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Love Is the Message: The Best of MFSB is an extensive, 16-track career summary for Philadelphia soul's greatest instrumental outfit. Despite all the strings and horns coloring its orchestrations, MFSB managed to remain fairly funky, and along with Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, the band's early work helped create the instrumental blueprint for disco. Love Is the Message illustrates that MFSB crossed the line between smooth instrumental soul and disco quite often, even despite the fact that it's missing quite a few of the band's most popular disco cuts -- "Let's Go Disco," "Get Down With the Philly Sound," "Zip," "K-Jee," "Picnic in the Park," and "Summertime and I'm Feelin' Mellow" all earned substantial club/dance play, but are nowhere to be found here. Despite that bit of revisionist history, Love Is the Message does make for a fine overview of the band's more soulful outings. "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," the title track, "Sexy," "My One and Only Love," and "T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care)" were all among the group's most popular cuts, and they're all present, as are covers of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead," the O'Jays' "Back Stabbers," and Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom." Even if Love Is the Message isn't quite complete, though, it does accurately summarize how MFSB defined the sound of Philly soul, and it's really all that most fans will need.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Z. Zachary, Arranger - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Zach Zachary, Arranger - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Chris Hurles, Mastering Engineer - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Adam Block, Director - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - L. Huff, Composer - L. Huff, Lyricist - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Norman J. Simon, Composer - Norman J. Simon, Lyricist - MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Vince Montana, Arranger - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - B. Bernier, Composer - B. Bernier, Lyricist - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - C. Mayfield, Composer - C. Mayfield, Lyricist - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Tony Williams, Flute - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Guy Wood, Composer - Guy Wood, Lyricist - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Frank Ceraolo, Producer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Vince Montana, Arranger - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Robert Mellin, Composer - Robert Mellin, Lyricist - Tom Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone
(P) 1995 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - L. Huff, Composer - L. Huff, Lyricist - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Thom Bell, Arranger - Thom Bell, Composer - Thom Bell, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - R. Chambers, Composer - R. Chambers, Lyricist - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - B. Lane, Composer - B. Lane, Lyricist - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - F. Loesser, Composer - F. Loesser, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Arranger - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - L. Huff, Composer - L. Huff, Lyricist - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - G. McFadden, Composer - G. McFadden, Lyricist - J. WHITEHEAD, Composer - J. WHITEHEAD, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - B. Hawes, Composer - B. Hawes, Lyricist - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Jack Faith, Arranger - Leon Huff, Producer - J. Faith, Composer - J. Faith, Lyricist - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - MFSB (featuring The Three Degrees), Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - HUFF, Composer - HUFF, Lyricist - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - GAMBLE, Composer - GAMBLE, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Producer - Leon Huff, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Composer - Karl Chambers, Drums - The Three Degrees, Vocal - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Tony Williams, Flute - Kenneth Gamble, Producer - Kenneth Gamble, Composer - Kenneth Gamble, Lyricist
(P) 1973 Sony Music Entertainment
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - M. RICE, Composer - M. RICE, Lyricist - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1973 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - HUFF, Composer - HUFF, Lyricist - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - GAMBLE, Composer - GAMBLE, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 Sony Music Entertainment
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Bobby Martin, Arranger - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - R.L. Martin, Composer - R.L. Martin, Lyricist - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - N. HARRIS, Lyricist - N. HARRIS, Composer - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - E. John, Composer - E. John, Lyricist - Norman Harris, Guitar - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Dexter Wansel, Arranger - Leon Huff, Piano - Bobby Eli, Guitar - B. Taupin, Composer - B. Taupin, Lyricist - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MFSB, Performer - Anthony Jackson, Bass - M. Dickerson, Composer - M. Dickerson, Lyricist - T.J. Tindall, Guitar - Norman Harris, Guitar - L. Oskar, Composer - L. Oskar, Lyricist - Joe Tarsia, Engineer - Ronnie Baker, Bass - Don Renaldo And His String & Horn Sections, Performer - Tony Martell, Executive Producer - Eddie Green, Piano - The Sound Of Philadelphia, Performer - Thomas Ruff, Mastering Engineer - Lenny Pakula, Organ - Earl Young, Drums - Reginald Lucas, Guitar - Larry Washington, Congas - Larry Washington, Bongos - Roland Chambers, Guitar - C. Miller, Composer - C. Miller, Lyricist - S.Allen, Composer - S.Allen, Lyricist - Jack Faith, Arranger - Leon Huff, Producer - Karl Chambers, Drums - Norman Farrington, Drums - Zach Zachary, Alto Saxophone - Harold Williams, Piano - Leon Huff, Piano - L. Jordan, Composer - L. Jordan, Lyricist - H. Brown, Composer - H. Brown, Lyricist - Bobby Eli, Guitar - Tony Williams, Flute - Tony Williams, Saxophone - H. Scott, Composer - H. Scott, Lyricist - Kenneth Gamble, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Album review
Love Is the Message: The Best of MFSB is an extensive, 16-track career summary for Philadelphia soul's greatest instrumental outfit. Despite all the strings and horns coloring its orchestrations, MFSB managed to remain fairly funky, and along with Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, the band's early work helped create the instrumental blueprint for disco. Love Is the Message illustrates that MFSB crossed the line between smooth instrumental soul and disco quite often, even despite the fact that it's missing quite a few of the band's most popular disco cuts -- "Let's Go Disco," "Get Down With the Philly Sound," "Zip," "K-Jee," "Picnic in the Park," and "Summertime and I'm Feelin' Mellow" all earned substantial club/dance play, but are nowhere to be found here. Despite that bit of revisionist history, Love Is the Message does make for a fine overview of the band's more soulful outings. "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," the title track, "Sexy," "My One and Only Love," and "T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care)" were all among the group's most popular cuts, and they're all present, as are covers of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead," the O'Jays' "Back Stabbers," and Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom." Even if Love Is the Message isn't quite complete, though, it does accurately summarize how MFSB defined the sound of Philly soul, and it's really all that most fans will need.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:16:39
- Main artists: MFSB
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Legacy - Epic Associated
- Genre: Pop/Rock
This compilation (P) 1995 Sony Music Entertainment
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