Message in the Music

Message in the Music
Studio album by The O'Jays
Released	1976
Recorded	1975-76 Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Philadelphia soul, R&B
Length	42:51
Label	Philadelphia International Records
Producer	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen
The O'Jays chronology
Family Reunion (1975) Message in the Music (1976) Travelin' at the Speed of Thought (1977)

Message in the Music is a 1976 album by American R&B group The O'Jays,

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B-) [2]

Released in 1976 on the Philadelphia International Records label. Recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, with six of the eight tracks written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Message in the Music spawned two R&B chart-topping singles in "Message in Our Music" and "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)", with the latter also giving the group their fourth UK top 30 single. Message in the Music peaked at #3 on the R&B chart (ending a run of three consecutive #1 R&B albums for the group) and reached #20 on the pop chart.

Message in the Music is the last O'Jays album to feature vocals from original group member William Powell, who would die prematurely from cancer, aged 35, in May 1977.

In 2004, Message in the Music was reissued by Demon Music in the UK in a double package with The O'Jays' 1977 album Travelin' at the Speed of Thought.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gamble and Huff, except where noted ^[3]. 

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Message in Our Music"	6:24
2.	"A Prayer"	6:30
3.	"Paradise"	5:02
4.	"Make a Joyful Noise"	4:02

Side two
No.	Title	Length
5.	"Desire Me"	6:21
6.	"Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)"	4:14
7.	"I Swear, I Love No One But You" (Bunny Sigler)	5:13
8.	"Let Life Flow" (John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstarphen)	4:37

Charts

Album

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Billboard Pop Albums[4]	20
Billboard Top Soul Albums[4]	3

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[5]
		US Billboard Hot 100	US R&B
1976	"Message in Our Music"	49	1
	"Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)"	72	1

References

1. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. The O'Jays: Message in the Music > Review at Allmusic. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Message in the Music review". Robert Christgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=7555. Retrieved 2011-10-13. 
3. ^ allmusic ((( Message in the Music > Overview ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on 2011-10-13.
4. ^ ^{a b} "US Albums Chart > The O'Jays". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p13853/charts-awards/billboard-albums. Retrieved 2011-08-30. 
5. ^ "US Singles Chart > The O'Jays". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p13853/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 

External links

• Message in the Music at Discogs