Love Is the Message is the second album by Philadelphia International Records houseband MFSB. The album includes the number one pop, R&B, and adult contemporary hit and winner of the 1974 Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)". The song was the theme song for the television show Soul Train.
| Love Is the Message | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Studio | Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:06 | |||
| Label | PIR | |||
| Producer | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Vince Montana, Bruce Hawes, Jack Faith | |||
| MFSB chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Natural High | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Late 1970s resurgence
editIn the transition period between disco and the up-and-coming hip hop movement, the title track became a staple at house and block party events in the summers of 1978 and 1979.[citation needed] That track later became the basis for the last Salsoul Orchestra single "Ohh, I Love It (Love Break)", released in 1983.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Zack's Fanfare" | Burton Lane, Frank Loesser | 0:23 |
| 2. | "Love Is the Message" | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 6:35 |
| 3. | "Cheaper to Keep Her" | Mack Rice | 6:52 |
| 4. | "My One and Only Love" | Guy Wood, Robert Mellin | 4:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (Theme from the television show Soul Train) | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Zack's Fanfare (I Hear Music)" | Burton Lane, Frank Loesser | 0:50 |
| 7. | "Touch Me in the Morning" | Michael Masser, Ron Miller | 6:21 |
| 8. | "Bitter Sweet" | Bruce Hawes, Jack Faith | 5:26 |
Personnel
edit- MFSB
- Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Reggie Lucas, Roland Chambers, T.J. Tindall - guitar
- Anthony Jackson, Ron Baker - bass
- Leon Huff, Lenny Pakula, Eddie Green, Harold "Ivory" Williams - keyboards
- Earl Young, Karl Chambers, Norman Farrington - drums
- Larry Washington - percussion
- Vincent Montana, Jr. - vibraphone
- Zach Zachery, Tony Williams - saxophone
- Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns
- The Three Degrees - vocals
Charts
edit| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 55 |
| Canada (RPM)[3] | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs[4] | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs[4] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Jazz LPs[4] | 4 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1974) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada[5] | 52 |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US A/C [4] | ||
| 1974 | "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| "Love Is the Message" | 85 | 42 | — | |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. Love Is the Message review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 183. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - April 27, 1974" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e f "US Charts > MFSB". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of '74 - December 28, 1974" (PDF).
- ^ "American album certifications – MFSB – Love Is the Message". Recording Industry Association of America.
Further reading
edit- Brewster, Bill; Broughton, Frank (2014). Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey. Open Road + Grove/Atlantic. pp. 170–. ISBN 978-0-8021-9436-7.
External links
edit- Love Is the Message at Discogs (list of releases)