Tag Archives: MFSB

The O’Jays: Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought

In May 1977, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought”, the eleventh O’Jays (The) album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen and Dennis Williams.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sammy Strain – vocals
  • Roland Chambers, Dennis Harris, T.J. Tindall – guitar
  • Dennis Williams – piano
  • Carlton Kent – organ
  • Michael “Sugar Bear” Foreman – bass guitar
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB – horns, strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought
  2. We’re All in This Thing Together
  3. So Glad I Got You, Girl
  4. Stand Up
  5. Those Lies (Done Caught Up with You This Time) – John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstarphen
  6. Feelings – Morris Albert
  7. Work on Me
  8. Let’s Spend Some Time Together

Robert Kreinar

On July 16, 2012, Robert Kreinar aka Bob Babbitt died aged 74. He was musician (bass), member of the “Motown Records” studio band The Funk Brothers, MFSB for “Philadelphia International Records”, and founding member of Scorpion. As a session musician Babbitt recorded for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne, The Temptations, and The Main Ingredient. “Bass Player” magazine ranked Babbitt at number 59 on its list of the “100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

Spinners: Pick Of The Litter

In August 1975, “Atlantic” label released “Pick of the Litter”, the sixth Spinners studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitars
  • Thom Bell– keyboards
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB– strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Honest I Do – Sherman Marshall, Philip Pugh, Thom Bell
  2. I Don’t Want to Lose You – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  3. Love or Leave – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  4. Sweet Love of Mine – Vinnie Barrett, Bobby Eli
  5. All That Glitters Ain’t Gold – Philip Terry, Theodore Life, Talmadge Conway
  6. You Made a Promise to Me – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. Games People Play – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  8. Just as Long as We Have Love – Vinnie Barrett, Bruce Hawes

O’Jays: Survival

In April 1975, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Survival”, the tenth O’Jays studio. It was recorded in1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble anLeon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert – lead vocal
  • Walter Lee Williams – vocals
  • William Powell – vocals
  • Bobby Massey – vocals
  • Bill Isles – vocals
  • MFSB – instrumentation
  • Bobby Martyn – arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia – engineer
  • Jose Gerson – artwork
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Don Hunstein – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Give the People What They Want
  2. Let Me Make Love to You – Bunny Sigler, Allan Felder
  3. Survival
  4. Where Did We Go Wrong
  5. Rich Get Richer
  6. How Time Flies
  7. What Am I Waiting For – Sigler, Ron Tyson
  8. Never Break Us Up – Leon Huff

Spinners: Mighty Love

In March 1974, “Atlantic” label released “Mighty Love”, the fourth Spinners studio album. It was recorded 1973-1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals
  • MFSB– instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, and Bruce Hawes, except where noted.

  1. Since I Been Gone
  2. Ain’t No Price on Happiness
  3. I’m Glad You Walked into My Life
  4. I’m Coming Home- Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  5. He’ll Never Love You Like I Do
  6. Love Has Gone Away
  7. Love Don’t Love Nobody – Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson
  8. Mighty Love

T, J, Tindall

On January 26, 2016, Thomas Joshua Tindall aka T.J. Tindall died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), as member of MFSB he was one of the architects of the Philadelphia Sound. Tindall recorded with many  musicians and bands including the O’Jays, the Trammps, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Blue Magic, the Intruders, the Three Degrees, Bonnie Raitt, the Chambers Brothers, the Jacksons, Robert Palmer and the Temptations.Tindall was inducted twice into the “Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame” as a member of MFSB and the Salsoul Orchestra.

The O’Jays: Ship Ahoy

ship_ahoy

On November 10, 1973, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Ship Ahoy”, the eighth O’Jays studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.  In 1992, the album was certified Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel

  • Eddie Levert– vocals
  • William Powell– vocals
  • Walter Williams– vocals
  • MFSB– orchestra
  • Leon Huff– keyboards
  • Anthony Jackson– bass
  • Rocco Bene- trumpet solos
  • Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula – arranger
  • Joe Tarsia –engineer
  • Joseph M. Palmaccio, Darcy Proper – mastering
  • James Barkley –illustration
  • Don Hunstein– photography
  • Ed Lee –art direction

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Put Your Hands Together
  2. Ship Ahoy
  3. This Air I Breathe – Kenneth Gamble,Bunny Sigler
  4. You Got Your Hooks in Me – Bunny Sigler
  5. For the Love of Money – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Anthony Jackson
  6. Now That We Found Love
  7. Don’t Call Me Brother – Kenneth Gamble, Bunny Sigler
  8. People Keep Tellin’ Me – John Whitehead,Gene McFadden, Victor Carstarphen