The Best of MFSB: Love Is The Message

I remember when my father was in the military. Karlshrule, Germany from 76-78. My dad had reel to reel copies of every MFSB LP available. It would be much later in life that I would come to learn that this group was a house band for many of my other favorite groups like for instance, the O'Jays & Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. You have to have a very musically trained ear for this era & what the "Philadelphia Sound" is actually all about. Music sounded like its truly supposed to sound: live instruments, brilliant strings, intelligent hooks, & vibrant melodies. Not like this watered down electric stuff you here nowadays. There aren't any true R&B acts left anymore. Mint Condition is the last of them out there that actually play live good music besides the Roots, after that, there is nothing else left. As a matter of fact everything you hear in this generation is bits & pieces of what has already been done. I bet anyone my age or older can hear any of these corny tracks nowadays & know what artist composed the hooks the choruses & just certain stuff from this era & know that there is just not any originality. MFSB's music is timeless & pure music at its finest.

Mother, Father, Sister, Brother (MFSB) were the house band at Philadelphia International Records in the 1970's. Primarily recording at Philly's Sigma Sound Studios, they backed up The O'Jays, The Three Degrees, and many other Philly artists on many of their biggest hits, as well as having a successful instrumental career in their own right, as this CD showcases. Their biggest hit, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," is heard here in an extended version, along with the title track, covers of Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom," Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead," The O'Jays' "Backstabbers," and two Great American Songbook standards, "Poinciana" and "My One and Only Love." There are also a couple of short jazzy interludes thrown in for good measure.Two of the selections on this CD will be well-known to Washington, D.C.-area TV viewers: "My Mood" has been the closing theme on WRC-TV's (NBC4) Friday evening newscasts for over three decades, and another NBC4 production, the long-running quiz show "It's Academic," uses "T.L.C. (Tender Lovin' Care)" as its closing theme music.Sony Legacy has not yet added an MFSB collection to its "The Essential..." series, but this fine collection will do for now.

Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, The Salsoul Orchestra, and M.F.S.B. provided the 1970's with some of the best dance music of the decade. The latter was responsible for providing the "background" instrumentation for Philadelphia-International hit-makers like The Three Degrees, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The O'Jays, Billy Paul, Archie Bell & the Drells, and countless others on the label. There were occasions when the band was allowed to come to the "foreground" and make the charts themselves. The group's "T.S.O.P (The Sound of Philadelphia)" became its biggest hit by virtue of the fact that it was the theme for the successful dance show, Soul Train.This particular compilation displays the band's versatility as it tackles big band sounds, pop, jazz, and funk. While a couple of the tracks are dated, the remaining ones are as timeless as music can be. Compliments must be heaped upon original producers Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Bobby Martin, Vince Montana, and Jack Faith.I just wondered why the folks at Motown never thought of showcasing their session musicians. They had one heckuva group themselves.

This best of MFSB Series is one of pure genius impossible to describe in words because it has to be experienced. Although this music may have been created say, "back in the day," it's true description is one of "timelessness." That being said, these musical pieces do bring up warm images from my past--all good. For example, who can't remember waking up to "The Sound of Philadelpia 'TSOP,'" the very historical song that became the theme and tagline for "The SOOOOUL TRAIN?" One of my favorite's on this cd is the song "Bitter Sweet." Oh yes, I am HIGHLY RECOMMENDING this joint.

Love this music from the past still relevant today great compilation of their talent it has a permanent home in my car

there was one song that skipped. but the sound is on point

The older I get and listen to todays music, the more I long for the music of the past. MFSB represents to me , one of those lost group of artist whose time has still not surcomb to the lower standards of current time.Artistic, talented and perfect the music brings you back to a time when style was having a piggy back ride with substance. We expected our music to make sense and sound like it did from beginning to end. This CD provides to the listener that experience.

I’m a Philly guy, T.S.O.P. didn’t have to take a backseat to Motown or ANYONE ELSE!! A LOT of great music came out of Philly, we just don’t get enough credit!!

This was a great CD! 'Interlude 1' sounded like a throwback tune from the 'Big Band' era (good tune!); "Love is The Message' was a nice tune (I liked the vocal version with The Three Degrees); 'Poinciana' was a 'dreamy' tune that 'overflowed' from the Seventies; 'Freddie's Dead' was 'okay' but I felt the song was too long! 'My One And Only Love' was a beautiful song that was very soft and 'melodic' (I liked the xylophones); 'Sexy' was a nice song that sounded like it belonged on the dance floor during the 'Soul Train' era/almost sounded like a song Barry White/Love Unlimited Orchestra could've done! 'Something For Nothing' was a nice tune (I liked the French horns); 'Zack's Fanfare' ('I Hear Music') was an 'interesting' tune (another throwback song from the 'Big Band' era); 'Back Stabbers' was a great tune with the flutes, drums and strings and it was a lot different from the O'Jays version; 'Bitter Sweet' was a good tune (it sounded like a waltz song); 'T. S. O. P'. ('The Sound Of Philadelphia'), of course, was the greatest song on the entire CD! I loved the vocals by The Three Degrees which was the theme song of the African-American show 'Soul Train'; 'Cheaper To Keep Her' was another good tune (the organ and drums were good); 'My Mood' was another nice tune that sounded liked it belonged in a 'Blaxploitation' movie/a song singer Isaac Hayes could've easily done! ('T. L. C.') ('Tender Lovin' Care') was a good tune/it sounded like another tune Barry White/Love Unlimited Orchestra could've easily done as well! 'Philadelphia Freedom' was a great tune that sounded almost the same as singer Sir Elton John's song; 'Smile Happy' sounded like a very Smooth Jazz song/very nice melody. Overall, a good CD/a classic for sure!

Diese CD bietet eine interessante sowie geniale vielseitige Kombination aus Musik an. Jazz, Funk, Pop, Disco sowie Phillysound Musik der mittleren 70er vermischen sich zu einem gigantischen Soundteppich. Immer begleitet von angenehmen einem Smooth Jazz. Eine CD die man garantiert nicht nur ein mal rein legt.

El CD llegó con la caja de plástico rota.Tendré que comprar una nueva para sustituirla.

彼らなくして70年代後半からの華麗なるディスコブームはあり得ないということです。

Just love this album,and the era it represents,promptly delivered,very happy.