Philadelphia International Records was the birthplace of the classic ‘Philly Soul’ sound throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. The record label’s roster boasted icons such as the O’Jays and Teddy Pendergrass, all of whom released classic albums under the direction of in-house producers/songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
Now, decades after the world first fell in love with the sounds of Gamble and Huff, Full Sail Recording Arts grad Caliph Gamble – son of Kenny Gamble – is bridging the gap between the analog and digital ages and reintroducing a whole new generation to his father’s music.
“When I returned home after graduating Full Sail, Philadelphia International was just starting to transfer the analog tapes out of the space that they’d been kept in,” Caliph says. The tapes, containing upwards of 3500 songs, had sat in a mailroom for 30 years. “They weren’t protected from climate changes, and there was a high risk for a fire, so it was time for a move. They now reside in a more modern facility, sitting right next to CIA documents and government defense papers. It’s really incredible to see what kind of company that catalog finds itself in.”
Caliph has spearheaded the immense task of transferring the Philadelphia International analog reels into a digital medium through Pro Tools, so that the label’s classic albums can be restored and more easily accessible. “At Full Sail, I learned about the sensitivity of analog tape, and how after years and years it will start to fatigue. We really had to condition these recordings before we could put them back on the reel,” he says. “We used a conventional microwave oven and would literally bake the tape for four hours, and then let it cool for another four. Once we did that and were comfortable with the tape stability, we ran it into Pro Tools and before you knew it, we had some of the greatest sessions separated into waveforms on the screen.”
Caliph’s life has always been focused around music; he practically grew up in the studio. But it was in that same environment that he realized he needed to get a formal education in order to turn his passion into a career.
“The music industry has its own language. As I grew, I learned I had a lot of deficiencies in the studio, as I didn’t know the right terminology and the ability to communicate what I was hearing. It didn’t allow sessions to have a pace that everyone was comfortable with,” Caliph says. “My mentor [and Philadelphia International Chief Engineer] Craig White saw that, and told my father I should go to Full Sail.”
“I definitely pushed him to go to school,” says Kenny Gamble. “Caliph’s been a tremendous help to me and the entire organization because of the knowledge that he gained at Full Sail. His time spent there was excellent, and now he’s able to adapt to the old methods from which he can learn from and apply new technology and methods to what it is that we’re doing.
“The industry is moving in such a direction that it’s more than just music; we’re living in an audio and visual world now. I actually want him to go back to Full Sail and explore the Film degree program so that he can pick up even more skills that can be applied to the company.”
While Caliph is interested in returning to Full Sail to further his education, he recognizes that his work on his current project is far from over. With the Philadelphia International catalog finding new audiences through digital distribution and sample use by today’s hip-hop producers, he predicts that the endeavor may last another three to five years.
“It’s very humbling to know that my father and uncle did those songs years ago, and that I’m seeing it and helping it progress so it will be heard for the next 20-30 years,” Caliph says. “I feel like I’m enshrined in greatness.”
