So Full of Love

So Full of Love
So Full of Love
Studio album by the O'Jays
Released	1978
Recorded	1977–1978
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	R&B
Length	38:32
Label	Philadelphia International
Producer	Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler
The O'Jays chronology

So Full of Love is a 1978 album by the O'Jays.^[2] The album contains the No. 1 R&B hit "Use ta Be My Girl", and was awarded RIAA platinum certification for sales of 1,000,000 copies.^[3]

The single "Brandy" has long been speculated by many fans to be about a woman. However, in 2013, production team Gamble and Huff revealed the song was written about a dog.^[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+^[6]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul	^[7]

The Bay State Banner praised "the O'Jays' best harmonizing since 'I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow' and their most casual smoochie lyrics in nearly that many years."^[8]

Track listing

Tracks 1-3 written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff; all others as noted.^[9]

Side one

"Sing My Heart Out" - 4:25
"Use ta Be My Girl" - 4:02
"Cry Together" - 5:36
"This Time Baby" (Casey James, LeRoy Bell) - 4:43

Side two

"Brandy" (Joseph B. Jefferson, Charles B. Simmons) - 4:14
"Take Me to the Stars" (Larry Hancock, Al Boyd) - 4:13
"Help (Somebody Please)" (Eddie Levert, Robert Dukes) - 4:58
"Strokety Stroke" (Bunny Sigler) - 4:24

Personnel

Kenneth Gamble - producer, songwriter
Dennis Harris - guitar
Bobby Eli - guitar
Roland Chambers - guitar
Bunny Sigler - guitar, keyboards, piano, producer
Norman Harris - arranger, guitar
Ron Baker - bass guitar
Eddie Levert - vocals, songwriter
Sammy Strain - vocals
Walter Williams - vocals
Lenny Pakula - keyboards
Leon Huff - keyboards, producer, piano, songwriter
Earl Young - drums
Don Renaldo - conductor, horn, strings
Thom Bell - arranger, strings, producer, songwriter
Larry Washington - bongos, percussion
Vincent Montana Jr. - percussion, vibraphone
Tony Sellari - art direction
Bobby Martin - arranger

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[10]	6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[11]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
US Billboard 200^[12]	51
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[13]	5

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions^[14]
Year	Single	US	US R&B
1978	"Brandy (I Really Miss You)"	79	21
1978	"Use ta Be My Girl"	4	1

External links

The O'Jays-So Full Of Love at Discogs

References

^ "Sigma Sound Studios: Albums 1968-1978". Billboard. September 16, 1978. p. SS-11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
^ Partipilo, Vic (23 July 1978). "On Location". Oakland Post. No. 125. p. 8.
^ "O'JAYS earned RIAA 1x Platinum Award for SO FULL OF LOVE". riaa.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
^ McMillan, Stephen. "Q&A: The Legendary Gamble & Huff". soultrain.com. Soul Train Holdings. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
^ "So Full of Love Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
^ 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.
^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 247.
^ Freedberg, Mike (11 May 1978). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 31. p. 15.
^ allmusic ((( So Full of Love > Overview ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on August 23, 2008.
^ "The O'Jays Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^ "The O'Jays Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^ "The O'Jays US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 26, 2011.

[1] "Sigma Sound Studios: Albums 1968-1978". Billboard. September 16, 1978. p. SS-11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.

[2] Partipilo, Vic (23 July 1978). "On Location". Oakland Post. No. 125. p. 8.

[3] "O'JAYS earned RIAA 1x Platinum Award for SO FULL OF LOVE". riaa.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.

[4] McMillan, Stephen. "Q&A: The Legendary Gamble & Huff". soultrain.com. Soul Train Holdings. Retrieved October 4, 2015.

[AM-5] "So Full of Love Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 March 2024.

[CG-6] 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.

[CL-7] Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 247.

[8] Freedberg, Mike (11 May 1978). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 31. p. 15.

[9] usic ((( So Full of Love > Overview ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on August 23, 2008.

[ac_Billboard200_The_O'Jays-10] "The O'Jays Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_The_O'Jays-11] "The O'Jays Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

[12] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

[13] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

[allmusic_singles-14] "The O'Jays US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 26, 2011.

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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