MFSB: Love Is The Message - 1973

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MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) were the house band for the Philadelphia soul music label in the early/mid-seventies, comprising over thirty musicians.

It backed acts such as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Three Degrees, The O' Jays and Billy Paul, as well as also crossing labels to back The Stylistics and The Detroit Spinners. Their sound was an iconic one of its era, notably used to introduce the equally ground-breaking "Soul Train"  TV show. 

This was largely an instrumental album, with incidental, occasional backing vocals provided by The Three Degrees. The album's apocalyptic cover let us know that behind the lush, smooth soul vibes lay a serious message. Black consciousness was everywhere, in the music of Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations and The Undisputed Truth. Philadelphia got in on it with material by The O'Jays and Billy Paul and, although this is full of instrumental joy, we are left in no doubt that there is a world out there to question, even while listening to some copper-bottomed grooves. 

TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) is known to all. As soon as its addictive rhythm kicks in, you just feel uplifted. The brass punch of it is still great to hear. It is very "disco", several years early. Rhythms like this would be everywhere in 1977-78, particularly the "doo-doo-doo" backing vocals. 

All of the album is quality material, including Love Is The Message and a cover of Diana Ross's Touch Me In The Morning. After half an hour or so of instrumentals, though, one wants a bit of vocal, so its comparatively short running time (thirty five minutes) is an ideal breath of fresh air.  

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