The Intruders' trademark was the endearingly off-key lead vocals of Sam "Little Sonny" Brown. Brown's shaky voice was a good match for such novelty numbers as "(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game," "Me Tarzan You Jane," "(Win Place Or Show) She's A Winner, and the R & B number one "Cowboys To Girls." He also projected a warm innocence on romantic ballads, including "We'll Be United," "Together" and "When We Get Married."

This 20-track set contains the majority of their R & B hits (including all of the above). Unfortunately omitted were the uptempo charmer "Give Her A Transplant" as well as "I'm Girl Scoutin'," the only Intruders' single not to include Brown (his defection from the group lasted less than six months). This collection also includes most of their 1973 album Save The Children. One of the best Philly Soul albums ever, this concept recording offers uniquely effective covers of Marvin Gaye's title track and Paul Simon's "Mother And Child Reunion," as well as stunning originals like "I Wanna Know Your Name" and their artistic apex, "I'll Always Love My Mama."

After the release of Save The Children, the Intruders only had two more chart entries: "A Nice Girl Like You" and a strong version of the Carpenters' "Rainy Days And Mondays." While the latter recording is not included here, this is still the best Intruders collection available. It is even better than the two-disc, thirty-track Golden Classics which contains a lot of filler and omits "(Win Place Or Show) She's A Winner."


THE INTRUDERS COWBOYS GIRLS BEST   February 21, 2000
11 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is a fantastic CD. It brought back so many memories - good ones. The Intruders - what a great group who created beautiful, romantic music. I already have a few request from friends to order this CD for their collection.

Buy this CD - trust me you will not regret it.


Great lost soul classic   January 9, 2004
Glenn Nippert (Alpharetta, Georgia United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I had never heard of The Intruders until I heard the title song of this collection on an R&B oldies station last year. After hearing Cowboys to Girls about three times on that station I couldn't get the uniqueness of the lyrics and melody out of my head. I was also moved by the innocence and appealing vulnerability of the lead vocalist Sam "Little Sonny" Brown and decided to buy this greatest hits compilation and needless to say it has not left my cd player since. The addictive blend of
horns, strings and guitar riffs makes a groove that is both slick and gritty at the same time.The songs are almost all written by the legendary Gamble and Huff songwriting team and there seems to be a thread of romantic nostalgia connecting the songs. "I'll Always Love My Mama", "Me Tarzan, You Jane" and "Together" are all seldom played classics. Why this great soul group has been swept aside by the shifting sands of time is beyond me as they were fantastic. This is some of the most feel good soul comfort music out there. Buy this, it'll make you feel good.


Yes, The Album is as Great as Others are Saying   January 2, 2006
Ho Chi Minh (Texas)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I know I'm not Original here, as the Previous 13 Reviews have awarded the Same 5 Stars to this Release, but I feel the need to Echo the sentiment. The Intruders, led by the Unmistakable Hurting/Cracking, Passionate Voice of Little Sonny Brown, are Grossly Underappreciated, These Songs stand among the Greatest in Soul History, Gems like "Together", "I Wanna Know Your Name", "Love is Like a Baseball Game", "United", and on and on....and the Long Version of "I'll always love My Mama", where Pt. 2 of the song (the second half, if you will, as listed on My Original 45 Copy I bought in 1973) has the Intruders Rapping, Playing the "Dozens", quite interesting to hear still; An Absolute MUST for Your Music Library...I am Pleased to have seen the Intruders Perform at Constitution Hall in D.C. in 1993, reunited with Little Sonny after Many Years away...The Pain in His Voice One Hears in many of these Songs was Real, Little Sonny Jumped from a Bridge near Philadelphia to His Death in 1995......RIP


Rough Rugged And Raw....   June 4, 2003
David D. Macks (Troy, New York United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

With this album you can practically trace the evolution of the "Philly Soul Sound". The first act signed to Philly International was South Philly's own Intruders. The production on these early cuts is rough, rugged and raw but the songwriting is outstanding. Several of these cuts are rightly considered "Classics". The title track, is timeless as is "Together Baby" and a few others. As the disks unwind you can hear Gamble and Huff beginning to hone their crafts, the arrangements get lusher, the production smoother and balanced. But still the voices are what brings you back. The Intruders never got the pub of Harold Melvin and Blue Notes or the Ojays but damn if they were giants in their own right. Get it, you won't regret it.