o' Jays

Contrary to what its title suggests, The O'Jays in Philadelphia isn't a live album. Rather, the title of this studio date refers to the beginning of their association with Philly's R&B scene and producers/songwriters Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. What they didn't know in 1969 was just how long and fruitful that association would end up being. This album wasn't the major hit that Back Stabbers would be, but not for lack of strong material. From "One Night Affair" to "Let Me in Your World," this superb album is quintessential Philly soul. While Eddie Levert's gospel-influenced belting is as gritty as anything that came from Stax Records, the production is as notably sleek. A few years later, Gamble & Huff would produce a longer, heavily syncopated version of "Affair" for Jerry Butler that some soul historians exalt as the first disco single.

Back Stabbers is a studio album by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays, released in August 1972 on Philadelphia International Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972.

None of the albums the O'Jays recorded for Philadelphia International in the 1970s were weak or disappointing, although some were stronger than others. So Full of Love isn't quite essential, and isn't in a class with Back Stabbers, Ship Ahoy or Family Reunion. But the platinum album does have a lot going for it, including the major hit "Use Ta Be My Girl," and the heartfelt ballads "Cry Together" and "Brandy," and the captivating "This Time Baby," which would become a hit for soul/disco diva Jackie Moore in 1979. A funk treasure that should have been a major hit was the intense "Strokety Stroke." Once again, the O'Jays worked with Philly's best – not only Gamble & Huff, but also Thom Bell and Bunny Sigler.

‘The Last Word’ is the first studio album from the O’Jays in fifteen years and as the name would suggest, it is also their last. The opener ‘I Got You’ is pure, uplifting Philly soul – bubbling percussion a delicate strings give it that classic feel – the brooding ‘Stand Up (Show Love)’ harks back to mid 70s period O’Jays while ‘Enjoy Yourself’ captures the classic era when the City Of Brotherly Love ruled. The stunning crossover vibe of ‘Do You Really Know How I Feel’ has southern touches, the tough street funker ‘Above The Law’ carries a strong message, the bubbling ’68 Summer Nights’ sounds more like a Teddy P era Harold Melvin tune while the pulsating ‘Start Stopping’ could have come straight from a canned late 70s O’Jays session.