Customer Reviews

Family Reunion

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All I really have to say about this album is, DAMN!! I can't seem to understand why todays artist don't make albums like this anymore. Eddie Levert's voice blows you away and Walter William and William Powell's voices are so mesmerizing. This was the last album with the vocals of Powell's before his life was succumbed by cancer, RIP. This is why ol school music is far superior to the music of today's lame watered down artist of my generation. You can listen to this whole album straight through, and thats not because there are ony seven songs but because the songs are so fantastic. My favorite has to be "I Love Music" because of the sheer energy from the boys of MFSB (God bless them all) and the trio's powerful soaring vocals. Sometimes when I want to just relax I put this album on and it takes me back to 1975 which also was a year that Gamble&Huff released great albums by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Billy Paul, Three Degrees, and Peoples Choice. This was during a time that Philadelphia International were so hot they were releasing two albums a year (the O'Jays Survival in early 1975). Although the whole album is flawless they seemed to have saved the second half for last, with the last three songs originally on side two. You cannot call yourself a true ol'school player without it, so go cop this one quick.

I purchased several copies of this CD to give away as prizes at my Family Reunion. It was a big "hit"! Of course, I kept a copy for myself. I love the song "Family Reunion". I listen to it over and over. Play this song at your family reunion to set the mood.

My dad used to play this album on 8-track back in '75 ALL the time.When he wasn't playing this tape he was playing "Ship Ahoy","Survival" or "Backstabbers".In short,he was a fan of the Gamble & Huff + O'Jays sound.He also played Harold Melvin & Teddy (before he went solo in '77,that's where my mom stepped in).This album gets the slight nod because six of the seven songs (the title cut and beyond) sound really good.Sure,after three albums "Family Reunion" says nothing new.It just sounds good.Take that back,it sounds damn good!

P.S. "Stairway To Heaven" is among G&H/The O'Jays' best. (No,It's not the Led Zep song)
"Family Reunion":The ultimate cookout jam.
"Livin' For The Weekend" & "I Love Music":G&H featuring sizzling work by M.F.S.B....and oh yeah,The O'Jays.
"She's Only A Woman":Don't let that lame title fool you.A cut is waiting for you.

Along with "Ship Ahoy","Survival" or "Backstabbers", this album should be a very necessary addition to any R&B collection.Don't settle for greatest hits compilations when you don't have to.

"Family Reunion...Plus" is part of a mid-price series of Philadelphia International reissues by Demon's EDSEL label in the UK (see PS below). Most of the albums seem to be focusing on the year 1975.

Released April 2010, Edsel EDSM0001 (an import) breaks down as follows (52:57 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 7 are the LP "Family Reunion" released November 1975 on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33807 in the USA and on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 69196 in the UK. It was their 6th studio LP for the famous soul label - and along with "Ship Ahoy" from 1973 and "Survival" from March 1975 - also reached the coveted Number 1 spot on the US R'n'B charts. In fact November and December 1975 were exceptional months for Philly Soul - "Family Reunion" was immediately replaced at Number 1 only weeks later by another of the label's gem LPs - "Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes (also in this series).

Track 8 is "I Love Music (Tom Moulton Mix)", a 9:42 extended version remixed for the "Philadelphia Classics" 2LP set on Philly from 1977.

The 12-page booklet provides you with production credits, mini pictures of the 7" singles taken off of it as well as superb liner notes by noted soul expert TONY ROUNCE. The CD has been mastered by TALL ORDER of the UK and the sound quality is fantastic - clear and hiss free - it really allows the lush GAMBLE & HUFF production values to shine.

Label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff stumped up most of the album's songs (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7) and along with Norman Harris and Tony Bell's arrangements gave the whole record their lush TSOP production values. The other ace writing team of John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen gave us "She's Only A Woman" while Bunny Sigler and Louise Bishop wrote "You And Me".

Both "I Love Music" and the brilliantly infectious "Livin' For The Weekend" (lyrics above) went to Number 1 on the R'n'B singles chart too. I also like the two big ballads "Stairway To Heaven" and "She's Only A Woman".

To sum up - this is another superb Philly album - and pitched at a marketplace price that's cheap and cheerful - it's an absolute steal.

Recommended.

PS: other titles in the series are/will be...
1. Dance Your Troubles Away - ARCHIE BELL and THE DRELLS (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0006]
2. Wake Up Everybody...Plus - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0002] - see REVIEW
3. Philadelphia Freedom - M.F.S.B. (1975) [due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0005]
4. When Love Is New - BILLY PAUL (1975) [April 2010, Edsel EDSM0003] - see REVIEW
5. The Three Degrees Live [aka Live In London] (1975) - THE THREE DEGREES (due Summer 2010, Edsel EDSM0004)

Thanks to such anthems as the title track, "She's Only A Woman" and the perenially-popular title track this album became one of 1975's most important R&B albums. It was also the last O'Jays album to feature the original MFSB lineup and is a true masterpiece of '70s R&B. Classic Philly Soul at its best.

Family Reunion...we should all be able to relate to this song, I know I do. This is a great R&B cd. The producers: Gamble & Huff have so, so many great projects, but this is one of their best.

Man, my mom played this album so much that the vinyl started coming off. But that's what to expect when you love an album that much, and "Family Reunion" is a record to love. After this album came out, every family tried to start family reunions up. The unfortunate thing is that this album is The O'Jays last of the super-classic albums(not the last of the classic songs though). They moved toward a little disco with "I Love Music", but the social conscious of Gamble and Huff are still here. An album like this is an album worth lovin'

A reminder of the 70's. You had to be there, I think, to appreciate this album. To anyone that was, I recommend this album.

in todays'greif social atomoshpere, anyone who values family life should hear these healing words. there's none more true nor healing than these two "family reunion". i cann't begin to explan it, that feeling you get from knowing that your family is there for you when you need them most. words that can... bridge a gap, move a mountain or just comfort you. trust me on this one. the whole album/cd is worth listening to. enjoy. peace!!

THE O JAYS HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE MALE GROUP FOR A LONG TIME.THE FIRST SONG I REMEMBER BY THEM IS LONELY DRIFTER.I DO NOT REMEMBER THE YEAR IT CAME OUT, BUT I KNEW THEN THE OJAYS WOULD BE AROUND FOR ALONG TIME. THE OJAYS HAVE NOT SANG A SONG YET THAT I DO NOT LIKE.