AllMusic Gets Funky With Ohio Players

In its review of Ohio Players‘ album Pleasure, AllMusic notes that the record came as “their popularity was growing — slowly but surely — and those who were hip to the band recognized them as one of the most cutting-edge acts in the funk field. A lot of bands were providing funk in 1972, but not many of them used jazz progressions as creatively as the Players use them on ‘Laid It,’ ‘Walked Away from You,’ and Pleasure‘s title song. Those tracks are gems, and the Players are equally captivating on the sweet soul ballad ‘Varee Is Love.’ But the best known tune on the album is the goofy ‘Funky Worm,’ which employed the Players’ amusing Granny character and was, in 1972, their biggest hit to date. Long after the band’s popularity faded, ‘Funky Worm’ would live on in the 1980s and 1990s thanks to the various hip-hoppers who sampled its irresistible bassline.” Read the full review here.

The reissued album – back at radio from Westbound Records and ORG Music – goes for NACC adds next week.