Phil Moore III and the Afro Latin Soultet ~ USA ~ California

Afro Brazil Oba! (1967)

Somewhere at the crossroads of Burt Bacharach and Sergio Mendes you will find the sound of Phil Moore III and the Afro Latin Soultet. From the former you get the beautiful songwriting, deceptively simple yet complex all the same. The album tells us they're introducing Leni Groves (who was 19 if going by the liner notes). They might as well be saying "introducing Dionne Warwick". Once you hear her voice you'll know what I mean. From the latter you get the unmistakable soothing sounds of Bossa Nova. But instead of piano, Moore brings in this creaky organ that he probably picked up at a church salvage sale. The mix is irresistible. 

Ownership: 1967 Tower (LP)

Typically I would place albums like this in the journal section. But there are no reissues as I create this entry. It's worth calling out for that. Albums like this typically find their way onto CD in Japan, where music like this is highly revered. It appears the album remains largely undiscovered.

10/12/24 (review / new entry)

MFSB ~ USA ~ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Universal Love (1975)

---1/14/16

Well I'm hardly the world's foremost disco fan, but doggone if this album from Philadelphia's MFSB isn't infectious as they get. The first three tracks are fine mirror ball numbers, and represent the genre well, but nothing extraordinary. Things get to be very interesting on 'Love Has No Time and Place', with flute, Moog, sax, electric piano, echoplex guitar, cool strings, and soaring female chorus vocals. It's cool in that French school sort of way, like Cortex or the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band. And then there's 'K-Jee', a 5 star masterpiece if there ever was one, and for my tastes, one of the greatest songs of the entire disco movement. Also I'd say it's the single best song on Saturday Night Fever as well (quite astute of the producers to include the track honestly). 'My Mood' is awesome too, sweet and mellow. Captures the mood perfectly, per the song title. Overall, as good an example of the disco style as you can possibly hear.

---12/23/22

And that review sticks the landing. Especially the three tracks I called out. 'K-Jee' was already two years old when it managed its way onto the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It's important to remember that MFSB isn't just a part of the Philly Sound - they are the Philly Sound. They backed up all of those great soul acts of the 70s on the Philadelphia International label.

Mostly Mother Father Sister Brother sounds like easy listening music with a repetitive beat. But not so on this album, which has way more edge. 

Ownership: 1975 Philadelphia International (LP). Gatefold

11/21/07; 12//08; 1/14/16 (review); 12/23/22 (update)

Love is the Message (1973) 

I had the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on my mind (which I recently posted on), and tend to forget that MFSB is very affordable. I'd heard this album before and placed a "good" rating on it (see above for another album that I rate "excellent"). Well, I'm afraid to say, my original rating is correct. It's amazing just how "corporate" this sounds. This isn't edgy Philly ghetto music that's for sure (if you do want that, definitely seek out Del Jones' Positive Vibes). Honestly these guys aren't that far removed from what Andre Kostelanetz or Bert Kaempfert were doing in those days. All instrumental easy listening music I would submit. Though for sure MFSB is a better name than Gamble-Huff and their Orchestra. The album has its moments, in particular the closer 'Bitter Sweet'. But, yea, this was an unnecessary pickup for sure.

Source:  1973 Philadelphia International (LP)

7/3/21 (review)

12/23/22 (new entry)