Message in the Music

1976 album by The O'Jays

Message in the Music

Studio album by

The O'Jays

Released| 1976
Recorded| 1975–76
Studio| Sigma Sound, 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)

|
|

Singles from  Message in the Music

1. "Message in Our Music"
Released: September 1976
2. "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)"
Released: November 1976

Message in the Music is the tenth album by American R&B group the O'Jays, released in 1976 by Philadelphia International Records. This album peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 20 on the US Billboard 200. Message in the Music has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.[1][2]

## Background

[edit]

Recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, most of the album was composed and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

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.

### Singles

[edit]

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.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]
Christgau's Record Guide| B−[4]
The New York Times| (favourable)[5]

Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic proclaimed, "The O'Jays' vocals are stellar throughout this lively eight-song collection. Political and social lyrics weigh heavy but don't overburden this set...Another good slice of soul from the Canton, OH, natives."[3]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Gamble and Huff, except where noted [1]

Side oneNo.| 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 twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| 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

[edit]

Album

Chart (1976)  | Peak
position

|

Billboard Pop Albums[6] | 20
Billboard Top Soul Albums[6] | 3

Singles

Year  | Single  | Chart positions[7]

|
|

Billboard Hot 100 | US
R&B
1976  | "Message in Our Music"  | 49  | 1
"Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)"  | 72  | 1

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b O'Jays (1976). Message in the Music (album). Philadelphia International Records.
2. ^ "O'Jays - Message in the Music". RIAA. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
3. ^ a b Hamilton, Andrew. The O'Jays: Message in the Music > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
4. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: O". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
5. ^ Rockwell, John (October 22, 1976). "The Pop Life". The New York Times.
6. ^ a b "US Albums Chart > The O'Jays". Allmusic. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
7. ^ "US Singles Chart > The O'Jays". Allmusic. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
8. ^ "American album certifications – O'Jays – Message in the Music". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Message in the Music at Discogs

* v
* t
* e

The O'Jays

* Eddie Levert
* Walter Williams
* Eric Grant

* Bill Isles
* Bobby Massey
* William Powell
* Sammy Strain
* Nathaniel Best

Studio albums|

* Back on Top
* Back Stabbers
* Ship Ahoy
* Survival
* Family Reunion
* Message in the Music
* Travelin' at the Speed of Thought
* So Full of Love
* Identify Yourself
* Serious
* Emotionally Yours
* Heartbreaker

Other albums|

* The Very Best of the O'Jays

Singles|

* "Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)
* "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today)
* "Back Stabbers"
* "Love Train"
* "For the Love of Money"
* "Give the People What They Want"
* "I Love Music (Part I)"
* "Livin' for the Weekend"
* "Message in Our Music"
* "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)"
* "Use ta Be My Girl"
* "Lovin' You"
* "Have You Had Your Love Today"
* "Stairway to Heaven"

Related articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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