Various - Love Is The Mes...ough Trade

United Souls, in conjunction with Legacy Recordings, is delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records with Love Is The Message - The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Volume 3.

Following on from the huge acclaim for the first two volumes, Love Is The Message contains eight albums on CD and an exclusive 12” vinyl disc. Presented in a deluxe package with a booklet telling the story of how this iconic label evolved in Philadelphia to become truly international.

The notes this time around feature a personal account from writer Tony Cummings who recalls his fascinating visit to the City Of Brotherly Love. All the music has been remastered from the original master tapes courtesy of Sony Music and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who have been personally involved in these landmark anniversary collections.

Love Is The Message follows two previous releases Get On Board The Soul Train and Satisfaction Guaranteed. Those sets cover the first sixteen albums in chronological order from PIR’s first LP Going East by Billy Paul in 1971 through to what was another Billy Paul album in 1973, War Of The Gods. The start of this collection continues from where the second edition left off, through 1973 to the early releases of 1975. During this period Teddy Pendergrass stayed on as lead singer with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. MFSB were the string and horn players alongside an elite rhythm section. With all releases on the label MFSB, were never far away. The Three Degrees who also feature on ‘TSOP’, an era defining track and theme to TV’s Soul Train series. PIR embraced big band with the signing of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. Jazz bassist Mont Montgomery also features with his Reality album. Bunny Sigler, who was a so integral to the PIR story with the many compositions, productions and performances he gave them, appears within. The O’Jays fourth album is included, while Billy Paul’s Got My Head On Straight concludes the LP section of the package. The set is rounded off with an exclusive 12” single featuring two of the most recognisable Philly tunes; MFSB feat. The Three Degrees’s ’T.S.O.P.’ and the fantastic ‘Stop And Think’ by The Trammps.

the 8 CDs included in this set:

• The Ebonys, The Ebonys (Philadelphia International KZ 32419, 1973);
• MFSB, Love Is the Message (Philadelphia International KZ 32707, 1973);
• Bunny Sigler, That's How Long I'll Be Loving You (Philadelphia International KZ 32859, 1974);
• Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, To Be True (Philadelphia International KZ 33148, 1975);
• The O'Jays, Survival (Philadelphia International KZ 33150, 1975);
• Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Potpourri (Philadelphia International KZ 33152, 1974);
• Monk Montgomery, Reality (Philadelphia International KZ 33153, 1974); and
• Billy Paul, Got My Head on Straight (Philadelphia International KZ 33157, 1975).

I bought the first two box sets and I am really enjoying these looking forward to this third volume.Release date is April 7,2023.

70s soul flashback: "Bad Luck" by Harold Melvn & The Blue Notes (1975)

Harold Melvin & The B... - YouTube

That's a massive collection.

• The O'Jays, Survival (Philadelphia International KZ 33150, 1975);

For me,the highlight of this album is the last track "Never Break Us Up" one of those deep album cuts that should have been a single.

purplethunder3121 said:

That's a massive collection.

indeed and each box comes with a giant poster.I wish I had enough room on my walls for these posters,lol.

the trailer for this box set

The Sound of Philadelphia... - YouTube

kitbradley said:

At the rate they are releasing these it will take them 20 years to release all the box sets.

I kinda wish that they had started this project a long time ago.Then we would have all the box sets by now.

kitbradley said:

I would have rather had box sets by artists.

I still think that an Ojays box set (which has been discussed in the past) should still happen.

SoulAlive said:

phunkdaddy said:

Is the remastering any good on these? I almost get excited every time they do these then I assume the remastering's probably gotta suck.

WhisperingDandelions said:

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

I still think that an Ojays box set (which has been discussed in the past) should still happen.

That would be awesome. I bought Ship Ahoy on vinyl around July 4th when Target had a sale on vinyl. The O'Jays are definitely that artist I would get a box set from.

I would be all over that O'Jays set too!

SoulAlive said:

Speaking of the O’Jays….what is your favorite Ojays album? I know this is a tough question because all of their 70s albums are great. Backstabbers is often considered to be their masterpiece and for good reason.It’s a strong,consistent album…one of the best examples of 70s Philly soul at its best. My personal favorite is So Full Of Love.I have so many great memories associated with that particular album.1978 is my favorite year too.There is a song on this album,“Cry Together”,which is truly my favorite Ojays song.Gamble and Huff were truly at the top of their game when they produced this album.

Maaaaan that is a hard question to answer. If pressed I guess I have to go with Back Stabbers! It still absolutely explodes out of my speakers! Ship Ahoy is right behind it and maybe in front depending on the mood you catch me in. I adore the O'Jays and Philly Sound!

LAWD HAV' MERCY!

BalladofPeterParker said:

SoulAlive said:

Speaking of the O’Jays….what is your favorite Ojays album? I know this is a tough question because all of their 70s albums are great. Backstabbers is often considered to be their masterpiece and for good reason.It’s a strong,consistent album…one of the best examples of 70s Philly soul at its best. My personal favorite is So Full Of Love.I have so many great memories associated with that particular album.1978 is my favorite year too.There is a song on this album,“Cry Together”,which is truly my favorite Ojays song.Gamble and Huff were truly at the top of their game when they produced this album.

Maaaaan that is a hard question to answer. If pressed I guess I have to go with Back Stabbers! It still absolutely explodes out of my speakers! Ship Ahoy is right behind it and maybe in front depending on the mood you catch me in. I adore the O'Jays and Philly Sound!

LAWD HAV' MERCY!

Family Reunion is another superb O'Jays album.The entire Side Two just blows my mind:

Living For The Weekend

Stairway To Heaven

I Love Music

there really should be some kind of in-depth Gamble & Huff/Philly Sound documentary or maybe even a movie about it.

SoulAlive said:

BalladofPeterParker said:

Maaaaan that is a hard question to answer. If pressed I guess I have to go with Back Stabbers! It still absolutely explodes out of my speakers! Ship Ahoy is right behind it and maybe in front depending on the mood you catch me in. I adore the O'Jays and Philly Sound!

LAWD HAV' MERCY!

Family Reunion is another superb O'Jays album.The entire Side Two just blows my mind:

Living For The Weekend

Stairway To Heaven

I Love Music

Stairway to Heaven!!! YES!

In the 70s,the Philly sound became so big that many other artists wanted to be a part of it.In 1976,The Jacksons released their self-titled album produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.I think that the song "Show You The Way To Go" is,quite possibly,the finest Jacksons single ever

I've got the first one and I really like the mix of artists, thanks for the heads up!