Love Is the Message (MFSB album)
| 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] |
Love Is the Message is the second album by Philadelphia International Records’ house band 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. In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked "Love Is the Message" number 53 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[2]
Late 1970s resurgence
[edit]In 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)[3] | 55 |
| Canada Top Albums (RPM)[4] | 6 |
| US Billboard Top LPs[5] | 4 |
| US Top Soul LPs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
| US Top Jazz LPs (Billboard)[5] | 4 |
Year-end charts
[edit]| Chart (1974) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM)[6] | 52 |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [5] |
US R&B [5] |
US A/C [5] | ||
| 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)[7] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. Love Is the Message review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ Dolan, Jon; Lopez, Julyssa; Matos, Michaelangelo; Shaffer, Claire (22 July 2022). "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ 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)
