Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ship Ahoy, January 14, 2002
The title track of this stunning 1973 album is revolutionary simply because it exists, I mean think, how many other popular recording groups at the height of thier fame, the top of thier game and pretty much holding the public in the palms of thier hands have ever released a song about the passage of slaves from Africa to the America's? None, which is why the song and the album it's taken from are still so powerful 29 years later. As usual, Gamble & Huff's production is top notch and still sounds as fresh and vibrant now as it did the day these tracks were recorded. Listening to "Ship Ahoy", "Don't Call Me Brother", "For The Love Of Money" and the other great songs here makes one long for the days when soul music was topical AND entertaining without slipping into parody and preachiness.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Groundbreaking R & B, October 7, 2000
Back in the day, you were sure to find someone in the college dorm who had this on the record player, with good reason. I can't think of anyone save gospel singers who ever got close to singing of the issue of slavery, but the O'Jays sure met the challenge here. They made their most serious commentary with the title cut, and with "Don't Call Me Brother", lamenting the incidence of dishonesty and betrayal among Black folks. There is a very early warning in "The Air I Breathe", and "For the Love of Money".It would not have been a successful album, however, if all it contained was preaching and social commentary. The O'Jays also have one of the great love songs of the era with "You got your Hooks in Me", which was the theme song for every lucky guy who just could not get some woman out of his heart. Their style was always one of no classic lead singer, but vocals which were interwoven with each of the guys taking the lead several times in a song. The instrumentals, like everything from Gamble & Huff, were nothing but tight. "Put Yor Hands Together" for this great set.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Epic, landmark, and legendary, October 25, 2004
Had this a long time ago on vinyl and just recently replaced it on CD -- WOW! I forgot how landmark this CD is. What a classic.
The O'Jays -- along with producers Gamble & Huff and a collection of fabulous songwriters -- had (and have) GUTS to tackle the tough issues through song and verse.
A wonderful song, "This Air I Breath" has got to be the funkiest song about pollution. You can dance, listen, and think about important issues at the same time!
The title track is a legendary ballad -- along with chilling whip sounds -- about slavery. Few people were singing about this back in the day, and today's rap is lost in horrible songwriting, no singing, bad verse, obsenities, and bad musicianship.
Not this stuff, The O'Jays are for real!
"Put Your Hands Together" isn't about clapping, it's about praying for the world to get better. "For the Love of Money" isn't about being proud of having lots of money, it's about the abuse of money.
"Don't Call Me Brother" is about how people lie and deceive others ... a continuance of "Backstabbers."
This seems like an underrated album to me as the legendary "Backstabbers" receives its just due as one of the greatest musical pieces of all time, but this one is right there with it.
This is a classic and a must-buy for all music lovers.
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