"Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion" by THE O'JAYS – Four US R&B and Soul Albums originally released on Philadelphia International Records in August 1972, November 1973 and April and November 1975 – Featuring Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell with Production, Arrangements and Songwriting Contributions from Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurst, Lenny Pakula, Norman Harris and Tony Bell (November 2025 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Compilation – Four Albums On Two Discs Series - 20-Page Booklet with Charles Waring Liner Notes – Card Slipcase - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Overall: **** (First Three are Ace But Last Let's The Side Down Somewhat)

Presentation: **** (Charles Waring 20-Page Booklet, Card Slipcase)

Audio: **** to ***** (New 2025 Remasters by Andrew Thompson)

 

"…People, Get On Board The Love Train…"

What a winner. There are few Soul and R&B fans of my ancient demeanour who don't hold a place in their addled soft machine for Ohio's finest – The O'Jays – and who will always be associated with the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia.

And here as part of their Four Albums On Two Discs Series (see list below) – November 2025 sees England's Beat Goes On Records (BGO for short) offer us no less than three (count em baby) US No.1 R&B LPs (and a fourth that made No.3) by the get-on-board boys from 1972, 1973 and 1975. 

Well, stab me in the International dorsum humanum (never mind your family metatarsals) - but this journey is so sweet. Details folks - to the ships ahoy and the trains of lurve…

UK released Friday, 21 November 2025 - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion" by THE O'JAYS on Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635) is a Compilation that offers Four Albums Remastered On Two Discs (originally on Philadelphia International Records and CBS Records in the USA and UK in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976) that plays out as follows:

CD1 (84:09 minutes, 17 Tracks):
1. When The World's At Peace [Side 1]
2. Back Stabbers
3. Who Am I
4. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky
5. Time To Get Down
6. 992 Arguments [Side 2]
7. Listen To The Clock On The Wall
8. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind Of People
9. Sunshine
10. Love Train
Tracks 1 to 10 are their sixth studio album "Back Stabbers" - originally released August 1972 in the USA on Philadelphia International KZ 31712 and October 1972 in the UK on CBS Records S 65257 (it peaked at Number 3 on the US R&B charts in October 1972). It was reissued March 1973 in the UK on Philadelphia International S PIR 65932. The album peaked at No.3 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts.

11. Put Your Hands Together [Side 1]
12. Ship Ahoy
13. This Air I Breathe
14. You Got Your Hooks In Me
15. For The Love Of Money
16. Now That We Found Love
17. Don't Call Me Brother
Tracks 1 to 7 on CD1 and Track 1 on CD2 are their seventh album "Ship Ahoy" - originally released November 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records KZ 32408 and in the UK on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 65860. It was a No.1 LP on the US Billboard R&B charts.

CD2 (79:48 minutes, 16 Tracks):
1. People Keep Tellin' Me
Tracks 1 to 7 on CD1 and Track 1 on CD2 are their seventh album "Ship Ahoy" - originally released October 1973 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records KZ 32408 and June 1974 in the UK on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 65860. It was a No.1 LP on the US Billboard R&B charts (no UK chart)

2. Give The People What They Want [Side 1]
3. Let Me Make Love To You
4. Survival
5. Where Did We Do Wrong
6. Rich Get Richer [Side 2]
7. How Time Flies
8. What Am I Waiting For
9. Never Break Us Up
Tracks 2 to 9 are their eight-studio album "Survival" – originally released April 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records KZ 33150 and April 1975 in the UK on Philadelphia International Records S PIR 80765 – it peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard R&B LP charts

10. Unity [Side 1]
11. Family Reunion 
12. You And Me 
13. She's Only A Woman
14. Living For The Weekend [Side 2]
15. Stairway To Heaven 
16. I Love Music
Tracks 10 to 16 are their ninth studio LP "Family Reunion" - released November 1975 in the USA on Philadelphia International Records PZ 33807 and January 1976 in the UK on Philadelphia International Records PIR 69196 – Produced by GAMBLE and HUFF – it peaked at No.1 on US Billboard R&B LP charts

