Customer Reviews

Essential O'Jays

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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!

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!

This is a nice collection of songs by the O'Jays, containing some I've never heard. I thought the sound quality was not that great on some of the older songs. Although, I would recommend this cd collection set if you are a fan.

Having recently been expanded from a one disc to a two disc collection, this is now the most comprehensive O'Jays collection spanning 1963 through 1995. In addition to their hits there are also a few album cuts here as well. There's also a 2008 single version of "Ship Ahoy" ,the title cut from their '73 album. And there's "Wind Beneath My Wings" sung by Eddie Levert with his son Gerald.

Whether you're a long time fan or a new one, this will be a memorable listening experience. Get on board the Love Train and enjoy the ride.

Total Time Disc 1-74:43;Disc 2-78:37

always been a Huge O'jays fan and there music is timeless. the Gamble and Huff Philidelphia era led Music was incredible and Philly has been lacking Soul for many years. the O'Jays brought so much Soul and depth. I Love music, Back Stabbers, use to be my girl,Living for the Weekend, etc... are all here and them some. Great Production strong Songwriting and more Importantly the Soulful Harmony of the O'Jays that made these songs special and truly made folks put there hands together and feel the SOul.

During the 1970s The O'Jays were the most important male R&B vocal group and their recordings from 1972-79 remain both timeless and among the very best that Philadelphia International Records ever released. "Back Stabbers", "Sunshine", "992 Arguments", "Love Train", "Use Ta Be My Girl", "I Love Music" and the obscure single "The Big Gangster" were all '70s R&B anthems and this CD has them all...at a budget price. Not an essential or truly definitive collection of The O'Jays' classic tracks but a good starting point for the uninitiated or those looking for just the hit singles.

There really isn't much to say about the O'Jays except that they helped shape R&B soul music over the years to the point where it is a viable and thriving format. The classic tracks from their career are all present on The Essential O'Jays, a 16-song collection that gives you a good snapshot of all their hits. Hits like "Back Stabbers," "Love Train," "Use Ta Be My Girl," "I Love Music," "For The Love Of Money," "Sunshine," "Darlin' Darlin' Baby," "Message In Our Music," "Give The People What They Want," and the ultra smooth "Stairway To Heaven" are all gathered on this disc. There are a few collections out there for the mega superstar singing group, but The Essential O'Jays seems to be the best out of the bunch.

Unfortunately, no single multi- label-career- spanning anthology of the legendary O'JAYS exists, covering the best of their LIBERTY, MINIT,IMPERIAL,BELL,SARU,EMI & PHILLY INTERNATIONAL HITS ..... BUT, fortunately you can come CLOSE ...by collecting their career IN PIECES. If you check elsewhere on this site ,two foreign CD releases...."WORKING ON YOUR CASE" and "THE ULTIMATE O'JAYS COLLECTION" capture the best of their 1963 thru 1966 years on the LIBERTY /MINIT & IMPERIAL labels..including their first national and regional hits...(all of which featured all 5 original members, including BILL ISLES... such as "LONELY DRIFTER", "STAND IN FOR LOVE "," LIPSTICK TRACES" "WORKING ON YOUR CASE" AND "LET IT ALL OUT" (although the excellent early hit "IT WONT HURT" is conspicuously missing except a "live" version ,(but is available on 45 on certain oldies websites ... WHILE "THE O'JAYS : I'LL BE SWEETER TOMORROW" CD captures the best of their BELL RECORDS sides from the years 1967- 1969...featuring hits like "THE CHOICE" "I MISS YOU" ,"I'LL BE SWEETER TOMORROW" AND "LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER" (the latter two of which were both later covered by THE ESCORTS), and "the O'JAYS IN PHILADELPHIA"... the stunning GAMBLE - HUFF pre " BACK STABBERS" ALBUM WITH THE HITS "ONE NIGHT AFFAIR", " DEEPER IN LOVE WITH YOU, LOOKY LOOKY (LOOK AT ME GIRL ) AND " BRANDED BAD" has the best of their early GAMBLE HUFF WORK (this album ,originally released in 1969 on GAMBLE & HUFF'S defunct NEPTUNE label while original O'JAYS member BOBBY MASSEY was still in the group , had his face on the lp album cover but not on the later PHILLY INTERNATIONAL album & CD re-release. I recommend all 4 of these CDS... they are ESSENTIAL to get the best possible overview of this legendary group's early career.Next come the PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL HIT YEARS... these albums were all SO GOOD,that a general "GREATEST HITS" CD will not include ALL the great songs... ALL of these albums are available on CD...and ALL of them went either GOLD OR PLATINIUM...and many of the NON SINGLE ALBUM CUTS became hits on the radio as well...so you'd be cheating yourself by not collecting them ALL. 1)the BACK STABBERS cd.. 2) SHIP AHOY...3) THE O'JAYS LIVE IN LONDON...4)FAMILY REUNION 5)SURVIVAL...6)SO FULL OF LOVE (available alone or in a "two-fer" with the "IDENTIFY YOURSELF" CD and 7)MESSAGE IN OUR MUSIC.From this point ,to keep from going broke , go to several import "2-fer collections of their later PHILLY INTERNATIONAL WORK , SUCH AS the YEAR 2000 /MY FAVORITE PERSON COLLECTION , and the LOVE FEVER/LET ME TOUCH YOU CD if you want the original albums , or the " BEST OF THE O'JAYS -1978-1991" OR THE RIGHT STUFF/ PHILLY INTL " THE O'JAYS ANTHOLOGY" DOUBLE CD if you dont.Until someone releases a comprehensive , ALL- INCLUSIVE O'JAYS box set ( The record companies really dropped the ball on this one ,they should have released one years ago when the group was inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ) this is the BEST way to cover the long , storied early career of the O'JAYS.

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 1964, they were great starting out and they are still great. We knew back then and we've been following them every since, especially Chris when we were at Johnny's on Crenshaw, Those were some good ol' days.
LaVetta