Song of the Day 4/17: Nat Turner Rebellion, “Laugh to Keep From Crying”

You might have seen the headline at Philly.com or the article in Rolling Stone about the Philadelphia soul-funk band whose LP finally is being released, 50 years after it was recorded at Philly’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios. The Nat Turner Rebellion was active during the heyday of Philadelphia soul. It was led by Joseph Jefferson, who went on to write a hits for the Spinners, Patti LaBelle and the Three Degrees, and featured singer Major Harris, who later joined the Delfonics. The band recorded 14 tracks at the studio between 1969 and 1972. Three singles were released, but a planned LP never came out; Jefferson says it was because because the record label wanted them to sound more like the Delfonics.

The band wasn’t as radical as its name, though its mix of soul, funk and socially conscious lyrics was more muscular than was typical of syrupy TSOP acts. “Laugh to Keep From Crying” is the title track of the album, which saw the light of day because when Sigma Sound closed, it donated 6,000 unclaimed reels of recordings to Drexel University. Archivists got to work and the result has been released by Vinyl Me, Please.

“Can’t Go on Livin” was co-written by Major Harris.