love t.k.o.

a look at the legacy of Teddy Pendergrass

today, i offer flowers to the one and only Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass, who was born on this day (March 26) in 1950. as someone who came of age in the Aughties, one of my earliest introductions to the R&B crooner was him being name-dropped by Twista in the infamous Kanye song “Slow Jamz.” but i also had grown up with his music being played at family gatherings and belted out on karaoke nights. it wasn’t until i watched the 2019 documentary on his life that i understood in a larger context how much of a popstar he was in his heyday.

now, i recall the episode of Unsung on TV One that spotlighted the trajectory of his career; it aired the year he died but didn’t go into as much depth as the doc, titled Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me.

the film traces his origins from local Philly heartthrob to the most notable singer of the group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes — which apparently led to resentment from the group’s namesake — and beyond. this doc also highlights Pendergrass’ story of triumph following a 1982 car accident that left him paralyzed.

though he experienced a deep depression following the tragedy, his verve for life was renewed after a family intervention showed him how much he was loved. he went on to record music until his retirement in 2006 and challenged ableist notions of what it means to be a performer. prior to his death in 2010, Pendergrass also dedicated time to advocate for the rights of those with spinal cord injuries.

so here is where i begin my deep dive into one of Pendergrass’ records that i’m thankful to have in my collection: 1980’s TP. this is also where i acknowledge that he is the undisputed king of album covers. just look at the material!

TP is Pendergrass’ fourth album and is probably best known for the singles “Love T.K.O.” and “Can’t We Try.” but every single song on this record is a gem and the total run clocks in at just under 40 minutes. it offers seamless play and a robust, sensual narrative from start to finish — though it appears the order of the tracks was changed prior to pressing because the track listing on the record sleeve does not match the playback. overall, it’s a sultry release, as was expected from this hallmark figure of Philly soul.

here’s my highlights after re-listening to the TP record ahead of this post:

• the album opens strong with “Is it Still Good to Ya?” — very obviously a song penned by the iconic duo Ashford & Simpson 

• there’s absolutely nothing like experiencing those subtle “oohs” on “Love T.K.O.” — especially with the right sound system

• i thoroughly enjoyed the post-disco R&B sound on the duet “Take Me in Your Arms Tonight” with another unsung hero, Stephanie Mills. the pair shared a more contemporary, slowed-down ballad at the album’s mid-way point (“Feel the Fire”)

• “Let Me Love You” is such a tender note to end the album on. so much powerful harmonizing on this track and across the record in general.

what’s your favorite Teddy Pendergrass song? for me, it’s a toss-up between “Close the Door” and “You’re My Latest, Greatest Inspiration” — so i’m on a quest to add the records that these singles appeared on to my collection.

i also realized that today is Diana Ross’ birthday too, so Monday’s post will be dedicated to all of my Diana-related artifacts (never too late to honor an iconic diva). happy weekend!