MFSB was an American studio band formed by producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of the 'Philadelphia International Records' label. MFSB is an abbreviation for 'Mother Father Sister Brother'.
Assembled by record producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, MFSB was the house band for their Philadelphia International Records label and originated the signature smooth "Philly sound" sound that dominated the early 1970s for the artists who recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios, including the O'Jays, the Spinners, the Bluenotes, The Delfonics, Blue Magic, Intruders, Three Degrees, Jerry Butler, and Teddy Pendergrass. Later in the decade, the collective would become known for the hi-hat-dominated disco sounds that became popular in the late 1970s with groups such as The Trammps, First Choice, Ripple and Double Exposure.
It was the 1972 release of their first album, Poinciana, that put them on the map. This marked the beginning of a string of instrumental hits that brought major attention to a large orchestra who laid the foundation for the Sound of Philadelphia. The line-up of musicians included Karl Chambers and Earl Young on drums; Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli, and TJ Tindall on guitar; Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass; Vincent Montana, Jr. and Larry Washington on vibes and percussion, Harold Ivory Williams on keyboards, plus Leon Huff and Thom Bell on keyboards and Don Renaldo on strings and horns featuring Rocco Bene on trumpet.
In the spring of 1974, Philadelphia International released an instrumental track which had been recorded by the band as the theme music for the television show Soul Train as a single. The record, titled "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the American R&B chart and adult contemporary chart.. The success of "TSOP" launched a recording career for the band under their own name. MFSB albums and singles were released for the rest of the decade.
MFSB recorded a cover of The Nite-Liters's 1971 instrumental "K-Jee", which gained some popularity when it featured in a key scene in the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. It is also included in the soundtrack to that movie. "Sexy" (released in 1975) was later used as a prize cue for the "Big Deal of the Day" on the 1980 version of Let's Make a Deal.
Another popular MFSB number, "Love Is The Message", has been a favorite of dance/disco DJs since its release; countless remixes, both official and unofficial, exist of the song. On September 20, 2004, the record became among the first to be inducted into the newly formed Dance Music Hall of Fame.
In October 2004 "Love Is The Message" appeared in popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
This song is probably the best known disco song in New York City. A both disco and house classic, (I know the best version as the Danny Krivit Re-Edit bootleg ....I bought seven copies, it was so hard to find. )
The song is probably one of my biggest most popular songs I played as a DJ over a almost 30 year career. Based on my New York area gigs 1983-2009.
audio link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnNYCV5gJbE
Krivit re-edit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSq566xB-M
original 45 rpm vocal mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSos4kEoXao
0 comments:
Post a Comment