The Ohio Players
Wikimp3 information about the music of The Ohio Players. On our website we have 70 albums and 49 collections of artist The Ohio Players. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that The Ohio Players represents Funk genres.
Biography
[Edit]With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-'70s. Emerging from the musical hotbed of Dayton in 1959, the group was originally dubbed the Ohio Untouchables, and initially comprised singer/guitarist Robert Ward, bassist Marshall "Rock" Jones, saxophonist/guitarist Clarence "Satch" Satchell, drummer Cornelius Johnson, and trumpeter/trombonist Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks. In late 1961, a relative of Ward's founded the Detroit-based Lupine Records, and the group traveled north to the Motor City to back the Falcons on their hit "I Found a Love"; the Ohio Untouchables soon made their headlining debut with "Love Is Amazing," but when Ward subsequently exited for a solo career, the group essentially disbanded.
At that point, the nucleus of Middlebrooks, Jones, and newly added guitarist Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner returned to Dayton; there they recruited saxophonist Andrew Noland and drummer Gary Webster, the latter a somewhat elusive figure whose true involvement in the group's convoluted history has never been definitively answered — some sources credit him as a founding Untouchable, others even as the band's early leader. In any case, by 1967, with the subsequent addition of singers Bobby Lee Fears and Dutch Robinson, the newly rechristened Ohio Players were signed as the house band for the New York-based Compass Records, backing singer Helena Ferguson on her lone hit, "Where Is the Party," before issuing their solo debut, "Trespassin'," which hit the R&B charts in early 1968.
Although the Players' trademark bottom-heavy, horn-driven sound was already blossoming, their follow-up, "It's a Cryin' Shame," flopped, and as Compass teetered on the brink of bankruptcy they exited the label. (Their early Compass sides were later packaged as First Impressions.) The Players then landed on Capitol, where 1969's "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" was a minor hit; an LP, Observations in Time, soon followed, with covers of "Summertime" and "Over the Rainbow" offering a strong hint of the stylistic detours to follow. In 1970 the group disbanded, however; Fears and Robinson both mounted solo careers, while the remaining members again decamped to Dayton, eventually re-forming with keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter Walter "Junie" Morrison, trumpeter Bruce Napier, and trombonist Marvin Pierce.
Influenced by the groundbreaking funk of Sly & the Family Stone — and with the nasal, cartoon-voiced Bonner assuming vocal duties — the new Ohio Players lineup made their debut with the single "Pain," issued on the small local label Rubber Town Sounds; it was soon picked up for distribution by the Detroit-based Westbound label, reaching the R&B Top 40 in late 1971. An LP, also titled Pain, appeared that same year, and was followed in 1972 by Pleasure, which launched the absurdist smash "Funky Worm." Ecstacy appeared in 1973, and after 1974's Climax, the Players signed to Mercury; the label change also heralded yet more lineup changes, with keyboardist Billy Beck replacing Morrison (who later signed on with Parliament) and drummer Jimmy "Diamond" Williams taking over for Webster.
At Mercury, the Ohio Players enjoyed their greatest success; not only did their sound coalesce, but they became notorious for their sexually provocative LP covers, a tradition begun during their Westbound tenure. Their 1974 Mercury debut, Skin Tight, was their first unequivocal classic, launching the hit title track as well as "Jive Turkey." Its follow-up, Fire, remains the Players' masterpiece, topping the pop charts on the strength of its bone-rattling title cut, itself a number one hit; "I Want to Be Free," one of the band's few attempts at social commentary, was also highly successful. 1975's Honey — which featured perhaps the Players' most controversial and erotic cover to date — was another monster, generating the chart-topping masterpiece "Love Rollercoaster" in addition to the hits "Sweet Sticky Thing" and "Fopp."
The insistent "Who'd She Coo?" from 1976's Contradiction, was the Players' last number one R&B hit; "O-H-I-O," from 1977's Angel, was their last major hit on any chart, and as the '70s drew to a close, the band's fortunes continued to decline. 1979's Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee was their final Mercury effort, and upon signing to Arista, the Players returned with Everybody Up, followed by a pair of dismal releases on Boardwalk, 1981's Tenderness and 1982's Ouch! After 1984's Graduation, four years passed prior to the release of their next effort, Back. No new material was forthcoming, although various lineups continued performing live well into the following decades. Despite the deaths of core members Satchell (December 1995), Middlebrooks (November 1997), Ward (December 2008), Johnson (February 2009), and Bonner (January 2013), the band continued to sporadically record and extensively tour.
