“The Sound Of Philadelphia” by MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) featuring vocals by the group The Three Degrees was written by Philly Soul legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff as the theme song for the television show Soul Train. The song reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart in 1974. Although the song was re-recorded in different versions over the different eras of black music (’80s R&B, New Jack Swing, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul) since 1974, “The Sound Of Philadelphia” remained the show’s theme song until the final episode in 2006.
A very talented group of musicians that rose to the top of the music world not once but twice, Kool & the Gang continues to be one of the most beloved bands of the last 30 years. Formed by Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Ronald Bell and bunch of their New Jersey teenage friends in the mid-60s (then called the Jazziacs), the group played traditional jazz in regional venues for several years, slowly morphing their style to incorporate emerging funk sounds of Sly and the Family Stone and James Brown. They were signed by the De-Lite label in the early 70s and gathered a small but loyal national following (particularly for their 1971 release Live at the Sex Machine). The group’s fortunes exploded in 1974 with Wild and Peaceful, an infectiously raw album that spawned three smash hits, “Funky Stuff,” “Hollywood Swinging,” and “Jungle Boogie,” all featuring great instrumentation and lyrics virtually shouted by the group. However, as quickly as they rode to fame, Kool & the Gang faded, their rough sound appearing out of place against the slick, dance-oriented sounds that began to dominate popular radio in the late 70s.
A classic party jam from Father MC representing the Uptown Records crew based on another classic party jam, Cheryl Lynn’s “Got To Be Real” and featuring Ms. Mary J. Blige on the vocals.
We’re continuing to keep Natalie in our prayers and hope that all is going well since her ’09 kidney transplant. From her 1977 album Unpredictable(Capitol), comes the ultimate emotional, transparent ballad, “I’m Catching Hell”.
(This is the Live version from her 1978 Natalie…Live! album.
Today’s song is taken from Luther’s second solo effort for Cotillion, 1977′s Close To You. Nat Adderley Jr. who would later on become a major Vandross collaborator holds down the electric piano duties here as well as another GFM, Nile Rodgers holding it down on guitar.
(Capitol), comes the ultimate emotional, transparent ballad, “I’m Catching Hell”. 
album.