This clip caught my eye (and ear) because of the synchronicity – it’s The O’Jays performing Love Train on the TV show Soul Train.

It’s a perfect example of the Philly Soul formula of smooth vocal harmonies, lush orchestrations and just enough funk to get the feet moving, with a euphoric singalong chorus.

It had the great good fortune to hit the charts on the very day in 1973 that the Paris Peace Accords were signed, bringing an end to the Vietnam War. Its exuberant celebration of global unity chimed perfectly with the moment.

Not that the connection was intentional, or even the reason for its success; Love Train had already come out the previous year, as the last track on The O’Jays’ album Back Stabbers, which relaunched their career just as they were about to pack it in. It was a happy accident.

Originally formed at school in their home state of Ohio way back in 1958, the five-man vocal group were about to call it a day when Gamble & Huff signed them to their Philadelphia International label in 1972.

Slimmed down to a trio of Eddie Levert, William Powell and Walter Williams, they immediately struck gold with Back Stabbers and had a string of hits, but this was their biggest here, reaching No.9 in the chart.

It’s written, like all great Philly Soul songs, by Gamble and Huff, played by the house band MFSB at Sigma Studios in Philadelphia, and produced by Thom Bell. And it came with its own video, shot on the Long Island Railroad.