This one’s just for DC.
(…okay, and for Cort, too, and any other Ohio fans) since I’ve been tormenting DC with the Gator song all week. Figured I’d show Ohio (no, NOT them damn Sucks Bucks) some love, since one of the greatest funk bands of all time…
…The Ohio Players, hails from there.
…and this…
Sugarfoot (aka Leroy Bonner)!!!
You can hear his influence in everyone from Cameo’s Larry Blackmon to Lionel Richie on several of the The Commodores’ hits, to EU’s lead singer Sugar Bear on the go-go classic, “Da Butt.”
We’ll do something major for starters…the title cut from their ass-kickin’ 1974 album, Skin Tight…
This bass intro was one of the first things I ever learned how to play on the guitar (all my mother’s brothers play guitar—I think it’s a requirement if you come from Mississippi—so it was kinda mandatory for me to learn something or I would have felt musically bankrupt on some level).
…is a song that’s damn-near an anthem for anyone who’s ever wanted to break out of a relationship. (The only songs that come close to being as huge a plea/announcement about bouncing out are Paul Simon’s escape-from-relationship-Alcatraz classic, “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and Teddy Pendergrass‘ awesomely-upbeat, wildly-slaphappy, I’m-so-over-your-ass dose of amazement, “I Don’t Love You Anymore.”) I’m sure a lot of folks will be able to sing ALL THE WORDS to this one. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, you might want to tuck it into your back pocket for future reference. Odds are, the need to hear it just might come up again.
The last cut, and this is one of my all-time favorites of any artist, is from a soundtrack they did in 1977 called Mr. Mean.
The song is a 9-minute plus (!!!) killer piece called “Good Luck Charm.” It’s the kind of music people just don’t make anymore…can’t make anymore even if they tried…and it moves me every single time I play it. Hope it makes you feel the same. Oh yeah, like “I Want To Be Free“, it also has a great drum intro.
Happy Friday!!! Thanks for making me feel so good about being back on the blog!!!
The Lo Zone 
>Have ALWAYS LOVED the OHIO playahs! These young, new school macks need to take NOTES! LOL!
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>Lo, I have every album you displayed here…in vynil! Been cartin' em around with me all these years! Who could ever part with those covers!A couple months ago my young cousin Paul and I hauled out my old "stereo" system – vintage 70's and 80's equipment (Phase Linear, Nakamichi, B&O, Advent Bookshelf speakers). We set it up in the dining room (didn't catch any shit for that!), bought a new Rega turntable since the kids broke my old B&O Beogram 1802, and began playing the old vynl stuff for fun. The kids think it is the strangest thing. They had never even seen a "record album" in their life! Brothers Johnson, Cursaders, Jackson Five, George Benson, Hugh Masekela, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, AWB, Jean-Luc Ponty, Hubert Laws, War, Commodores, Isley Bros……Speaking of Old School, my iTunes library just shuffled up Donald Byrd – "Think Twice." Oh my, music was SO sexy back then! No wonder we never got out of bed in the 70's!
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>WillieD was it the Al Jarreau "Live in London" album? Man, those names brought back some serious memories. I remember almost getting in trouble because I was singing "Get the Funk Out My Face." You know what my mom thought I was saying. Dang, man, the Crusaders back in the day with Joe Sample and Randy Crawford. Whew! I needs to pull out the vinyl.Lo, I didn't even have to play any of the clips — just seeing the album covers took me back. One of the best concerts I had ever gone to was one with The BarKays, Ohio Players, the P-Funk gang and New Birth. I dang near lost my young mind.Yes, this is truly a happy friday.
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>thanks lo for reminding me to p/u my ohio players greatest hits cd from my co-worker. i forgot!wow, willie d, you're bring back old memories of stereo rack systems with huge tower speakers. and i STILL think the that sound is better.
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>You all are clowning up in here. Willie D, just tell me when and where you are holding the house party cause it will be on and poppin.Juan, we definitely have to do a listening party, with a couple glasses of wine soon. Lo, please tell me you don't play the guitar too. SMH, just so much I still don't know about Ms. Lolita. Happy Friday, and YES, it is absolutely great having you back. I like the way you move the crowd.
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>Let me go pull out the LPs. I don't have all of them.Juan, I remember that concert…I don't remember New Birth being there, but the Bar Kays oh my goodness…talking about going back down memory lane.