The card slipcase looks well tasty and you cannot argue on the value-for-money front, considering that individual CDs of these albums have been deleted for years and regularly pass the £12 to £15 price-barrier per disc. Beat Goes On and resident Soul/Jazz liner-notes author CHARLES WARING (of Mojo and Record Collector) do their usual bang-up job of repro'ing the front and rear sleeve artwork in the chunky 20-page booklet (albeit much of it in black and white). Waring uses interviews from 2008 where Eddie Levert talks of his amazement about the sheer legs of tunes - "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" amongst them. "Love Train" took The O'Jays to a superstar level of fame - Number 1 on both R&B and the Pop charts (a rare crossover tune) - to the point that Levert jokes - if he asks the crowd do they want to hear it again - they shout yes! The O'Jays can do "Love Train" two or three times and that's all right by the dancing punters who should be at home with a nice cup of cocoa and an Arrowroot biscuit. And - of course - best of all - kicking new Remasters from 2025 by ANDREW THOMPSON. Gamble and Huff produced their Philly boys well and there isn't a moment when hearing this great Soul music on BGOCD1563 doesn't seriously impress. Nice...to the four by the three...

CD1: Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell had been around for more than a decade as an extended five-piece (formed as far back as 1958 out of college). By the time they took their bruised and unchartable sorry selves to the two visionaries Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1972 - The O'Jay were ready for fame and found the label and teams for just that. For most people like me and even though "Back Stabbers" was on CBS Records in the UK, their seventh platter and first for the Philadelphia International Records label, "Back Stabbers" is the beginning of the Philly Sound - both on 7" single and LP. Now 50-plus years after the event - even its front sleeve portraying the 3 Canton Ohio Soul boys (Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell) has become iconic and instantly recognizable. Musically this LP was an embarrassment of riches too, featuring a lethal crew of staff writers penning all the ace dancers and ballads - Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurst and of course the dynamic duo themselves - Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (who also produced). Loaded with hits, 8 of its 10 tracks made it onto 45s:

1. Back Stabbers b/w Sunshine (June 1972 USA, September 1972 UK)
2. 992 Arguments b/w Listen To The Clock On The Wall (October 1972 USA, November 1972 UK)
3. Love Train b/w Who Am I (December 1972 USA, February 1973 UK) 
4. Time To Get Down b/w Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind Of People (April 1973 USA, May 1973 UK)

Other highlights are the funky opener "When The World's At Peace" reflecting the political and social turmoil of the time and the vibes and strings mellowness of the lovely "Sunshine" - boasting an aching heartfelt vocal. But for me my Soul goes with that 45 I played to death in the spring of 1973 – both sides total vibing winners – the get-on-board "Love Train" on the A-side with the gorgeous searching "Who Am I" on the flipside. There are some Soul 45s that are just perfection both ways – A&B. I think of "Pick Up The Pieces" b/w "You Got It" by Average White Band on Atlantic Records UK or Marvin Gaye over on Motown asking, "What's Going On" with the Non-LP spiritually uplifting "God Is Love" on the flipside (and so many more). The "Back Stabbers" LP feels like an array of those and I have loved returning to its warm embrace once again.

Following the 1972 and early 1973 success of "Back Stabbers" – "Ship Ahoy" was a Soul consolidating LP monster. A US R&B No.1 album, the platter spawned five singles on both sides of a willing pond:

1. Put Your Hands Together b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - November 1973 US 7" single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3535
2. For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 US 7" single on ZS7 3744
3. Put Your Hands Together b/w This Air I Breathe - November 1973 UK 7" single on S PIR 1905
4. For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 UK 7" single on S PIR 2186
5. Now That We Found Love b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - August 1974 UK 7" single on S PIR 2577

Some of the above singles were 45-edits – so technically they are missing here – but as you can see from 84:09 and 79:48-minute playing times for CD1 and 2 – there simply wasn't room on this BGO compilation. 

