The O'jays Family Reunion Full Album Download Zip the O'jays Family Reunion Full Album Download Zip

the o'jays family reunion full album download zip The o'jays family reunion full album download zip. No amount is too big or too small. Any donation is appreciated. Why Not? It helps the blog survive! Wednesday, August 27, 2014. The O'Jays. Collection of The O'Jays. The O'Jays were one of Philadelphia soul's most popular and long-lived outfits, rivaled only by the Spinners as soul's greatest vocal group of the '70s. In their prime, the O'Jays' recordings epitomized the Philly soul sound: smooth, rich harmonies backed by elaborate arrangements, lush strings, and a touch of contemporary funk. They worked extensively with the legendary production/songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, becoming the flagship artist of the duo's Philadelphia International label. The O'Jays were equally at home singing sweet love ballads or up- tempo dance tunes, the latter of which were often mouthpieces for Gamble & Huff's social concerns. Although the O'Jays couldn't sustain their widespread popularity in the post-disco age, they continued to record steadily all the way up to the present day, modifying their production to keep up with the times. The O'Jays were formed in 1958 in Canton, OH, where all five original members -- Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bill Isles, and Bobby Massey -- attended McKinley High School. Inspired to start a singing group after seeing a performance by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, they first called themselves the Triumphs, then switched to the Mascots in 1960. The Mascots made their recording debut in 1961 with the single "Miracles," issued on the Cincinnati-based King label. It earned them a fan in the influential Cleveland DJ Eddie O'Jay, who gave them some airplay and career advice; in turn, the group renamed itself the O'Jays in 1963, after having recorded for Apollo Records with producer Don Davis. Under their new name, the O'Jays signed with Imperial and hooked up with producer H.B. Barnum, who would helm their first charting single, 1963's "Lonely Drifter," plus several more singles that followed. Isles left the group in 1965 and was not replaced, leaving them a quartet; late in the year, they released their first-ever album, Comin' Through. In 1967, the O'Jays left Imperial for Bell, where they landed their first Top Ten single on the R&B charts, "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today)." Discouraged by the difficulty of following that success, the group considered throwing in the towel until it met Gamble & Huff -- then working as a production team for the Neptune label -- in 1968. Gamble & Huff took an interest in the group, and they recorded several successful R&B singles together; however, Neptune folded in 1971, leaving the O'Jays in limbo, and Massey decided to exit the group. Fortunately, Gamble & Huff formed their own label, Philadelphia International, and made the O'Jays -- now a trio -- one of their first signings. The O'Jays' label debut, Back Stabbers, released in 1972, became a classic landmark of Philly soul, and finally made the group stars; the paranoid title track hit the pop Top Five, and the utopian "Love Train" went all the way to number one (both singles topped the R&B charts). It was the beginning of a remarkable run that produced nearly 30 chart singles over the course of the '70s, plus a series of best-selling albums and a bevy of number one hits on the R&B charts. The O'Jays followed up their breakthrough with another classic LP, Ship Ahoy, in 1973; it featured the number one R&B hit "For the Love of Money," a funky protest number that still ranks as one of their signature songs, as well as the ten-minute title track, an ambitious suite recounting the ocean journeys of African slaves. 