The O'Jays - "Love Train"
May 22, 2017 19:39:36 GMT -5
Post by Live Your Life on May 22, 2017 19:39:36 GMT -5
This was released as a single from 1972's Back Stabbers. It peaked at #1 at R&B and #1 on the Hot 100. I absolutely love this song. Classic.
AllMusic's song review:
AllMusic's song review:
A listen to the O'Jays' gold number one R&B/pop single "Love Train" makes you feel that the "why can't we all live together" phrase popularized by Rodney King could and would be a wonderful reality. Lead singer Eddie Levert's churchy exhortations come across as heartfelt. The O'Jays were suggested to Neptune Records owners/Philadelphia-based songwriting/production duo Gamble and Huff by the Intruders, who'd scored a million-selling number one R&B/number six pop hit with "Cowboys and Girls." Gamble and Huff weren't familiar with the O'Jays' sides for Imperial ("Lonely Drifter" and the George Kerr-produced Top Ten R&B Bell Records single "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow [Than I Was Today]"). They were impressed with them when they saw a concert in the group's native state of Ohio draw over 500 people, most of whom were white. This showed the duo that the group had huge "crossover" potential. The O'Jays' Neptune singles include the 1969 Top 15 R&B single "One Night Affair" (a 1972 number six R&B smash for Jerry Butler), "Deeper (In Love With You)," number 21 R&B, spring 1970, and "Looky Looky (Look at Me Girl)," which hit number 17 R&B, summer 1970. Neptune was distributed by Chicago-based Chess Records, and when owner Leonard Chess died, Neptune folded. A couple of years later, Gamble and Huff contacted the O'Jays in their hometown of Cleveland and asked if they wanted to sign with the new label Philadelphia International Records to be distributed by CBS Records. Still smarting from the Neptune folding and not being able to see their gold- and platinum-laced future, group members Walter Williams and William Powell were skeptical. At the same time, Eddie Levert's wife had just given birth to twins Sean and Gerald (who would later be two thirds of the group Levert). Eddie reminded his groupmates that Gamble Huff were the only ones calling about a record deal and finally convinced them to fly to Philadelphia to meet with the producers. Another group member, Bobby Massey, declined in favor of a writing-producing career. Written and produced by Gamble and Huff, the million-selling "Love Train" made two stops, parking at the number one R&B spot for four weeks and going to number one pop in early 1973. It was on the trio's gold LP Backstabbers, which also listed the number two R&B single "Time to Get Down," the Top 13 R&B hit "992 Arguments," and the million-selling number one R&B, number three pop single "Backstabbers." The rarely seen 1972 pre-MTV video clip of "Love Train" is both charming and heartwarming in its simplicity and touching because its features group member William Powell, who died of cancer on May 26, 1977. PIR labelmate Bunny Sigler's slow churchy cover of "Love Train" went to number 28 R&B during summer 1974.
