Ohio Players

 Zespół założony w 1959 r. w Dayton w stanie Ohio. W jego składzie znaleźli się trzej niezwykle utalentowani byli członkowie The Ohio Untouchables: Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, Clarence "Satch" Satchell i Marshall Jones. Szybko zdobyli reputację doskonalej grupy instrumentalnej, śpiewając również w chórkach wraz z formacją The Falcons, w której nagraniu "I Found A Love" (z 1962 r.) wziął udział Wilson Pickett.

 

W tym samym roku The Players dokonali również samodzielnych nagrań, nie osiągając jednak spektakularnych sukcesów. Te stały się ich udziałem dopiero w latach 70., kiedy to po okresie krótkiej współpracy z firmami Compass i Capitol Records zarejestrowali nagrania dla wytwórni Westbound. 

Eksperymentalny funk formacji przypominał dokonania George'a Clintona i grupy Funkadelic. W 1973 r. liczący już siedmiu członków (Bonner, Satchell. Jones, Jimmy "Diamond" Williams, Marvin "Merv" Pierce, Billy Beck, Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrook) Players zanotowali na swoim koncie ogromny przebój rhythm'n'bluesowy, rejestrując kompozycję "Funky Worm". Niedługo potem muzycy przenieśli się do wytwórni Mercury, dla której nagrali przeboje "Fire" (w 1974 r.), "Sweet Sticky Thing" i "Love Rollercoaster" (oba z 1975 r.). Wszystkie trzy utwory trafiły na szczyt soulowych i popowych zestawień w Stanach Zjednoczonych.
 

Nagrany w 1976 r. "Who'd She Coo?" stał się ostatnim wielkim przebojem formacji, mimo że do końca lat 70-tych. The Ohio Players notowali na swoim koncie spore sukcesy. Jednak ich utwory stawały się coraz mniej nowatorskie: sławę przynosiły im później głównie odważne, pełne seksualnych podtekstów okładki płyt. 

Cieszyli się jednak tak wielkim uznaniem, że ich wersję klasyka "Over The Rainbow" odegrano na pogrzebie Judy Garland (pierwszej wykonawczyni tej kompozycji w filmie "Czarodziej z Oz"). W 1979 r. kolegów opuścili Williams i Beck, by założyć nowy zespół Shadow. Zreformowani Ohio Players nagrywali jeszcze w latach 80., notując w 1988 r. na swoim koncie spory przebój - "Sweat".

Single

Tytu³	Wykonawca	Data wydania	UK	US	Wytwórnia [US]	Komentarz
Trespassin' / You Don't Mean It	Ohio Players	02.1968	-	-	Compass CO-7015	[written by Ohio Players][produced by Johnny Brantley ][50[2].R&B; Chart]
Pain [Part.1]/[Part.2]	Ohio Players	12.1971	-	64[8]	Westbound 188	[written by Ohio Players][produced by Herb James, Fulvio Germano, Billy D.Pittman][35[13].R&B; Chart]
Pleasure / I Wanna Hear From You	Ohio Players	.1972	-	45.R&B; Chart	Westbound 204	[written by Ohio Players][produced by The Ohio Players, Herb James, Billy Pittman][45[4].R&B; Chart]
Funky worm/Paint me	Ohio Players	02.1973	-	15[19]	Westbound 214	[gold-US][written by Ohio Players][produced by Ohio Players][1[1][13].R&B; Chart]
Ecstazy /Not so sad and lonely	Ohio Players	08.1973	-	31[15]	Westbound 216	[written by Ohio Players][produced by Ohio Players][12[16].R&B; Chart]
Jive Turkey [Part.1]/Streakin' cheek to cheek	Ohio Players	06.1974	-	47[11]	Mercury 73 480	[written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce][produced by Ohio Players][6[15].R&B; Chart]
Skin tight/Heaven must be like this	Ohio Players	09.1974	-	13[11]	Mercury 73 609	[gold-US][written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce][produced by Ohio Players][2[15].R&B; Chart]
Fire /Together	Ohio Players	12.1974	-	1[1][17]	Mercury 73 643	[gold-US][written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck][produced by Ohio Players][1[2][18].R&B; Chart]
I want to be free/Smoke	Ohio Players	04.1975	-	44[7]	Mercury 73 675	[written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck][produced by Ohio Players][6[12].R&B; Chart]
Sweet sticky thing/Alone	Ohio Players	09.1975	-	33[8]	Mercury 73 713	[written by William "Billy" Beck, Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, Marshall "Rock" Jones, Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce, Clarence "Satch" Satchell & James "Diamond" Williams][produced by Ohio Players][1[1][11].R&B; Chart]
Love Rollercoaster/It' s all over	Ohio Players	11.1975	-	1[1][16]	Mercury 73 740	[gold-US][written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck][produced by Ohio Players][1[1][15].R&B; Chart]
Fopp /Let' s love	Ohio Players	02.1976	-	30[11]	Mercury 73 775	[written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck][produced by Ohio Players][9[12].R&B; Chart]
Rattlesnake /Gone forever	Ohio Players	02.1976	-	90[4]	Westbound 5018	[written by L. Crane,B. Bane][produced by Ohio Players][69[4].R&B; Chart]
Who' d she coo?/Bi-centennial	Ohio Players	06.1976	43[4]	18[17]	Mercury 73 814	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][1[1][17].R&B; Chart]
Far East Mississippi	Ohio Players	11.1976	-	-	Mercury 73 860	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][26[11].R&B; Chart]
Feel the beat [Everybody disco]/Contradiction	Ohio Players	01.1977	-	61[5]	Mercury 73 881	[written by J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck][produced by Ohio Players][31[9].R&B; Chart]
Body Vibes / Don't Fight My Love	Ohio Players	04.1977	-	-	Mercury 73 913	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][19[9].R&B; Chart]
O-H-I-O/Can you still love me	Ohio Players	07.1977	-	45[12]	Mercury 73 932	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players ][9[18].R&B; Chart]
Merry Go Round / Angel	Ohio Players	11.1977	-	-	Mercury 73 956	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players ][77[5].R&B; Chart]
Good luck charm [Part.1]/[Part.2]	Ohio Players	01.1978	-	101[7]	Mercury 73 974	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, M. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][51[10].R&B; Chart][piosenka z filmu Mr Mean]
Magic Trick / Mr. Mean	Ohio Players	04.1978	-	-	Mercury 73 983	[written by W. Beck, C. Satchell, J. Williams , L. Bonner , M. Jones , M. Pierce , R. Middlebrooks][produced by Ohio Players ][93[4].R&B; Chart]
Funk-O-Nots/Sleepwalkin'	Ohio Players	09.1978	-	105[3]	Mercury 74 014	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, J. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][27[13].R&B; Chart]
Time Slips Away	Ohio Players	11.1978	-	-	Mercury 74 014	[written by W. Beck, J. Williams, J. Jones, M. Pierce, R. Middlebrooks, C. Satchell, L. Bonner][produced by Ohio Players][53[6].R&B; Chart]
Everybody Up /Take Da Funk Off, Fly	Ohio Players	05.1979	-	-	Arista AS 0408	[written by Ohio Players][produced by Ohio Players][33[9].R&B; Chart]
Try a Little Tenderness	Ohio Players	02.1981	-	-	Mercury	[written by J. A. Levi][produced by LeRoy Bonner, Dave Johnson][40[10].R&B; Chart]
Skinny/Call Me	Ohio Players	05.1981	-	-	Boardwalk 02063	[written by L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, D. Johnson][produced by Leroy Bonner][46[10].R&B; Chart]
Sight for Sore Eyes	Ohio Players	05.1984	-	105[3]	Air City 402	[written by M. Jones, G. Roebuck, W. Beck, R. Middlebrook][produced by Marshall Jones][83[5].R&B; Chart]
Sweat/Vibe Alive	Ohio Players	06.1988	-	-	Track 58815	[written by B. Beck, L. Bonner, D. Dortch, J. Williams, C. Willis][produced by Ohio Players][50.R&B; Chart]
Let's Play (From Now On)/Show Off	Ohio Players	08.1988	-	-	Track 58 812	[written by B. Beck, L. Bonner, R. Brown, D. Dortch, J. Williams, C. Willis][produced by Ohio Players][33[11].R&B; Chart]

