Funk On Fire: The Mercury Anthology

Performer: The Ohio Players
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: FUNK ON FIRE: THE MERCURY ANTHOLOGY includes a 24-page booklet. The Ohio Players: Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner (vocals, guitar); Clarence "Chet" Willis (guitar, background vocals); Clarence "Satch" Satchell (flute, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks, Marvin "Merv" Pierce (trumpet); James "Diamond" Williams (flugelhorn, drums, congas, timbales, percussion, gong, background vocals); William "Billy" Beck (keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Marshall Jones (bass); Robert "Kumba" Jones (congas). Additional personnel: Paul Serrano, Jack Kramer (horns). Producer: Ohio Players. Compilation producers: Ohio Players, Harry Weinger. Recorded between 1974 & 1978. Includes liner notes by Alan Light. All tracks have been digitally remastered. From their erotically charged album covers to their grinding, bass-heavy grooves, the Ohio Players were one of the highest profile funk bands of the 1970s. The superb two-disc anthology FUNK ON FIRE represents everything that made the Players great--fine musicianship, a blend of fiercely syncopated rhythms with pop accessibility, and a sassy, outrageous attitude (thanks, in large part, to the animated vocals of Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner). Though the Players released several records for the Detroit-based Westbound label in the early part of their career, they really hit their stride when they signed to Mercury, where they released a string of charting albums, including the funk classics FIRE and HONEY. All the hits and key tracks from the Mercury albums are here, including the hard-driving "Fire" and the infectious "Love Rollercoaster," as well as lush, keyboard- and falsetto-drenched ballads ("Together"). While the Players' late-'70s material is generally considered inferior to their mid-'70s work, the second disc of this anthology does an admirable job of picking the best tracks from these later albums--"O-H-I-O" and the spacey "Funk-O-Nots," among them. In short, the Players' best work is boiled down on this definitive set, making it a crucial addition to any funk library.

Q (10/95, p.143) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...George Clinton has pinched all the mid-'70s funk kudos for himself, perhaps The Ohio Players deserve some too..."

One of the most important and successful funk bands of the '70s, the Ohio Players made effective use of aggressive horns and big, butt-shakin' bass lines. The group produced a wide variety of great, sex-savvy soul music, many of their biggest hits were sex-related novelties. Unfortunately, the Ohio Players are now remembered almost as much for their erotic cover art as for their music.

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