Side 1 of their seventh studio album is pretty much flawless - and how good is it to hear the full LP version of "Ship Ahoy" stretch out to nearly nine-minutes with its bells and fog horns and spoken passages. "This Air I Breathe" is an uptempo dancer about suburban pollution that could easily have been another successful hit single while the truly lovely "You Got Your Hooks In Me" is the kind of Bunny Sigler hipsway that defined their lurve side - pull them close and feel that heat people!
Side 2 opens with the full album version of the fabulously perky "For The Love Of Money" - funkifying your speakers for over seven minutes (the remaster is so good on the bass and brass). "Don't Call Me Brother" apes Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" for its opening seconds but then settles into a stunning smoochy vibe about 'getting yourself together' and 'respecting your woman'. A very cool and satisfying Soul LP - "Ship Ahoy" finishes on the almost disco-precursor "People Keep Telling Me" where someone is doing someone wrong - yet again – but somehow baby – it will be awl-right.

CD2: Gamble and Huff open proceedings for the "Survival" album with a thumping messenger - "Give The People What They Want". Huge-sounding drums with panned high-hats and Funky Bass lines start this crowd-pleaser that soon incorporates now-now vocal pyrotechnics accompanied by brass jabs. "Give The People What They Want" fades out its Funky ass at 4:10 minutes only to be replaced with some mid-tempo smooch - "Let Me Make Love To You" – our mainman promising to be ever so gentle – much like the oohs and the aahs of his agreeable compatriots. And when the morning comes – there may even be breakfast – if she makes his wish from last night come true (gorgeous production values). Time to tell it how it is – Huff and Gamble talking of what it is like to be broke in the wilfully funky "Survival" – a father needing to shoe his kids – one step away from the breadline – always at the behest of some other man with a line in less than honest financials. Soft Soul via an array of strings and voices ends Side 1 - "Where Did We Go Wrong" – our hero lonely and hurt inside – trying his best to figure out why separation took the place of togetherness (honestly not my fave on the LP).

Side 2 of "Survival" returns to ghetto struggles in the Huff and Gamble angry of "Rich Get Richer" – the boys wanting those sixteen families that control the whole world to share a little with those many other families that control nothing let alone where the next meal comes from. This Funky message song has punchy audio and they sing with real conviction. Time for lurve baby – yeah – loosen that blouse – while I tell you about how it was back then when we were wee bitty things without a care in the world. But "How Time Flies" and how responsibility replaces carefree (again, lovely audio on this sweet Soul ballad). Ronnie Tyson of the songwriting collective The Harris Machine team up with ace songsmith Bunny Sigler to provide my fave on the LP – the proper Soul Ballad of "What Am I Waiting For". The second last song on 1975's "Survival" album is a pleader that has fantastic vocals from the boys where the words of a woman who is not coming back seems to be genuinely getting to them. Leon Huff soon returns to jaunty Philly territory with the OK-sounding "Never Break Us Up" – rounding off a four-star outing.

"Family Reunion" was the Ohio Vocal Group's 6th studio LP for the famous soul label and along with 1973's "Ship Ahoy" and "Survival" from earlier in 1975 (April to be exact) – it also reached the coveted Number 1 spot on the US R 'n' B album charts. In fact - November and December 1975 were exceptional months for Philly Soul. "Family Reunion" by The O'Jays was immediately replaced at pole position only weeks later by another one of the label's gem albums - "Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes). Number ones galore.

Label founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff stumped up most of the "Family Reunion" album's seven songs (CD Tracks 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16) and along with Norman Harris and Tony Bell's arrangements, gave the whole record their lush TSOP production values. The other ace writing team of John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen contributed "She's Only A Woman" while Bunny Sigler and Louise Bishop wrote "You And Me". Both "I Love Music" and the brilliantly infectious "Livin' For The Weekend" went to Number 1 on the R 'n' B singles chart too. I also like the big ballads - "Stairway To Heaven" and "She's Only A Woman". Not all great but still riding that chart glory train for The O'Jays.