Title: Soul Legends (CD3: The Ohio Players)
Artist: The Ohio Players
Title: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Ohio Players
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Original Artist Hit List: Ohio Players (Live)
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Funk On Fire - The Mercury Anthology
Artist: The Ohio Players
Title: Pleasure
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Groovin' With… Ohio Players / Groovin' With... Ohio Players
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: The Dave Cash Collection: These Guys Can Play
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Angel
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Club/Dance, Disco House, Funk
Title: This Is Your Night - Single
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Fire
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Love Rollercoaster: Anthology 1967-1988
Artist: The Ohio Players
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Collections
Title: Hunk-A-Funk
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Blues, Jazz, World Music, Country, Disco, Pop
Title: Sampled Groove 2020
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: 165 DJ Loaded Playback Vectors (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Latin, Disco, Funk
Title: Funk 'n' Soul Classics: 25 Groovin' Hits
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Disco Best 100 (CD2)
Title: 70's Best 100 (CD4)
Title: Funk Essentials: Apple Music (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Alternative, Funk, Indie
Title: Funk Essentials: Apple Music (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Alternative, Funk, Indie
Title: Christmas Soul 2020
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Traditional Pop Music
Title: 210 DJ Loaded - Touch Stories (CD2)
Genre: Electro, Hip Hop/R&B, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Latin, Disco, Funk, Progressive, Trap
Title: Best Of Disco Music- Classics (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Funk It! 25 Funky Groove Rarities, Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Cruella (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Funk It! 25 Funky Groove Rarities, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: '70s Dance Party Essentials (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: 100 Greatest '70s R&B Songs (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: ’70s Hits Essentials (CD2)
Title: Top 84 Funk Hits Spotify 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock, Punk Rock, Country, Disco, Funk, Classical
Title: Mastermix 70s Funk Sessions
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Disco, Synth Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Hot Tracks: 15th Anniversary Collectors Edition (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Euro House, Soul, New Wave, Disco, Pop, Synth Pop, Funk
Title: '70s Summer Hits Essentials (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: 1970s For Kids
Genre: Pop
Title: Chill R&B For Kids
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Chill Soul For Kids
Genre: Electronica
Title: Funk For Kids
Genre: Kids
Title: 1970s Funk For Kids
Title: 1970s Happy For Kids
Genre: Kids
Title: 1970s Postive For Kids
Genre: Kids
Title: Old Music Alert 70s 2023 (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: FUNK & DISCO 80s HITS
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: 70's Drive - Disco
Genre: Disco
Title: 220 DJ Loaded - Created Dances 2023 (CD5)
Genre: Electronica
Title: Mastermix Crate: 70s Funk 2022
Genre: Electronica, Soul, Funk
Title: Mastermix Crate: 70s Funk 2 2022
Genre: Electronica, Soul, Funk
Title: Estrellas De Los 70 2023 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Funk 'n' Soul Classics: 25 Groovin' Hits, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Funk Outta Here 2024 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Retro Swag: Soulful Sounds And Funky Favorites
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Golden Disco Days: 25 Dancefloor Hits From The 70s, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Featuring albums
Title: Pure Funk
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop
Title: 70's Mixtape Vol. 3 & 4 - Music Inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Rock
Title: Boogie Nights #2 / Music From The Original Motion Picture
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Ladder 49
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop, Alternative, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Love Jones: The Best Of Funk Essentials Ballads Vol.2
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Down Town Funk (Original Soundtrack) (CD3)
Artist: Ministry Of Sound
Genre: Soul, Disco, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: So...Ul In Love! Best Soul Songs from the 60s and 70s (Original Versions)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Ultimate Collection 5CD (CD5)
Artist: Northern Soul
Title: My Love Blues: Great Soul and Blues Songs Collection (Original Versions)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Dope Traxx, Vol. 2 (Continuous Mix)
Artist: DJ Rob Dinero
Genre: House, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Electro Jazz Vol. 19 (DJ Mix)
Artist: AMW DJs
Genre: Electronica, Jazz, Lounge, Easy Listening
Title: Love's Train: The Best Of Funk Essentials Ballads
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul