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TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)

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This article is about the song. For the record label, see Philadelphia International Records.
"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)"
Single by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
from the album Love is the Message
B-side"Something for Nothing"
ReleasedFebruary 6, 1974 (U.S.)
March 29, 1974 (UK)
Recorded1973
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre
Length3:43 (album cut)
3:29 (single version)
5:48 (12" version)
LabelPhiladelphia International Records
Songwriter(s)Gamble and Huff
Producer(s)Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff
MFSB featuring The Three Degrees singles chronology
"Family Affair"
(1973) 		"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)"
(1974) 		"Love Is the Message"
(1974)

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 recording by MFSB featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. 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 No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

At the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975, the song won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[3]

Background

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The song is an instrumental, featuring a blend of string instruments and a horn section. There are two vocal parts: a passage where The Three Degrees sing "People all over the world" and "Let's get it on. It's time to get down". The words "People all over the world" are not heard in the original version. The version heard on Soul Train, released on a 1975 Three Degrees album, International, had the series title sung over the first four notes of the melody, "Soul Train, Soul Train".

"TSOP" hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 and remained there for two weeks, the first television theme song to do so.[2][4]

Don Cornelius, the creator and host of Soul Train, refused to allow any references to the name of the television series when the single was released, leading Gamble and Huff to adopt the alternate title for the release.[5]

Although it was rerecorded for future versions of the show and different themes were used during the 1970s and 1980s, "TSOP" returned in the 1980s and remained the theme song for Soul Train.

Covers and samples

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"TSOP" was covered by Dexys Midnight Runners and released as a B-side on the 12" version of the "Jackie Wilson Said" single, and was issued on the remastered version of the album Too-Rye-Ay.

In 1978, the song was covered by reggae band Inner Circle.

George Duke covered the song in 1986 and Sampson covered it in 1999.

In 1998, German act BMR featuring Dutch singer Felicia Uwaje sampled the single in their song Check It Out.

A similar melody is used in the anime series Haré+Guu.

Uses of the song

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The song is played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia prior to every Philadelphia Phillies home game. It was played after Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984) NASL home games at Empire Stadium in the 1970s and 1980s, and after Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010) CSL home games in the 1980s and 1990s.

Game Ka Na Ba?, a Philippines game show hosted by actor/politician Edu Manzano, used an adaptation of "TSOP" called "Papayo Yowza" as its theme. The opening was sampled as program identification for Philadelphia 76ers games broadcast on WPHT in the 1970s and during timeouts and before commercial breaks for NBA on CBS games in the 1975 NBA playoffs until the 1976 NBA Finals.

Chart history

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "The Sound of Philadelphia: Philly Soul". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 52, 55. ISBN 031214704X.
  2. ^ a b Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. pp. 438–. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  3. ^ https://www.grammy.com/awards/17th-annual-grammy-awards
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  5. ^ See the 2009 VH1 documentary Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 183. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ^ "MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5020." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5024a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – MFSB" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 13 July 1974
  14. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  15. ^ "MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)". Swiss Singles Chart.
  16. ^ "MFSB: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  17. ^ "MFSB Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "MFSB Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "MFSB Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 27, 1974". Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON MFSB feat. The Three Degrees"
  22. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  23. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (January 16, 2018). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada.
  24. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  25. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1974". Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – MFSB – TSOP". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
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