1975's Survival was another hit, spinning off the hits "Let Me Make Love to You" and the R&B number one "Give the People What They Want." Family Reunion found the group making concessions to the emerging disco sound, which got them their third Top Five pop hit in "I Love Music, Pt. 1." Unfortunately, William Powell was diagnosed with cancer that year, and although he continued to record with the group for a time (appearing on 1976's Message in Our Music), he was forced to retire from live performing, and passed away on May 26, 1977. Powell's replacement was Sammy Strain, a 12-year veteran of Little Anthony & the Imperials. The O'Jays regrouped on the albums Travelin' at the Speed of Thought (1977) and So Full of Love (1978), the latter of which produced their final Top Five pop hit, "Use ta Be My Girl." 1979's Identify Yourself began to show signs of wear and tear in the group's successful formula, and often consciously attempted to follow disco trends. Although it sold respectably, it marked the beginning of a decline in the O'Jays' commercial fortunes. Undaunted by the increasingly diminished returns of their early-'80s LPs, the group kept plugging away, and never completely disappeared from the R&B charts. They finally left Philadelphia International and signed with EMI for 1987's Let Me Touch You, which melded their classic sound with up-to-date urban-R&B production. Powered by the Gamble & Huff-penned R&B number one "Lovin' You," as well as the increased visibility of Eddie Levert's sons Gerald and Sean (two-thirds of the hit urban group LeVert), the album gave their career a much-needed shot in the arm. 1989's Serious supplied another big R&B hit in "Have You Had Your Love Today?"; with Nathaniel Best replacing Sammy Strain, 1991's Emotionally Yours and 1993's Heartbreaker also placed very well on the R&B charts. The O'Jays' comeback didn't really extend to the pop side, and didn't attract the sort of critical praise earned by their '70s classics; as the new jack swing craze subsided, so did the group's recording activity, though they remained consistent draws on the live circuit. In 1997, now with Eric Grant joining Levert and Williams, they returned with Love You to Tears. A recording layoff followed, during which the group signed with MCA; they debuted for the label with For the Love. which was released in 2001. Allmusic by Steve Huey. Album: Back On Top (1968) 01. I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow 02. I'm So Glad I Found You 03. Going Going Gone 04. That's All Right 05. I Dig Your Act 06. Look Over Your Shoulder 07. You're Too Sweet 08. Just Another Guy 09. Four For The Price Of One 10. Love Is Everywhere 11. Now That I've Found You 12. I'll Be Seeing You 13. The Choice 14. I Miss You. Album: The O'Jays In Philadelphia (1969) 01. One Night Affair 02. You're The Best Thing Since Candy 03. Branded Bad 04. I Should Be Your Lover 05. Looky Looky (Look At Me Girl) 06. Deeper In Love With You 07. Let Me In Your World 08. Just Can't Get Enough 09. I've Got The Groove 10. Medley (Little Green Apples-Something) 11. It's Too Strong. Album: Super Bad (1971) 01. Now He's Home 02. Little Brother 03. Crossroads Of Life 04. La De La 05. Peace 06. Shattered Man 07. Your Turn This Time 08. Just To Be With You 09. Gotta Get My Broom Out 10. Never Can Say Good Bye. Album: Back Stabbers (1972) 01. When the World's at Peace 02. Back Stabbers 03. Who Am I 04. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky 05. Time to Get Down 06. 992 Arguments 07. Listen to the Clock on the Wall 08. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People 09. Sunshine 10. Love Train. Album: Greatest Hits (1972) 01. Lonely Drifter 02. Oh, How You Hurt Me 03. Whip It On Me Baby 04. How Does It Feel 05. Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette) 06. Stand Tall 07. I Cried My Last Tear 08. Working On Your Case 09. Crack Up Laughing 10. Stand In For Love. Album: Ship Ahoy (1973) 01. Put Your Hands Together 02. Ship Ahoy 03. This Air I Breath 04. You Got Your Hooks In Me 05. For The Love Of Money 06. Now That We Found Love 07. Don't Call Me Brother 08. People Keep Tellin' Me. Album: Live In London (1974) 01. Instrumental Introduction Put You 02. When The World Is at Piece 03. Wildflower 04. Backstabbers 05. Sunshine 06. Love Train. Album: Survival (1975) 01. Give the People What They Want 02. Let Me Make Love to You 03. Survival 04. Where Did We Go Wrong 05. Rich Get Richer 06. How Time Flies 07. What Am I Waiting For 08. Never Break Us Up. Album: Family Reunion (1975) 01. Unity 02. Family Reunion 03. You and Me 04. She's Only a Woman 05. Livin' for the Weekend 06. Stairway to Heaven 07. I Love Music. Album: Message in the Music (1976) 01. Message in Our Music 02. A Prayer 03. Paradise 04. Make a Joyful Noise 05. Desire Me 06. Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love) 07. I Swear, I Love No One But You 08. Let Life Flow. Album: Travelin' at the Speed of Thought (1977) 01. Travelin' at the Speed of Thought 02. We're All in This Thing Together 03. So Glad I Got You, Girl 04. Stand Up 05.

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