Albumy

Tytu³	Wykonawca	Data wydania	UK	US	Wytwórnia [US]	Komentarz
Pain	Ohio Players	03.1972	-	177[7]	Westbound 2015	[produced by Ohio Players, Herb James, Billy Pittman][21.R&B; Chart]
Pleasure	Ohio Players	02.1973	-	63[22]	Westbound 2017	[produced by Ohio Players][4.R&B; Chart]
Ecstazy	Ohio Players	09.1973	-	70[19]	Westbound 2021	[produced by Ohio Players][19.R&B; Chart]
Skin tight	Ohio Players	04.1974	-	11[48]	Mercury 705	[gold][produced by Ohio Players][1.R&B; Chart]
Climax	Ohio Players	11.1974	-	102[8]	Westbound 1003	[produced by Ohio Players][24.R&B; Chart]
Fire	Ohio Players	11.1974	-	1[1][29]	Mercury 1013	[gold][produced by Ohio Players][1.R&B; Chart]
Ohio Players Greatest Hits	Ohio Players	02.1975	-	92[7]	Westbound 1005	[22.R&B; Chart]
Honey	Ohio Players	08.1975	-	2[36]	Mercury 1038	[gold][produced by Ohio Players][1.R&B; Chart]
Rattlesnake	Ohio Players	12.1975	-	61[14]	Westbound 211	[produced by Ohio Players][8.R&B; Chart]
Contradiction	Ohio Players	06.1976	-	12[20]	Mercury 1088	[gold][produced by Ohio Players][1.R&B; Chart]
Ohio Players Gold	Ohio Players	11.1976	-	31[17]	Mercury 1122	[gold][produced by Ohio Players][10.R&B; Chart]
Angel	Ohio Players	04.1977	-	41[27]	Mercury 3701	[produced by Ohio Players][9.R&B; Chart]
Mr. Mean	Ohio Players	12.1977	-	68[10]	Mercury 3707	[produced by Ohio Players][11.R&B; Chart]
Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee	Ohio Players	09.1978	-	69[9]	Mercury 3730	[produced by Ohio Players][15.R&B; Chart]
Everybody up	Ohio Players	04.1979	-	80[14]	Arista 4226	[19.R&B; Chart]
Tenderness	Ohio Players	04.1981	-	165[3]	Boardwalk 37 090	[produced by L. David 'Dr. J.' Johnson,Leroy 'Sugar' Bonner][49.R&B; Chart]