Recording, release and critical reaction
As was customary with most PIR acts, MFSB completed the backing tracks for the album prior to Paul overdubbing the vocals in fall 1974.[2]
Prior to the album's release, the single "Be Truthful to Me" was issued in late 1974. While the single did crack the top forty on the soul charts, it failed to cross over to the pop charts.
The album was well received on its release in early 1975. In its February 8, 1975 issue, Billboard noted: "After a lull in activity, Paul has come up with one of his most together efforts to date. The singing is trademarked and the orchestrations and material fit in nicely. His voice is totally enchanting and many of these cuts should break out. Some of them will get disco play. Best cuts: 'Black Wonders Of The World,' 'Billy's Back Home,' 'When It's Your Time To Go,' 'Be Truthful To Me,' Everything Must Change.' Dealers: In-store play will sell records and the packaging is beautiful."[3]
Allmusic's Andrew Hamilton said of "Black Wonders of the World": "Above a moody but robust track that features a strident synthesizer, African drums, and Hammond organ chords, a geeked Billy Paul turns professor and lectures about the many black (people) wonders of the world, including Martin Luther King, Mahalia Jackson, Eli Whitney, Jimi Hendrix, Jackie Robinson, John Coltrane, and Billie Holiday."[4]
Despite the enthusiasm, neither the album nor any of the singles were able to reach a broad audience. Author John A. Jackson noted that the results were "disappointing" to Paul and everyone involved due to the LP's failure to "regenerate the brief crossover success he experienced two years earlier."[2]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff; except where indicated
Side one
- "July, July, July, July" - 5:30
- "Billy's Back Home" - (Dexter Wansel) - 4:33
- "I've Got So Much to Live For" - 4:51
- "Black Wonders of the World" - (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Billy Paul, John Whitehead, Gene McFadden) - 8:02
Side two
- "Enlightenment" - 4:53
- "When It's Your Time to Go" - 5:02
- "Be Truthful to Me" - (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, John Whitehead, Gene McFadden) - 3:08
- "Everything Must Change" - (Bernard Ighner) - 5:23
- "My Head's on Straight" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Billy Paul) - 3:12
