Love Is the Message

by MFSB

Overview

Most prominently featuring "Love Is the Message" and "T.S.O.P.," this 1973 album by MFSB serves as a landmark LP for Philadelphia's early to mid-'70s soul movement. While "T.S.O.P." became a giant hit for the group at the time of its release, forever being associated with the television show Soul Train, "Love Is the Message" would go on to be an enormous underground hit in New York's late-'70s disco scene, championed by influential DJs such as Larry Levan (becoming an anthem at Levan's Paradise Garage). In addition, the album also features the orchestra's take on "Touch Me in the Morning," a song popularized by Diana Ross that was another proto-disco classic. The other tracks here -- "Cheaper to Keep Her," "My One and Only Love," and "Bitter Sweet" -- are also wonderful tracks exemplifying the group's uplifting, massive sound but aren't nearly as timeless as the three aforementioned songs. Sony's Love Is the Message: The Best of MFSB is still the best and most readily available showcase for this group's influential accomplishments as a proto-disco group, while this album is arguably their strongest non-compilation release and one of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's shining moments. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/2008
Label:	Sony Music
UPC:	0886976112127

Tracks

1. Zack's Fanfare
2. Love Is the Message
3. Cheaper to Keep Her
4. My One and Only Love
5. T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)
6. Zack's Fanfare (I Hear Music)
7. Touch Me in the Morning
8. Bitter Sweet

Album Credits

Performance Credits

MFSB   Primary Artist
The Three Degrees   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Marcus Spehr   Research
Sir Mack Rice   Composer
Kenny Gamble   Composer,Producer
Colin Elliot   Logo Design
Jack Faith   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Joe Tarsia   Engineer
Robert Mellin   Composer
R. Miller   Composer
Nick Robbins   Digital Remastering
Vince Montana   Arranger,Producer
Michael Masser   Composer
Guy Wood   Composer
Rico "Superbizzee" Washington   Research,Interviewer,Liner Notes
Bruce Hawes   Composer,Producer
Leon Huff   Composer
Ron Miller   Composer
Paul Bevoir   Logo Design,Booklet Design
Bobby Martin   Arranger
Bart Forbes   Cover Illustration
Wayne A. Dickson   Mastering,Reissue Producer
Dede Dabney   Liner Notes
Ed Lee   Art Direction
Christian John Wikane   Associate Producer
Leon Fort   Transcription,Associate Producer
Michal Bednarek   Audio Research
Frank Loesser   Composer
Burton Lane   Composer