As mentioned in the listing of albums I purchased one day in Austin, TX last month, I recently picked up the Ohio Players 1974 album Fire on vinyl. This was the 7th album by the funk warhorses from Dayton, Ohio. Not content to be known solely for their suggestive and risqué album covers [read about the controversy surrounding their 1975 album cover for Honey here], the Ohio Players also kicked out the jams, mofo, in the early to mid-1970s.
Over the course of the late 60s to the mid 70s, the Ohio Players went from local funk heros, to black radio royalty, to widespread appeal. 1974/75 finds them near their career peak in terms of radio airplay and song popularity.
35 years ago this week (and last week as well), this song was #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart--the album's title-track "Fire" (Side A, song #1):
"What the Hell" (Side B, song #3):
If you dig classic period funk grooves, start your Ohio Players collection now. Get a hold of 1974's Fire then move on to Pain from 1971, acquire 1972's Pleasure, and definitely find Skin Tight from earlier in 1974. Then, spread that funk, mofo.
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