No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: OHIO PLAYERS
Title: HONEY
Street Release Date: 04/16/1991
Domestic
Genre: SOUL/R & B

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original Mercury release. Catalog 848-346-2.

1993 release on the Ace label, a retrospective featuring 14of the legendary soul group's best for the Westbound label,1972-1974. Includes the top 20 hit 'Funky Worm' & top 40'Ecstasy', plus the previously unreleased 'Ain't That Lovin'You (For More Reasons Than One)'. 15 tracks total.

When the Ohio Players recorded their second Westbound album, Pleasure, in 1972, they weren't as big as they would be from 1974-1976. But their popularity was growing -- slowly but surely -- and those who were hip to the band recognized it as one of the most cutting-edge acts in the funk field. A lot of bands were providing funk in 1972, but not many of them used jazz progressions as creatively as the Players used them on "Laid It," "Walked Away from You," and Pleasure's title song. Those tracks are gems, and the Players are equally captivating on the sweet soul ballad "Varee Is Love." But the best known tune on the album is the goofy "Funky Worm," which employed the Players' amusing Granny character and was, in 1972, their biggest hit to date. Long after the band's popularity faded, "Funky Worm" would live on in the '80s and '90s thanks to the various hip-hoppers who sampled its irresistible bassline. Like Pain in 1971, Pleasure had a kinky cover that generated some controversy -- the same bald woman who brandished a bullwhip and wore dominatrix attire on the front cover of Pain was chained up on the cover of Pleasure. Some folks found the Players' kinky LP covers intriguing, while others were shocked and offended. And the Players, having struggled in the '60s, were happy to be noticed. But ultimately, it is the quality of the music -- not the bondage-minded cover -- that makes Pleasure a funk classic. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

This 2007 reissue includes seven bonus tracks, in-depth sleeve notes, and a full-color 12-page booklet.

Angel features the three hits Body Vibes , O-H-I-O and Merry Go Round ; O-H-I-O charting at number 9. The aggressive sweaty funk Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee album features energetic offerings such as Dance (If Ya Wanta) , Sleepwalking and the single Funk-O-Nots . This release features 2 original albums on 1 CD with new sleeve notes by Jerry Ewing.

Creatively, commercially, and conceptually, Pain was a major step forward for the Ohio Players. This 1971 album was quite a departure from their previous work -- in the late-'60s, the Midwesterners' forte had been raw, hard-edged Southern-style soul along the lines of Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, and Wilson Pickett. But with Pain, they became a lot more experimental and unveiled an interesting, distinctive brand of funk that incorporated elements of jazz and blues as well as rock. The jazz influence is especially strong on "Never Had a Dream," "Singing in the Morning," and the hit title song, while "The Reds" is a progressive blues number that draws on jazz as well as psychedelic rock. It was with Pain, the Players' first album for Westbound, that they unveiled their goofy Granny character, which the funksters continued to have fun with on their subsequent Westbound releases but discontinued when they moved to Mercury with 1974's Skin Tight. And it was with Pain that they became famous (some would say infamous) for their erotic LP covers. Employing S&M/bondage imagery, Pain's front cover was considered shocking in 1971. Although the Velvet Underground had written songs about S&M, and the British spy thriller The Avengers frequently hinted at kinky sex -- Diana Rigg's Emma Peel character often dressed like a dominatrix -- S&M and fetishism were very taboo subjects for Middle America in 1971. And not surprisingly, some retailers refused to carry Pain. But the album, although not huge, was a decent seller. With Pain, the Ohio Players' Westbound period was off to an impressive and creative start. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

This 2007 reissue includes seven additional tracks, in-depth sleeve notes, and a full-color 12-page booklet.