Philadelphia-born vocalist Billy Paul was comfortable with both soul and jazz, and his best-known song, the 1972 hit "Me and Mrs. Jones," borrowed a bit from both styles with its polished arrangement and Billy Paul's thoughtful phrasing conveying a tale of illicit love. While "Me and Mrs. Jones" was far and away Billy Paul's biggest hit, he was a regular visitor to the R&B charts in the '70s, and recorded a series of fine albums for Philadelphia International Records, where he often dealt with political and cultural issues as well as songs best suited for the quiet storm.