For sure – "Family Reunion" does not finish this November 2025 Twofer BGO Compilation with another genre masterpiece and the feeling that the songwriting magic of old was on the wane is there. But I know so many Soul fans who consider even second-rate Philly to be better than a stab in the lower abdomen any day of the week.

Big Break Records of the UK did excellent Expanded CD Reissues and Remasters of these albums back in the 2009 and the 2010 day – but this BGO grouping of four quality albums onto two 2CDs with great annotation and toppermost Audio will be a must-own for most. I am emotionally yours - dig in and Travel At The Speed Of Thought brothers and sisters…

Soul/Funk/Disco/Fusion and Jazz Titles in the 

Beat Goes On (BGO) Records 'Four Albums On Two Discs' Series

UK issued 2CD Compilations in a Card Slipcase with Remasters

1. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Imagination/I Feel A Song/2nd Anniversary/The One And Only…"
Four US Albums originally issued on Buddah Records in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978
UK released 27 February 2026 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1567 (Barcode 5017261215673)

2. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Funky Serenity/Ramsey Lewis’ Newly Recorded, All-Time, Non-Stop Golden Hits [aka Golden Hits]/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess"
Four US Albums originally issued 1973 (two) and 1974 (two) on Columbia Records
UK released 18 May 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1335 (Barcode 5017261213358)

3. RAMSEY LEWIS - "Legacy/Ramsey/Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter"
Four US Albums originally issued 1978, 1979 and two in 1982 on Columbia Records
UK released 30 March 2018 on Beat Goes On BGOCD1330 (Barcode 5017261213303)

4. THE MANHATTANS - "There's No Me Without You/That's How Much I Love You/The Manhattans/It Feels So Good"
Four US Albums originally issued on Columbia Records in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1557 (Barcode 5017261215574) 

5. HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (featuring Teddy Pendergrass) – "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring… (aka I Miss You)/Black And Blue/To Be True (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass)/Wake Up Everybody"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975 (Two)
UK released Friday, 8 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1572 (Barcode 5017261215727)

6. MFSB - "MFSB/TSOP The Sound Of Philadelphia (aka Love Is The Message)/Universal Love/Philadelphia Freedom"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1973 (Two), and 1975 (Two) – Philly Backing Band feat Dexter Wansel
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1575 (Barcode 5017261215758)

7. BUDDY MILES EXPRESS/BUDDY MILES
"Expressway To Your Skull/Electric Church/Them Changes/We Got To Live Together"
Four US Albums originally issued 1968, 1969 and Two in 1970 on Mercury Records
UK released 7 January 2022 (delayed from November 2021), Beat Goes On BGOCD1468 (Barcode 5017261214683)

8. THE O'JAYS - "Back Stabbers/Ship Ahoy/Survival/Family Reunion"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1972, 1973 and 1975
UK released 21 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1563 (Barcode 5017261215635)

9. BILLY PAUL – "Ebony Woman/Going East/360 Degrees Of Billy Paul/War Of The Gods"
Four US Albums originally issued on Neptune and Philadelphia International Records in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973
UK released 7 November 2025, Beat Goes On BGOCD1561 (Barcode 5017261215611)

10. TEDDY PENDERGRASS - "Teddy Pendergrass/Life Is A Song Worth Singing/Teddy/TP"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 – Former Lead Vocalist in Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
UK released Friday, 22 May 2026, Beat Goes On BGOCD1574 (Barcode 5017261215741)

11. LOU RAWLS - "All Things In Time/Unmistakably Lou/When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All/Let Me Be Good To You"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, Two in 1977 and One in 1979
UK released 3 October 2025, Beat Goes on BGOCD1560 (Barcode 5017261215604)

12. DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars/What The World Is Coming To/Voyager/Time Is Slipping Away"
Four US Albums originally issued on Philadelphia International Records in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
UK released 10 March 2023, BGOCD1490 (Barcode 5017261214904)