MFSB
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MFSB (short for "Mother, Father, Sister, Brother") were a loose conglomeration of studio musicians who provided backing tracks for dozens of seminal Philadelphia soul recordings in the 1970s. They later released successful singles and albums as a stand-alone recording act.
Overview
Assembled by the production team of Gamble & Huff, MFSB was the house band for their Philadelphia International Records label and provided both the signature smooth Philadelphia sound that dominated the early 1970s for the acts who recorded at their Sigma Sound Studios, including The Delfonics, The O'Jays, Blue Magic, The Spinners, Teddy Pendergrass and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes; and the "high hat" disco sounds that dominated the late 1970s with groups like The Trammps, First Choice, Ripple and Double Exposure.
The classic line up of musicians included Carl Chambers and Earl Young on drums; Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli, and TJ Tindall on guitar; Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass; Vince Montana and Larry Washington on vibes and percussion and Leon Huff and Thom Bell on keyboards.
Career
In 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)" was a hit on both the pop and R&B charts, and launched a recording career for the band under their own name. MFSB albums and singles were released for the rest of the decade. Another popular tune that was also used for another television show, was called Sexy (released in 1975), as a prize cue during the Big Deal of The Day in 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. Due to a disagreement with Gamble & Huff over certain policies, the majority of the group moved on to Salsoul Records, where they became known as The Salsoul Orchestra. Other members began performing as The Ritchie Family orchestra, Vince Montana and the John Davis Monster Orchestra. Not to be outdone, Gamble & Huff replaced them with Instant Funk, Dexter Wansel and others on MFSB's latter recordings for the label.
In October 2004 "Love Is The Message" appeared in popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on Funk radio station Bounce FM.
Members:
Anthony Jackson, Bobby Eli, Bobby Martin, Carla Benson, Charles Collins, Damon Bennett, Dennis Harris, Dexter Wansel, Don Renaldo, Earl Young, Eddie Green (3), Harold "Ivory" Williams, John Ingram, Karl Chambers, Keith Benson, Larry Washington, Lenny Pakula, Leon Huff, Michael Foreman, Norman Farrington, Norman Harris, Quinton Joseph, Reggie Lucas, Roland Chambers, Ron Baker, T. Life, Thom Bell, TJ Tindall, Tony Williams (4), Victor Carstarphen, Vincent Montana, Jr., Zach Zachary
Releases: From - http://www.discogs.com/artist/MFSB
Free Man / Free Love / Mysteries Of The World (12", Ltd) R & S Records, Inc.
Love Is The Message / My First Mistake (12") T.D. Records, Inc.
Love Is The Message / T.S.O.P. (12") Philadelphia International Records
Love Is The Message / T.S.O.P. (12") Philadelphia International Records
Mysteries Of The World / Let's Clean Up The Ghetto (12") Passion Music
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) / Love Is The Message (12", Maxi) Philadelphia International Records
Love Is The Message (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1973
Love Is The Message (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1973
Love Is The Message (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1973
Love Is The Message (LP) CBS/Sony 1973
Love Is The Message / My One And Only Love (7") Philadelphia International Records 1973
MFSB (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1973
MFSB (LP) CBS/Sony 1973
MFSB (LP) Epic 1973
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (7") Philadelphia International Records 1973
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1973
Freddie's Dead / Family Affair (7") Philadelphia International Records 1974
Love Is The Message (7", Single) Philadelphia International Records 1974
Love Is The Message / TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (7") Philadelphia International Records, Philadelphia International Records 1974
MFSB (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1974
The Three Degrees & MFSB Show (LP) CBS/Sony 1974
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (7", Single) Philadelphia International Records 1974
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (7") Philadelphia International Records 1974
K-Jee / My Mood (7") Philadelphia International Records 1975
Philadelphia Freedom (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1975
Philadelphia Freedom (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1975
Sexy / Human Machine (7") Philadelphia International Records 1975
The Zip / My Mood (7") Philadelphia International Records 1975
Universal Love (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1975
Universal Love (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1975
Universal Love (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1975
Summertime (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1976
Summertime (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1976
End Of Phase I - A Collection Of Greatest Hits (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1977
Let's Clean Up The Ghetto (7") Philadelphia International Records 1977
Let's Clean Up The Ghetto (7") Philadelphia International Records 1977
Dance With Me Tonight (12") Philadelphia International Records 1978
MFSB, The Gamble - Huff Orchestra (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1978
MFSB, The Gamble - Huff Orchestra (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1978
To Be In Love (7", Promo) Philadelphia International Records 1978
Use Ta Be My Guy (12", Promo) Philadelphia International Records 1978
Manhattan Skyline (7", Promo) TSOP 1980
Mysteries Of The World (LP) TSOP 1980
Mysteries Of The World (12") Philadelphia International Records 1980
Mysteries Of The World (LP) Philadelphia International Records 1980
Mysteries Of The World (7", Promo) TSOP 1980
Mysteries Of The World / TSOP / Sexy (12") Old Gold 1990
T.S.O.P. (Theme From Soul Train '94) (12") Network Records 1994
The Best Of MFSB (Love Is The Message) (CD) Sony Music Entertainment Inc. 1995
Love Is The Message / Bra (12") Disco Juice Records 2003
