MFSB

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MFSB (according to the "clean" interpretation, Mother Father Sister Brother) was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the Spinners, Wilson Pickett, and Billy Paul.

In 1972, MFSB began recording as a named act for the Philadelphia International label. "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" also known as the Soul Train theme was their first and most successful single. Released in March 1974, it peaked at number one on the US Billboard pop and R&B charts. "TSOP" was influential in establishing the disco sound. The track sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in April 1974.

Overview

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, The 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.

MFSB (album)

MFSB is the debut album by Philadelphia International Records houseband MFSB, released in 1973.

Reception

It also included instrumental covers of "Back Stabbers" by The O'Jays, "Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone, and "Freddie's Dead" by Curtis Mayfield.

The 2002 reissue on Epic/Legacy Records adds a live version of "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)". The only single from the album was "Family Affair", having "Lay In Low", as a b-side. The third track, "Something for Nothing" was sampled by Groove Armada (feat. Jeru the Damaja) for their track Suntoucher, as well as Jay-Z's 2003 song "What More Can I Say", Canibus' song "How We Roll" and JoJo's "Breezy" from her debut album.

Track listing