Archie Bell & The Drells: Archie Bell, James Wise, Billy Butler, Joe Cross, Lee Bell, Willie Pernell, Lucious Larkins (vocals).
Additional personnel includes: Norman Harris, Theodore Life, Ronnie James, Dennis Harris, Edward Moore, T.J. Tindall (guitar), Michael Pedicin, Jr., Sam Peake (saxophone), Sam Reed & His Horn Section (horns), Leon Huff, Richard Rome (piano), Thom Bell, James Sigler (organ), Victor Carstarphen (keyboards, piano), Jerry Cohen (keyboards), Bobby Martin (keyboards, vibraphone), Ronnie Baker, Raymond Earl (bass), Earl Young, Keith Benson (drums), Vince Montana, Jr., Charles Collins (percussion).
Background vocals: Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Barbara Ingram.
Producers: Skipper Lee Frazier (tracks 1, 4); Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff (tracks 2-3, 5-10); Dave Crawford, Brad Shapiro (track 11); Phillip Mitchell (tracks 12-13); Bunny Sigler (tracks 14, 17); John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstarphen (tracks 15-16, 18); John Whitehead, Gene McFadden (track 19-20).
Compilation producers: David McLees, Bill Inglot.
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jones Sound Studio, Houston, Texas; Atlantic Recording Studios, New York; Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, Alabama. Includes liner notes by Jeff Jarema.
Personnel: Archie Bell (vocals); Billy Butler, Joe Cross, James Wise, Willie Pernell, Lee Bell (vocals); Bunny Sigler (guitar, acoustic guitar, piano); Dennis Harris, Kim Miller, Theodore Life, T.J. Tindall, Michael Forman, Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Ronnie James (guitar, acoustic guitar); Michael Foreman, Edward Moore (guitar); Ed Tree Moore (acoustic guitar); Don Renaldo, Sam Reed (strings, horns); Sam Peake, Michael Pedicin, Jr. (saxophone, alto saxophone); Victor Carstarphen (piano, keyboards); Dexter Wansel, Leon Huff , Richard Rome (piano); Jimmy Sigler, Thom Bell (organ); Bobby Martin (keyboards, vibraphone); Jerry Cohen (keyboards); Ed Shea (vibraphone, bells); Keith Benson, Earl Young, David Thompson, Scott Miller , Keith Errol Benson (drums); David Cruse (congas, bongos, percussion); Larry Washington (congas, bongos); James Hicks, Rick Hicks (congas); Vince Montana, Corliss "Sunshine" Forrest, Charles Collins (percussion); Evette Benton, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Jeff Jarema.
Recording information: Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY; Jones Sound Studio, Houston, TX; M; Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, AL; Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.
Illustrator: Loring Eutemey.
Arrangers: John L. Jr. Usry; Bobby Martin ; Richard Rome; Roland Chambers; Ronald Baker; Archie Bell; Barry Beckett; Wade Marcus; Thom Bell.
It could be assumed that Archie Bell & the Drells essentially did the same thing over and over again, since "Tighten Up" almost consigns them to the level of one-hit wonders, but that's not an accurate assessment of their gifts. True, they often followed the same stylish, sunny, utterly infectious sound, but there was a lot more depth and variety there, as Rhino's terrific 20-track collection Tightening It Up: The Best of Archie Bell & the Drells illustrates. What it reveals to those that weren't playing close attention is that the group was one of the first great Philly soul outfits, recording a number of Gamble & Huff's early songs and providing a training ground for the seminal duo. Though the hits didn't come fast and furious, like they would later, they, Bell & the Drells, created some wonderful singles, highlighted by "(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown" and "A World Without Music." There's plenty of other terrific moments throughout this collection, which proves that Bell & the Drells were far more than a one-hit wonder -- they were one of the great under appreciated soul outfits of their time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize