MFSB (MotherFatherSisterBrother) - T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) ft. The Three Degrees

 MFSB, officially standing for "Mother Father Sister Brother",^[1] was a pool of more than 30 studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios.^[2] 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.^[2]

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 second 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.^[2] The track sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in April 1974.^[3]

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 hit recording by MFSB featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. A classic example of the Philadelphia soul genre, it was written by Gamble and Huff as the theme for the American musical television program Soul Train, which specialized in African American musical performers. The single was released on the Philadelphia International Records label. It was the first television theme song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100,^[1] and it is arguably the first disco song to reach that position.

The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[1] Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Valerie Holiday, Freddi Poole, and Tabitha King. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.

The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. Porter and Turner were soon replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott. The line-up from 1967 to 1976 was Pinkney, Valerie Holiday and Sheila Ferguson, who would go on to sing lead on most of the group's biggest hits. This line-up topped the US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single "When Will I See You Again", which was a huge international hit, reaching the Top 5 in seven countries, including number two in the US and topping the UK Singles Chart.^[2] When Pinkney left the group in 1976, she was replaced by a returning Helen Scott. This line-up had four UK Top 20 hits, including "Woman in Love", which reached number three in 1979. Ferguson left for a solo career in 1986.

Official video for ”T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)​” by Mother, Father, Sister, Brother​ Listen to MFSB:​ https://MFSB.lnk.to/listenYD Watch more videos by MFSB:​ https://MFSB.lnk.to/listenYD/youtube Subscribe to the official MFSB YouTube channel:​ https://MFSB.lnk.to/subscribeYD Lyrics​: People all over the world People all over the world People all over the world People all over the world Soul train, soul train Soul train, soul train