필라델피아 뮤직 씬의 저명한 콤비 Kenny Gamble과 Leon Huff가 필라델피아 인터내셔널 레코드를 설립했을 당시 그들은 유명한 한 로컬 싱어를 영입하려 노력하였는데 그는 다름아닌 빌리 폴이었다. 그는 John Coltran, Charlie Parker, Lee Morgan 등의 거장들과 조우하며 뮤지션으로서의 경력을 착실히 다져 나갔으며 지금은 필라델피아 뮤직 씬 형성에 결정적으로 공헌한 싱어로 평가받고 있다. 독특한 스타일로 이끌어 내는 걸출한 프레이즈는 ‘Am I Black Enough For You’와 ‘Brown Baby’를 통해 확인할 수 있으며 명성높은 MFSB의 연주자들로 구성된 사이드 맨과 빌리 폴은 Carole King의 ‘It’s Too Late’, Al Green의 ‘Let’s Stay Together’, 그리고 Elton John의 ‘Your Song’를 멋지게 커버하고 있다. 하지만 본작의 백미는 당시 팝과 R&B 차트를 동시 점령하며 빌리 폴의 이름을 만방에 떨치게 한 애절한 싱글 ‘Me And Mrs. Jones’가 아닐까 한다. 소울풀한 스토리 텔링의 전형적인 코드를 보여주는 본작에 필적할 만한 앨범을 최근엔 거의 찾아볼 수 없으며 이는 [360 Degrees Of Billy Paul]이 토탈 소울 클래식이 될 수밖에 없는 단 한가지 이유이다. ? (1 BONUS TRACK, 디지팩)
Stayed in bed all mornin' just to pass the time. There's somethin' wrong here, there can be no denyin'. One of us is changin', or maybe we've just stopped tryin'.
And it's too late, baby now, it's too late, though we really did try to make it. Somethin' inside has died, and I can't hide, and I just can't fake it, oh, no, no.
It used to be so easy, livin' here with you. You were light and breezy, an' I knew just what to do. Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool.
And it's too late, baby now, it's too late, though we really did try to make it. Somethin' inside has died, and I can't hide, and I just can't fake it, oh, no, no.
There'll be good times again for me and you, but we just can't stay together; don't you feel it too? Still I'm glad for what we had and how I once loved you.
And it's too late, baby now, it's too late, though we really did try to make it. Somethin' inside has died, and I can't hide, and I just can't fake it, oh, no, no. no, no, no, no.
Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. We meet ev'ry day at the same cafe, Six-thirty I know she'll be there, Holding hands, making all kinds of plans While the jukebox plays our favorite song. Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong, But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. We gotta be extra careful that we don't build our hopes too high Cause she's got her own obligations and so do I, Me, me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong, But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. Well, it's time for us to be leaving, Iit hurts so much, it hurts so much inside, Now she'll go her way and I'll go mine, But tomorrow we'll meet the same place, the same time. Me and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones.
It's a little bit funny, Lord, this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but, boy, if I did I'd buy a big mansion where we both could live If, if I was a sculpture, Lord, honey, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelin' show I know it's not much, I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do You gave a gift, Lord, and I'm gon' sing it for you And you can tell everybody that this is your song It may be quite, quite simple but that's how it's done I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind what I wrote down in words, words How wonderful life is when you're in the world, world, world If, if, if I was on a rooftop I'd kick off my shoes I'll write a few verses, and then I get the blues But the sun's been quite, quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you and people like me I wanna, I wanna keep turnin' on So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do, Lord You see, you see I've forgotten if they're green or blue Anyway the things is, anyway the thing is, what I really mean Your are the sweetest eyes, you've got the sweetest eyes The clearest eyes I've ever seen, I hope you know that I hope you, I hope you wrote back and tell everybody that this is your song It may be quite, quite simple but now that's how it's done I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind, but I wrote down in words, Lord, words I'm doin' it for how wonderful life is when you're in the world, world, world If, if, if I was on a rooftop I'd kick off my shoes I'll write a few verses, and then I'll get the blues But the sun's been quite, quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you, people like me I wanna, wanna keep turnin' on, so excuse me, so excuse me So excuse me forgetting, Lord, these things I do You see, you see I've forgotten if they're green or blue, baby And anyway the things is, anyway the thing is, what I really mean Your are the sweetest eyes, the sweetest eyes The sweetest eyes I've ever seen I hoping you go back, go back and tell everybody that Billy Paul's got a song I'm, I'm gonna sit upon a, a rooftop and kick off my shoes I'm gonna write it, write it, write it I might come out with the Gospel, the Blues, the Jazz, the Rock and Roll I'm gonna, got to, got to write me a simple song for everybody because this is my song It may be quite, quite simple but that's how it's done I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind what I wrote down in words, words You come on back, you try to try again, try again Tell everybody that Billy Paul got a song It may be quite, quite simple but that's how it's done, baby I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind what I wrote down in words Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it Get back, get, got, oh, ho
Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. We meet ev'ry day at the same cafe, Six-thirty I know she'll be there, Holding hands, making all kinds of plans While the jukebox plays our favorite song. Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong, But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. We gotta be extra careful that we don't build our hopes too high Cause she's got her own obligations and so do I, Me, me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones got a thing going on, We both know that it's wrong, But it's much too strong to let it cool down now. Well, it's time for us to be leaving, Iit hurts so much, it hurts so much inside, Now she'll go her way and I'll go mine, But tomorrow we'll meet the same place, the same time. Me and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones.