"Ship Ahoy" by THE O'JAYS - A Review Of Their 1973 Philadelphia International LP - Now Remastered & Expanded In 2013 Onto A 40th Anniversary CD By Big Break Records of the UK...

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A Number 1 USA R'n'B hit in late 1973 and a heavy-hitter pop breakthrough album - along with "Backstabbers" that went before it in 1972 - "Ship Ahoy" holds a special place in the hearts of every O'Jays fan. It's also one of the Soul gems on a record label that's held in mighty affection to this day - Philadelphia International. And once again it has to be said that BBR of the UK (Big Break Records) has done the album proud with this 40th Anniversary CD reissue. Here are the Phillybuster details...

Reissued February 2013 in the UK - Big Break Records CDBBR 0207 breaks down as follows (55:17 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Ship Ahoy" - originally released in the USA and UK on Philadelphia International KZ 32408 and S PIR 65860 in October 1973.

Track 9 is "Put Your Hands Together (Live In London, December 1973)" while 10 and 11 are "Single Versions" of "For The Love Of Money" and "Now That We Found Love".

This CD will allow fans to sequence the following singles issued around the album:

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 The Air That I Breath - 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

The jewel case is one of those new rounded corner deals and the 16-page booklet features detailed liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - a New Yorker writer who is a contributing Editor to "PopMatters" website. The booklet has various US picture sleeves, Philly memorabilia etc. The remaster is by WAYNE A. DICKSON and is superlative - incredibly clean, clear and present reflecting GAMBLE & HUFF'S superb production values back in the day. I can't emphasize enough how good BBR CDs sound - I've reviewed over 15 (see list below) - and this is no different. A joy to listen too...

Side 1 is pretty much flawless - and how good is it to hear the full album stretch of "Ship Ahoy" at nearly nine minutes with its bells and fog horns and spoken passages. “The 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" (lyrics above) is the kind of BUNNY SIGLER ballad that defines 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'. It finishes on the almost disco-precursor "People Keep Telling Me" where someone is doing someone wrong - yet again. The polish of the 'live' version of "Put Your Hands Together" is amazing - the band tight while the boys whip the crowd into a 'let us pray' and 'come on' frenzy - great stuff. And I've been looking for the single edits for years.

This is a superb reissue - and kudos once again to BBR for its top sound quality and classy presentation.

"Back Stabbers" by O'JAYS (2011 Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Please Don't Miss This Train..."

Reissued by Big Break Records of the UK (also known as BBR) – their Internet blurb claims to have 'lovingly remastered' the O’JAYS famous album “Back Stabbers” for a new audience. And one minute into this amazing remaster and I know they're right. I've loved this fabulous Soul platter to distraction for decades and what a blast it is to finally hear it sound 'so' good. Let's get to the 'people all over the world' details right away...

UK released in June 2011 – "Back Stabbers" by O’JAYS on Big Break Records CDBBR 0051 (Barcode 5013929035126) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of their 1972 album with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (49:07 minutes):

1. When The World’s At Peace

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 the album "Back Stabbers" - originally released September 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.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. 992 Arguments (7" Single Edit) - 2:24 minutes (the full album version is 6:10 minutes)

12. Love Train (Tom Moulton Mix) - a remix from 1977 running to 6:15 minutes (the album version is 3:03 minutes).

Housed in one those 'Deluxe' rounded jewel cases, the superlative 16-page booklet has a knowledgeable and hugely affection essay on the Group, Philly and the album's making by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE. It includes interviews with surviving members of the group (Eddie Levert), shows Foreign picture sleeves, UK and US trade adverts, 7" single labels and other promo photos - it's very well done and a lovely read. But the really great news is the sound...

Remastered from the first generation master tapes by WAYNE A. DICKSON at the BBR Mastering Studios - the sound quality is mindblowingly good. To put this into a context - I've had the 1996 Columbia 'Legacy' CD of this album to have the music, but I've always found their issues to be very hit and miss. Take the criminally forgotten beautiful ballad "Who Am I". The sound upgrade from 1996 to this is vast - the song has HUGE feeling to it now and isn't trebled up the nines for effect either. It's warm, present and a joy to listen to. The same apples to the big singles we've probably all heard one-to-many times - "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" (lyrics above). It comes as a genuine shock to hear them here - how good they sound - it's like meeting old friends you've missed. I can't praise this remaster enough. 

Content - for most people "Back Stabbers" is the beginning of the Philly Sound - both on 7" single and LP. Nearly 40 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 recognisable. Musically the 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 and this CD reissue will allow you to sequence all of them as follows:

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.

To sum up - BBR dedicate this reissue to songwriters McFadden & Whitehead and William Powell - one of the original group members who sadly died of cancer in 1977 aged only 35. Well - in my books - they've done the absolute business by him and opened up The O'Jays recorded legacy for a new generation. Is this an upgrade you must own – absolutely…

Along with the launch of "Stax Remasters" (see review for "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" by The Staple Singers) - this is one my Soul Reissues Of 2011.

PS: I’ve reviewed these Big Break Records (BBR) CDs – all quality remasters:

1. Is It Still Good To Ya – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1978)

2. Stay Free – ASHFORD and SIMPSON (1979)

3. Central Heating – HEATWAVE (1977)

4. Hot Property - HEATWAVE (1979)

5. Candles - HEATWAVE (1980)

6. Turnin' On - HIGH INERGY (1977)

7. Harvest For The World - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1976)

8. Go For Your Guns - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1977)

9. In The Heart – KOOL & THE GANG (1983)

10. I Hope We Get To Love On Time - MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS (1976)

11. I Miss You - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1972) [known as "Harold Melvin The Blue Notes" in the UK]

12. Black & Blue - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (1973)

13. Love Is The Message - MFSB (1973)

14. Universal Love – MFSB (1975)

15. All The Faces Of... - BUDDY MILES (1974)

16. For The First Time – STEPHANIE MILLS (1975)

17. I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (1972)

18. In Philadelphia - O'JAYS (1969)

19. Back Stabbers - O'JAYS (1972)

20. Ship Ahoy - O'JAYS (1973)

21. Down To Love Town – THE ORIGINALS (1977)

22. Ebony Woman - BILLY PAUL (1970 and 1973)

23. 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul - BILLY PAUL (1972)

24. War Of The Gods - BILLY PAUL (1973)

25. Platinum Hook – PLATINUM HOOK (1978)

26. Love For What It Is - ANITA POINTER (of The Pointer Sisters) (1987)

27. Live: Stompin’ At The Savoy – RUFUS and CHAKA KHAN (1983)

28. Summernights – SILVER CONVENTION (1977)

29. Smoked Sugar - SMOKED SUGAR (1975)

30. Spinners – SPINNERS (1973)

31. Soul Master – EDWIN STARR (1968)

32. Involved - EDWIN STARR (1971)

33. Switch - SWITCH (1978)

34. Watercolors – THE WATERS (1980)

35. Just As I Am - BILL WITHERS (1971)

36. Heartbeats – YARBROUGH & PEOPLES (1983)