MFSB

The 1973 debut from Philadelphia International Record’s influential house band MFSB is a collection of instrumentals played by the 30+ crew of crack session players. Besides the usual soul/funk lineup of bass, guitar, drums, keys and horns, MFSB also included vibes, timpani, chimes, congas, bongos and a string section, creating a simultaneously theatrical yet funky wall of sound. Kicking off with an epic version of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Freddie’s Dead’ that switches time signatures several times, and which sets the tone for a confident and expansive soul album, from a band only just approaching the height of their creative powers.