Customer Reviews

Pain

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

 

 

I can't complain. I jus' can't complain. Well, maybe I can. But it would only be because I selfishly want more songs like 'Never Had a Dream', one'a their BEST cuts EVER. You may wanna be warned up-front 'fore you buy this album dependin' on what kinda fan you are an' what you're lookin' for, that this AIN'T 'Love Rollercoaster' or 'Sweet Sticky Thang'. An' if thas' what you're lookin' for this may not even sound like the same band to you.

This is early an' rough in their career, an' considerin' they started churnin' out masterpiece after masterpiece a few years later, you wouldn't expect this to be as good as it is. But, damned if it isn't great. Their sound certainly got more smoothed out an' accessible by the time the 'Honey' album came around, but the rough n' grimey funk-bar-band sound here appeals to me. The horns on the title cut are big-time infectious, an' that firm, smoky, blunted sound on 'Playas Ballin (Doin they Own Thang)' is irresistable. But the passionate an' fervent vocals on 'Never Had a Dream' an' the self-loathing of 'The Reds' are where I think they truly shined. That bluesy guitarwork coupled with the firebrand lyrics ("Feels like 'ya wanna die") on the latter is so staggering that if they had stretched that joint out into an epic I would'a loved every minute of it. This one's sorely-overlooked.

Of the Ohio Players recordings on the Westbound label, Pain represents a new direction in soul music of the early 70's - a coming out party for the original Ohio Players led by Junie Morrison. That the title cut, "Pain", was ad libbed is a clear indication of genius at work. The first few notes of the bass on the title cut, Pain, got everybody up on the floor over 25 years ago and for the "old school" crowd, still does today. Although much of the phrasing, both lyrically and musically is repetitious throughout the different cuts, Pain, a fusion of jazz, funk, and R&B is a must have for the true funk collector.

I really like this album. I can remember seeing them doing the title cut on Soul Train and was blown away. The title cut has slick groove with Junie doing the lead doin his "roll call". Never had a love is another cut in which one of the vocalist sounds alot like the late David Ruffin of the Temptations. Players Ballin is a funky joint as well. My favorite is Singin in the morning. It's blusey but funky. "Granny" opens up with her introduction of the group then demanding her money for doing so. Walter "Junie" Morrison was ahead of his time. He later joined the P-Funk crew (Rumors have it that he actually wrote Knee Deep but never got the credit). However I recommend this album and if u can, get "Pleasure" as well. Pleasure is a step higher than this one, and I gave this one five stars...

classic op's in the house junie was ahead of his time lead singer and can play any instrument anyway the cuts on here are bad if you like funk with jazz, blues, and rock mixed up pick this one up player's ballin, the reds, and pain has everty element of funk out there.

like two totally different Groups.this Set of the Ohio Players were Far More Rawer&thicker.the later Version the Mercury Years was SMooth but Funky.Jams like "Players Ball","Pain" Still Endure&hold up still.the Talent of this Bad is Truly Tough.Junie Morrison is One of the Baddest One Man Bands Ever He gets very Little Juice.but for followers of the Ohio Players everybody knows within What Time It Is?

...these brothers came to R and Bee by way of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Wes and Sly. Original front man, keyboardist Junie Morrison took the Players to worldwide reknown with that oversized funk jazz fest "Pain". "Players Balling" sounds as if it could have been some clairvoyance involved somehow...sounds just like what you'd expect from present day playas and ballahs. "Singing in the Morning" is like the precursor to "Funky Worm" with an appearance of the Players' hip Nana. There's some unneat, raw, raw jamming on this mug. And a lotta times for me, the rawer, the better.