If it so pleases them, discographers can become hopelessly confused about the name Billy Jones without ever leaving Philadelphia. It is also possible to do both these things while listening to nothing but various forms of soul music, as if keeping up with the Joneses required little more than the ability to be funky. This particular Billy Jones was part of a distinctly funky male vocal group that also featured Norris Harris, Ivery Caprice Bell, and Michael Garrison. Collectively the vocalists were known as Moment of Truth, an enlightened state of combo-consciousness that is said to have combined Philly soul with Philly disco.

Like a certain combination of cheese and steak, this can induce gastronomic pleasure as well as agony, depending on one's taste. But the listener who enjoys bands such as the Trammps and Double Exposure should appreciate the efforts of Jones and his mates in the '70s, while fans of more vintage Philly soul such as the Intruders and Harold Melvin the Blue Notes might also detect a moment of influence during the Moment of Truth. Of the tunes recorded by the group, ironically only the title of Helplessly moved forward into club consciousness with any assurance. The group called it quits after one album, but that disc retained enough interest to inspire a reissue in the '90s. This Billy Jones should not be confused with the Sugarhill Gang writer and producer, among many others. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi