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MFSB's debut album was more of a soul-funk mix than the kind of disco for which the band would become known with their "T.S.O.P." hit. There's less of a thumping rhythm and a greater inclination to lengthy, occasionally jazzy instrumental grooves, as on the seven-minute cover of "Freddie's Dead" that opens the set. The group also made a fair instrumental workout of Sly Stone's "Family Affair," and put the flute in the lead for much of the arrangement of "Back Stabbers." It's pretty well-crafted instrumental soul that's not quite super-slick, though your attention might eventually wander if you're not using it as dance fodder. The lush pop inclinations that would form part of the bed of their later work (both as MFSB and backing numerous Philly soul artists) come more to the fore on some other tracks, particularly the grandiose "Poinciana," though even that breaks up the soaring violins with some tasty jazz-blues piano and guitar. The 2002 CD reissue on Epic/Legacy adds a live version of "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (which is not, incidentally, otherwise represented on the album), with the Three Degrees on vocals, that was previously issued on the Three Degrees' 1975 album The Three Degrees Live.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Piano - Curtis Mayfield, Composer - Curtis Mayfield, Lyricist - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Piano - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Sylvester Stewart, Composer - Sylvester Stewart, Lyricist - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Thom Bell, Composer - Thom Bell, Lyricist - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Piano - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - R. Chambers, Composer - R. Chambers, Lyricist - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - John Whitehead, Composer - John Whitehead, Lyricist - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Arranger - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Composer - Leon Huff, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Piano - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - Gene McFadden, Composer - Gene McFadden, Lyricist - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Arranger - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Cary Gilbert, Composer - Cary Gilbert, Lyricist - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Composer - Leon Huff, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Piano - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Norman J. Simon, Composer - Norman J. Simon, Lyricist - MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Valerie Holiday, Vocal - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Percussion - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Don Renaldo, Horns - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Piano - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Sheila Ferguson, Vocal - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - B. Bernier, Composer - B. Bernier, Lyricist - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Fayette Pinkney, Vocal
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Leon Huff, Producer - The Three Degrees, Performer - Bobby Martin, Producer - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - MFSB, Performer - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - L. Huff, Composer - L. Huff, Lyricist
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
MFSB's debut album was more of a soul-funk mix than the kind of disco for which the band would become known with their "T.S.O.P." hit. There's less of a thumping rhythm and a greater inclination to lengthy, occasionally jazzy instrumental grooves, as on the seven-minute cover of "Freddie's Dead" that opens the set. The group also made a fair instrumental workout of Sly Stone's "Family Affair," and put the flute in the lead for much of the arrangement of "Back Stabbers." It's pretty well-crafted instrumental soul that's not quite super-slick, though your attention might eventually wander if you're not using it as dance fodder. The lush pop inclinations that would form part of the bed of their later work (both as MFSB and backing numerous Philly soul artists) come more to the fore on some other tracks, particularly the grandiose "Poinciana," though even that breaks up the soaring violins with some tasty jazz-blues piano and guitar. The 2002 CD reissue on Epic/Legacy adds a live version of "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (which is not, incidentally, otherwise represented on the album), with the Three Degrees on vocals, that was previously issued on the Three Degrees' 1975 album The Three Degrees Live.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 7 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:23
- Main artists: MFSB
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
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