THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,540) The Ambassadors — “Ain’t Got the Love of One Girl on My Mind”
Ladies, don’t hate this Philly soul stunner even though it advocates the “find ‘em, fool ’em, forget ’em” philosophy! Guess who wrote it — Barbara Mason! Pete Rock loved it so much he sampled it twice. In fact, it’s been sampled 10 times. (https://www.whosampled.com/The-Ambassadors/Aint-Got-the-Love-(Of-One-Girl-on-My-Mind)/sampled/) The horns are killer.
Soul Strut says of the Ambassador’s soul, sorry sole, album:
Quintessential album for fans of the 70s “sweet soul” genre. The Ambassadors released quite a few 45s on Atlantic and the cult Philly R&B label, ARTIC. . . . The harmonies . . . could melt butter and the production is the prototypical Gamble and Huff Philly sound. It was recorded in 1969, so the drums are nice and crisp which made it a favorite for hip hop production.
https://www.soulstrut.com/Archive/the-ambassadors-soul-summit
Richie Unterberger says of the Ambassadors:
The Ambassadors had but one small R&B hit in 1969, “I Really Love You,” a dramatic ballad in the Philadelphia soul style . . . co-written by Kenny Gamble. They did stay together long enough to do an album, Soul Summit, which featured several musicians — including Leon Huff (on piano) and Earl Young (drums) — who were instrumental to the Gamble-Huff productions that epitomized the peak of Philadelphia soul in the early ’70s.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-ambassadors-mn0000042625#biography
FunkMySoul adds:
The Ambassadors are an incredible Philly soul harmony group – of the sort that never made it out of the city in the pre-Philly International years, but who had a polish and quality that was every bit as great as bigger-name acts from Chicago or New York. The harmonies on the record are mindblowing – the kind of raw and sweet at the same time that was the Philly calling card on the group soul scene – and arrangements are by a young Bobby Martin, with help from Philly studio legends like Vince Montana, Norman Harris, Leon Huff, and Bobby Eli. Formed in the mid-1960’s and soon came to the attention of Arctic Record Company co-owner and Philly radio star Jimmy Bishop. Following limited success with their three singles on Atlantic between the end of 1967 and the summer of 1968, they signed to Arctic Record Company. They are best remembered for their one hit, “I Really Love You” which was released in 1969, as well as their sole, highly sought-after album, that have a built a myth of holy grail among the northern soul circles. Three of the Ambassadors . . . later formed Creme D’Cocoa.
Here is Pete Rock — “I Got a Love”:
Pete Rock again (with Camp Lo) — “No Hook”:
Jay Electronica (featuring Jay-Z and the Dream) — Shiny Suit Theory:
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