{"title":"Ohio Players","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"observations-in-time-the-johnny-brantleyvidalia-productions","title":"Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley\/Vidalia Productions","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe early recordings from the Funk and Soul Powerhouse that would bring “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” to the world. All 24 tracks from 1967–1968 collected together for the first time. Packaging contains new liner notes from Tim Dillinger-Curenton  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormed in 1964 as The Players, and eventually The Ohio Players, the group was “doing Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears-type stuff long before they were. Our crowds at home were so big by 8:30 you couldn’t get anywhere, and this wasn’t blacks, this was whites!” according to founding member Clarence “Satch” Satchell. Meeting up with producer Johnny Brantley in 1966, the band began recording the following year. After a single on Ray Charles’ Tangerine label, they released two singles on the Compass label, and landed a contract with Capitol Records.  Observations In Time appeared in January 1969, containing a number of Ohio Players originals including “Here Today And Gone Tomorrow,” which David Bowie would make part of his Diamond Dogs tour and releasing it on 1974’s David Live. Covers include Allen Toussaint’s “Mother-In-Law,” the band’s take on “Over The Rainbow,” and a version of the immortal “Summertime” from Porgy And Bess. After the release of the Capitol album, the band parted ways with Brantley and re-emerged in 1971 with their LP Pain on Detroit’s Westbound Records. When they hit superstardom with the million-selling “Funky Worm” (1973) on Westbound and million seller “Fire” (1974) and  Gold-single “Love Rollercoaster” (1975) on Mercury Records, Brantley repackaged the remainder of their original pre-Capitol sessions across various releases in 1976–1977.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, for the first time, all 24 tracks from this pivotal and influential period of their long and successful career are available on \u003ci\u003eObservations In Time: The Johnny Brantley\/Vidalia Productions\u003c\/i\u003e. Containing the entire \u003ci\u003eObservations In Time\u003c\/i\u003e LP, their two Compass singles, and the material released afterward, \u003ci\u003eObservations In Time: The Johnny Brantley\/Vidalia Productions\u003c\/i\u003e is the ultimate early look at a group that would transform modern R\u0026amp;B multiple times, eventually becoming part of the inaugural class inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith packaging featuring new liner notes from Tim Dillinger-Curenton outlining the story, \u003ci\u003eObservations In Time: The Johnny Brantley\/Vidalia\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eProductions\u003c\/i\u003e is a perfect release to showcase a band that was always on the cutting edge of musical exploration and excellence.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50402583511371,"sku":"2184321","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Vidalia_Productions_af5bedd3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726551107"},{"product_id":"pleasure-76j5vq","title":"Pleasure","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen the Ohio Players recorded their second Westbound album, \u003ci\u003ePleasure\u003c\/i\u003e, 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 recognised them 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 use them on \"Laid It,\" \"Walked Away from You,\" and \u003ci\u003ePleasure\u003c\/i\u003e'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 1980s and 1990s 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 1960s, were happy to be noticed. But ultimately, it is the quality of the music -- not the bondage-minded cover -- that makes \u003ci\u003ePleasure\u003c\/i\u003e a funk classic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50531019981131,"sku":"2180064","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/product_id._60772f4a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728090191"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/ohio-players.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}