The O'Jays - Classic or Dud?

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I figured I would just a start a thread based on whatever random band I was listening to. And as I'm grooving to "Back Stabbers" right now, I was wondering what you think of these guys. Best Philly soul group ever? What would a love train look like exactly?

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Sunday, 27 April 2003 06:27 (twenty years ago) link

I think they're good, but Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes are better. A love train would look like a technicolour Stephenson's Dream Rocket.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 27 April 2003 10:17 (twenty years ago) link

Their earlier stuff is good too - 'Working on your case' etc.

― James Ball (James Ball), Sunday, 27 April 2003 14:47 (twenty years ago) link

that album, Backstabbers, is awesome! the other album it reminds me of a lot is The Spinners, because instead of being a unified whole like Ship Ahoy or Mighty Love, the diverse range of arrangements and strength of songs make both seem like greatest hits comps.

the first time I drove thru Philly (in 1987) I listened to a a tape of Backstabbers: "they call me Mr. Lucky, yeah..."

"Darlin' Darlin' Baby" is a later fave

― Paul (scifisoul), Sunday, 27 April 2003 15:44 (twenty years ago) link

Classic.

― hstencil, Sunday, 27 April 2003 16:31 (twenty years ago) link

very classic, some of the most bite-able intros in music.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 27 April 2003 16:40 (twenty years ago) link

Classic, and with years of good stuff before Philly got big. Backstabbers and Love Train and several others are wonderful.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 27 April 2003 17:22 (twenty years ago) link

righteous lyric [sung with plaintive voice] from the ship ahoy cut: "men, women & baby slaves..."

― mig, Sunday, 27 April 2003 21:17 (twenty years ago) link

three months pass...

Listening to a comp of the CBS/Philly years right now and my god does "When The World's at Peace" ever goddamn take it to the stage. Now that's a song and a half.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 02:08 (twenty years ago) link

Stone cold classic.

Walter Williams is one of the most underrated ballad singers in the history of soul. Go listen to just another guy, stairway to heaven, forever mine and loving you and tell me im wrong.

they also get props for doing a Dylan cover without sucking to high heaven too, which is an accomplishment.( the church version of emotionally yours)

― robert lashley (brotherman), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 02:25 (twenty years ago) link

Classic, of course.

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:48 (twenty years ago) link

eleven months pass...

"Rich Get Richer", 'nuff said. You can't find another soul cut based on something like Ferdinand Lundberg's The Rich and the Super Rich ("There's only sixteen families/That control the whole world/I read it in a book, y'all"), much less one with a groove as downright ominous as this one.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 5 August 2004 02:53 (nineteen years ago) link

two years pass...

"Who Am I" is a dream.

― m bison, Saturday, 30 June 2007 16:04 (sixteen years ago) link

one year passes...

― youcangoyourownway, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 12:01 (fifteen years ago) link

three years pass...

Loving "The O'Jays in Philadelphia" right now. Lotsa acoustic piano and such a solid rhythm section. Some nice production touches. People who are really deep into Philly soul: how does this one rate?

― softspool, Sunday, 2 September 2012 05:31 (eleven years ago) link

Bass is wild on some of these tracks. Branded Us Bad, for instance...mmmmmm.

― softspool, Sunday, 2 September 2012 05:33 (eleven years ago) link

nine years pass...

Saw the O'Jays headline on a bill Saturday night with Gladys Knight and El Debarge. At beginning of the O'Jays set, old-school O'Jay Williams said sorry folks Eddie Levert is home recovering from Covid, can you pray and cheer for him. They played their set with an unnamed singer joining the 2 others upfront and still sounded awesome. A set full of hits , a big band , great choreography.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 August 2022 18:58 (one year ago) link

Never did find out who the 3rd vocalist was, but as I noted they still sounded great. Thought of this here forum when they did "I Love Music."

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 August 2022 04:34 (one year ago) link

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