2 The Same Folk
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:36
A3 Oh How I Love You
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:17
A4 Yes We Can-Can
Written-By – Allen Toussaint 4:12
A5 I Would Still Be There
Written-By – B. Clements, P. Mitchell 3:54
B1 Making Love Is My Thing
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:38
B2 It's Those Little Things That Count
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:12
B3 Ain't No Love In My Life
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:45
B4 That's The Way I Want To Live My Life
Written-By – Phillip Mitchell 3:06
B5 Forever And A Day
Written-By – B. Clements, P. Mitchell 4:43
Label: Stax – STS-5501
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
The 1973 self-titled album by Mel & Tim, released on Stax Records, is a quality soul album that is highly regarded by fans of the genre, though it was a commercial failure at the time of its release.
The album features strong songwriting, primarily by Phillip Mitchell, and high-quality production, with critics noting the rich textures of piano, guitar licks, strings, and punchy horns. The duo's cool harmonies and soulful lead vocals are a highlight.
The album's ballads, such as"Keep the Faith", "I Would Still Be There" and "It's Those Little Things That Count," are generally considered the set's outstanding cuts, offering a "deep, balladic stillness".
While known for their ballads, the album also includes strong up-tempo numbers like the "bristling" closer "Forever And A Day". A version of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can-Can" is praised for capturing a loose, syncopated New Orleans feel, despite being recorded in Muscle Shoals.
Despite its initial poor sales and the lack of impact from its singles, the album has gained a reputation as a "lovely album" and a "gem" among soul enthusiasts, serving as a reminder of the duo's significant talent before they faded from the music scene.
The album has experienced a resurgence in interest in recent years, particularly the track "Keep The Faith". This song has been sampled by various hip-hop producers, most notably by Madlib for his 2000 Quasimoto album The Unseen, introducing the track to a new generation of listeners.