So Full of Love

So Full of Love is the twelfth album by the O'Jays, released in 1978 by Philadelphia International.^[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]

So Full of Love
Studio album by the O'Jays
Released	1978
Recorded	1977–1978
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
Genre	R&B
Length	38:32
Label	Philadelphia International
Producer	Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler
The O'Jays chronology
Travelin' at the Speed of Thought (1977) So Full of Love (1978) Identify Yourself (1979)

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

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

Side two

1. "Brandy" (Joseph B. Jefferson, Charles B. Simmons) - 4:14
2. "Take Me to the Stars" (Larry Hancock, Al Boyd) - 4:13
3. "Help (Somebody Please)" (Eddie Levert, Robert Dukes) - 4:58
4. "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]
		US	US R&B
1978	"Brandy (I Really Miss You)"	79	21
	"Use ta Be My Girl"	4	1

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1978 (U.S.)

External links

• The O'Jays-So Full Of Love at Discogs

References

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.
5. "So Full of Love Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
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.
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. allmusic ((( So Full of Love > Overview ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on August 23, 2008.
10. "The O'Jays Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
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.
14. "The O'Jays US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 26, 2011.