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*Rival R&B cities Detroit and Philadelphia are rounding up their homegrown talent to record popular hits made famous by singers from the other city for a groundbreaking new album, reports Billboard.
"A Soulful Tale of Two Cities," the brainchild of Philadelphia International songwriter Phil Hurtt, will feature 46 tracks spread across two CDs with music by Motown's Funk Brothers and Philadelphia International's MFSB.
"It's one camp honoring the other camp, and vice versa," says Soul Renaissance vice-president Theo Primas, who is serving as the project's co-executive producer. "It's two great bodies of music that constitute what you can call the soundtrack of our lives. The artists are still here and vibrant, and we have not forgotten about them."
Detroit artists involved in the project include George Clinton ("Expressway to Your Heart," "Love Don't Let Me Wait"), Freda Payne ("Betcha By Golly, Wow," "When Will I See You Again"), Lamont Dozier ("Me and Mrs. Jones," "Close the Door"), the Velvelettes ("People Make the World Go Round," "One of a Kind Love Affair"), the Temptations' Ollie Woodson ("Stairway to Heaven" -- the O'Jays, not Led Zeppelin), Chapter 8's Carolyn Crawford ("Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)") and the Vancouvers' Bobby Taylor ("Sadie," "If You Don't Know Me by Now").
The Philly squad features Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge ("Superstition," "Dancing in the Street"), Jean Carne ("Higher Ground," Ted Mills of Blue Magic ("Shop Around," "Just My Imagination (Runnin' Away With Me)"), Barbara Mason ("Get Ready," "My Baby Loves Me"), the Delfonics' William Hart ("Just Ask the Lonely," "Darling Forever"), Russell Thompkins, Jr., of the Stylistics ("Ain't That Peculiar," "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)"), Bunny Sigler ("Stop! In the Name of Love," "Ooh Baby Baby," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"), the Trammps' Jimmy Ellis ("Shotgun," "Isn't She Lovely") and Hurtt ("Girl's Alright With Me").
Hurtt is aiming for a June release on his own Soul Renaissance Records, with the first singles – one Motown and one Philly record – due May 16. A DVD from the sessions will also be released, and a tour is reportedly in the works.