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Editorial Reviews
Here are 38 ballads, funky classics and more from these Philly-soul legends: the hits Love Train; Back Stabbers; Use Ta Be My Girl; I Love Music; For the Love of Money; Put Your Hands Together; Livin' for the Weekend; Forever Mine; Time to Get Down; Lipstick Traces; Message in Our Music; Give the People What They Want all the biggest and best!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
No doubt about it. When Motown pulled up stakes and moved the bulk of its operations to the West Coast in the early 1970's the center of gravity in the world of soul music shifted dramatically. But it did not, as the executives at Motown had hoped, follow them to Los Angeles. Rather, the new capitol of soul music was located about 450 miles to the south and east of Detroit in the City of Brotherly Love. For it was just about that same time that producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in conjuction with CBS founded Philadelphia International Records. It would go on to become the dominent soul label for the next decade featuring artists like Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Billy Paul, The Three Degrees and so many others. But clearly the most important and successful group to record for Philadelphia International was the O'Jays.
Though there have been other "Greatest Hits" packages offered in the past "The Essential O'Jays", released in early 2005 is head and shoulders above the rest. For one thing the sound quality is vastly superior to anything else I have heard. This collection offers 16 of the O'Jays biggest and best recordings from that era. Everyone remembers the big ones like "Backstabbers", "Love Train" and "Use To Be My Girl" which were mega hits for the group during this period. "Essential O'Jays" also includes the full 7 minute version of "I Love Music" which was divided into Parts I and II on the original 45. What a great record! And while the O'Jays were producing hit after hit on the pop charts during the 1970's they were even more dominant on Billboard's Soul chart where they would amass an impressive total of 8 #1 hits. All of those chart toppers are included in "Essential O'Jays". Among them are some great songs you just might have missed including tunes like "Give The People What They Want", "Livin' For the Weekend" and the fantastic "Message In Our Music". In addition, be sure to check out "992 Arguments" which was the follow-up to "Backstabbers" in 1972. Inexplicably, this one never received a lot of airplay. I have always felt that it was one of their best songs. I also enjoyed hearing a song called "The Big Gangster" for the very first time. Dynamite tune!
There is precious little not to like about "Essential O'Jays".
As I mentioned earlier the sound quality is terrific and there are some pretty decent liner notes included as well. And may I add the price is nice. My only regret is that Sony did not think to include the groups 1965 hit "Lipstick Traces". Although this tune was recorded for another label it would have given the listener an opportunity to sample what the group sounded like in its earlier incarnation. All in all, this one is a winner. Very Highly Recommended!
Though there have been other "Greatest Hits" packages offered in the past "The Essential O'Jays", released in early 2005 is head and shoulders above the rest. For one thing the sound quality is vastly superior to anything else I have heard. This collection offers 16 of the O'Jays biggest and best recordings from that era. Everyone remembers the big ones like "Backstabbers", "Love Train" and "Use To Be My Girl" which were mega hits for the group during this period. "Essential O'Jays" also includes the full 7 minute version of "I Love Music" which was divided into Parts I and II on the original 45. What a great record! And while the O'Jays were producing hit after hit on the pop charts during the 1970's they were even more dominant on Billboard's Soul chart where they would amass an impressive total of 8 #1 hits. All of those chart toppers are included in "Essential O'Jays". Among them are some great songs you just might have missed including tunes like "Give The People What They Want", "Livin' For the Weekend" and the fantastic "Message In Our Music". In addition, be sure to check out "992 Arguments" which was the follow-up to "Backstabbers" in 1972. Inexplicably, this one never received a lot of airplay. I have always felt that it was one of their best songs. I also enjoyed hearing a song called "The Big Gangster" for the very first time. Dynamite tune!
There is precious little not to like about "Essential O'Jays".
As I mentioned earlier the sound quality is terrific and there are some pretty decent liner notes included as well. And may I add the price is nice. My only regret is that Sony did not think to include the groups 1965 hit "Lipstick Traces". Although this tune was recorded for another label it would have given the listener an opportunity to sample what the group sounded like in its earlier incarnation. All in all, this one is a winner. Very Highly Recommended!
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
By substituting "Message In Our Music", "Darlin' Darlin' Baby", and "Use Ta Be My Girl" for other tracks included on "Ultimate O'Jays" and "Love Train," this ranks as the only O'Jays CD to include all their 1970's R&B #1's. That includes "Anthology", which baffled by leaving off "Back Stabbers."
I'd give this five stars, but there's room left for a couple more songs, and I have reason to hope that another record company is planning an even heftier disc that would reach into the group's '80's output and even reach back into their little-heard '60's material.
Until that dream disc comes out, get this one. Someone finally got it right!
I'd give this five stars, but there's room left for a couple more songs, and I have reason to hope that another record company is planning an even heftier disc that would reach into the group's '80's output and even reach back into their little-heard '60's material.
Until that dream disc comes out, get this one. Someone finally got it right!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By musicfanatic
Format:Audio CD
This is the best compilation of the O'Jays that there is, single, double, or how ever many discs, this has all the good songs, hits the high points and doesn't have any "filler" songs, all of the songs are very good and the sound is great, too. THIS is the O'Jays compilation to have!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
"THE BEST, THE O'JAYS"
The O'Jays are certainly the "Best of the Best." Their music is unique, and their style cannot be duplicated, "Now That We Found Love" is a classic. Read more
Published 4 months ago by THE NEW GOSPEL SAINTS
5.0 out of 5 stars
The O'Jays CD
I heard a friend listened to a song from this group called BRANDY. Liked it enough to get the CD version. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
The O'Jays Are The Best!!!
I have loved the o'Jays since the 70's until now....I love being able to listen to them while driving. The songs really bring back some great memories. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Shirley Higgenbottom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely essential
If you love the ojays, then this is the album to own. There are other compilation albums out there but this one is the best. Purchase the cd then xfer to mp3. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jax Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it, love, love it.
This album has some great hits. You'll enjoy every minute of listening to it, dancing to it, romancing to it. It's just fantastic.
Published 5 months ago by Nazira Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars
COOL CD
After seeing them in concert , I had to have some of them for my personal use. one word AWESOME!!!!! great cd to ride to and enjoy.
Published 8 months ago by tanya5111
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL!
Ordered this for the few songs i loved. Since it is a greatest hits, double CD, there were so many wonderful songs on it. I forgot the O'Jays sang ALL of these great hits. Read more
Published 11 months ago by HUNPCTME
5.0 out of 5 stars
music
I am a O'Jays fan I though I had al their hios but this cd has all the good songs put togather on one cd I had to get it I recomend buy it.
Published 15 months ago by Rodney W. Hogan
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of My Best Purchases
This cd is slammin'. It has all the O'Jays' hits, some rare and some more familiar. I have two other cd's by this group and collectively they don't have all the music on this cd. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Patricia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remember The Times
Having had an up close and personal relationship with them when William and Bobby and one other plus the band were with them and Diane Crump was with us on Wilton Place in L A in... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Gran Gran
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
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