Ohio Players: “Ecstasy” and “(I Wanna Know) Do You Feel It”
From: Ecstasy (Westbound, 1973)
It always seems strange to me how little coverage there is of The Ohio Players in blogland so consider this my first step in changing that for the better. What originally caught my eye with these funk fiends was their brilliantly over the top album covers for their westbound recordings, a mixture of overt sexuality and bizarre s&m featuring a rather scary bald woman. It’s really worth a post of it’s own but you can find a selection of their fold out covers here.
Formed at the very end of the 50’s as the Ohio Untouchables before reforming as the Ohio Players in 1968, the group really hit form at the start of the seventies releasing at least one album a year throughout the decade and maintaining an amazingly high standard throughout. If you see any of their seventies albums in the shops pick them up as they’re pretty much a guarantee of quality.
Anyway, onto today’s music, two songs from the band’s 1973 album Ecstasy. The first of their albums I was introduced to, it still holds a fond place in my heart being of consistently excellent quality throughout (excluding the rather limp Silly Billy).
The first song is the title track itself, a wickedly funky little number. From the moment the bass riff starts proceedings it’s a tune that dares you to attempt not to nod your head along to it. I love the raw passion of the vocals and the piano that tinkles over the top of the groove. Great backing vocals as well on this one. Having done a quick check this song appears to be pretty much free from sampling which astonishes me as it’s bassline alone is crying out for use in some g-funk production.
The second track, (I Wanna Know) Do You Feel It, starts as a more downtempo number, a slow groove for gettin’ it on if you like. Lovely vocal harmonies again and my old friend the hammond organ is used to excellent effect in the breakdown three minutes in. The change of tempo to upbeat gets me everytime as the players lay down the funk for the last minute and a half of the track.
Well there you have it, if you like what you hear let me know and I’ll continue my campaign to get The Ohio Players music back on more people’s playlists………..
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On "Ecstacy", something cool (to me, at least) happens between that piano playing safely in the background in the song, and the painfully lustful need in the man's voice…doesn't last long, but still, it's a fascinating effect while it's there. Other song's interesting, too, with that lovely chorus. I'm not at all familiar with soul or funk, but I like these, and expect to be playing them over and over again before I'm done admiring them. Thanks alot for posting them!
Ecstacy has been sampled, the riff and piano jingle are on a track by Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G, i think it's called Brooklyn?? i forgot but it's on one of jay-z's earlier albums and a few years ago on a biggie greatest hits etc from bad boy, also it appears in Jay-Z's library of a legend 10 cd pack.
I got to the Ohio PLayers on our blog last week… wwww.rubyandlucille.blogspot.com, so I know how you feel!
Brooklyn's Finest was the song. Been loving the song since they sampled it, now the album is readily available.
Glad you're enjoying the music MikeRD, the funk label covers such a wide range that i do believe there's something there for everyone.
Spa & Tim you're spot on with the Jay-Z/Biggie track, strange that it and the album as a whole hasn't been used more than it has by Hip Hop producers though.
Nice blog by the way Ruby, will be checking it out from now on, keep socking it to The Man.
I feel like the Ohio Players are often a little bit "cult" in the funk world. Don't know why! Maybe it's just me
Thanx for this post Junior.
excellent post as always… note to tim: get back to work!
Did anyone forget that the sample was cut up on Tribe's "Scenario Remix"? Thats the most memorable one but It's been sampled alot.
Yeah you're spot on Audio1. According to the bible (the-breaks.com) they're the only two times it's been sampled but i do find that hard to believe.
Really the secret sauce in the tunes "Ecstasy" and "I Wanna Know How You Feel It" is Junie Morrison. He went on to make some superb records on Westbound, and then joined P-Funk at the time of "One Nation Under The Groove". You better do some crate diggin (or file swapping) and do a proper post on Junie.
Regards, love the page !
cHUCk dA fONk fISHMAn
Cheers for the heads up on Junie. Expect to see a post dedicated to the works of The Force Behind The Groove in the near future……..
funny, i just picked up a Junie LP the other day.
It's like an omen. Post it up Maru!
keep that ohio players funk alive
Brooklyn's Finest Jay-Z feat Biggie
Reasonable Doubt 1996.
I heard the originaland forgot Ectasty was the track name—gotta get it!
Choclate Buttermilk
Kool and the Gang Best of 1969-76