Love Is the Message (MFSB album)

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]

Love Is the Message
Studio album by MFSB
Released	1973
Recorded	1973
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Soul disco Philadelphia soul
Length	35:06
Label	PIR
Producer	Kenneth 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
"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" Released: February 6, 1974 "Love Is the Message" Released: June 7, 1974

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Late 1970s resurgence

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

Side one

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

Side two

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

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

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

Chart (1974)	Position
Canada (RPM)[6]	52

Singles

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

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[7]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1974 (U.S.)