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Love Is the Message (MFSB album)

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Love Is the Message
Studio album by
Released1973
Recorded1973
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre
Length35:06
LabelPIR
ProducerKenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Vince Montana, Bruce Hawes, Jack Faith
MFSB chronology
MFSB
(1973)
Love Is the Message
(1973)
Universal Love
(1975)
Singles from Natural High
  1. "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)"
    Released: February 6, 1974
  2. "Love Is the Message"
    Released: June 7, 1974
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Love Is the Message is the second album by Philadelphia International Records houseband 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.

Late 1970s resurgence

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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

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Zack's Fanfare"Burton Lane, Frank Loesser0:23
2."Love Is the Message"Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff6:35
3."Cheaper to Keep Her"Mack Rice6:52
4."My One and Only Love"Guy Wood, Robert Mellin4:34
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (Theme from the television show Soul Train)Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff3:43
6."Zack's Fanfare (I Hear Music)"Burton Lane, Frank Loesser0:50
7."Touch Me in the Morning"Michael Masser, Ron Miller6:21
8."Bitter Sweet"Bruce Hawes, Jack Faith5:26

Personnel

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MFSB

Charts

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 55
Canada (RPM)[3] 6
U.S. Billboard Top LPs[4] 4
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs[4] 1
U.S. Billboard Top Jazz LPs[4] 4

Year-end charts

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Chart (1974) Position
Canada[5] 52

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions
US
[4]
US
R&B

[4]
US
A/C

[4]
1974 "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" 1 1 1
"Love Is the Message" 85 42

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. Love Is the Message review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - April 27, 1974" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b c d e f "US Charts > MFSB". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  5. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of '74 - December 28, 1974" (PDF).
  6. ^ "American album certifications – MFSB – Love Is the Message". Recording Industry Association of America.

Further reading

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