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>Ive listened to the ohio players, cracked up listening to sugarfoot speak…but I think Im going to sit this one out and watch you all.Somethings you just don't mess with
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>Rich, Lo also has a really good voice. I've seen her and Malik Yoba sing together a few times. He would play guitar and the two of them would sing impromptu. It was always good because both of them are really talented and could play off each other well. I didn't know she played the guitar too but I'm not surprised. Her singing voice is very pretty.
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>roberta & donny…ashford & simpson…rachelle & will…lolita & malik????why?why not?well, we dun bought the books, why not the music?…and it's easier than ever to cut a cd! ;-)okay, for starters…how 'bout doing a duet over one of your original podcast…that would be sweet!
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>I dated Lolita for quite some time and she will always remain the love of my life. (Hence the anonymous post; don't wanna put myself on blast)One of the most exciting and inspiring things about being with her was learning how talented she is on so many levels and she's really humble about it. You find out things about her a little bit at a time; almost by accident. You casually mention you're hungry, and the next thing you know you've got a first class meal sitting in front of you with homemade everything. Whenever it seemed that I might be catching a cold or the flu, she was right there with her signature homemade chicken soup knocking the cold out before it could even set in.As for her singing? Man, that shit freaked me out because it was so unexpected. You'll hear a beautiful voice coming from another room as she's making a bed or doing her hair. You listen and go what the fuck? suddenly realizing your girl can sing—WELL. I'll never forget the first time I heard it. I came running from the other room and I must have scared her because she looked at me like I was crazy. I don't even think she realized she was singing, which she does when she feels really safe and comfortable around you. I asked her to do it again and she wouldn't.She was like that damn cartoon frog who would sing show tunes for his owner but not for the Hollywood agent who could get them paid. Then just as unexpectedly she'll surprise you. One night we were out at a small nightclub and she got on the mike and jammed with the band.I was spoiled by the luxurious experience of being with her when we were together and while I knew she was a once in a lifetime find, I was too stupid to realize how LITERALLY once in a lifetime she is. She's gorgeous in a rock star way and doesn't even know it; all my boys used to talk about how sexy she was and deferred to her like she was royalty. I haven't found anyone like her since we were together. I was my happiest when I was close to her glow. The fact that I lost this woman makes me stupider than those fools you guys have been reading about all week in some of these blog posts (the foot freak, etc.) I'll regret losing my Lo as long as I live, but I'll never ever stop loving her.
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>Awwwww..that was sooo sweet!!!!
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>==sniff sniff==…awwww..i'm almost in need of some kleenex!! you were doing real good till you threw the "sucks" line in there.HOWEVER>>you recovered greatly with the OHIO PLAYERS..dang girl, you brought out some ALBUM COVERS TO DIE FOR! I remember being a kid and looking at the models like dayum…wtf! I probably actually said it cause I was sneaking off listening to Richard Pryor then.Any and all of of this week's bickerings are forgiven! I appreciate you and your thigh high orange & blue gator boots…HAHAHAHAHI need a pic of that though..str8 up..if u got em..please send a pic!!!!!Oh, and by the way..glad to hear your so multi talented! I can find something else to pic with you about.Happy Friday all!!
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>Awwwww! I was going to talk more about the Ohio Players and the huge housewarming I'm havin in the Piedmont Pimp Pad this summer when the remodel is finally done (only 2.5 years!)…. but this note regarding our Lolita stopped me dead in my tracks…. Wow! What a sweet admission… even if it is from Anon… I'm sure she knows who it's from… and we are bystanders to this wonderful affirmation! Phew! What a week!
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>whoa..I did'nt see that anon comment..dang girl..it's like that! well now, i look forward to getting to know you more and sharing in the aura that is LOLITA FILES!!I can tell that in the short time that we have interacted that you have a sincere heart for your readers and fans. Since I am new to this scene and you, I truly thank you for the courtesy and the attention that you have shown to this fledgling…smile). I wish you continued success on your journey!(real talk)!p.s. GO BUCKS!!
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>Aiight……aiight. Since anonymous up there just broke the ice with his "Lo Confession," dammit Ima make one too.Anonymously, of course. Hahahaha!!!!!!When I first met Lo I just knew I was gonna hit that. She's hot as fuck, got one of the best senses of humor I ever seen on a man or a woman, super smart, and she's just cool as fuck to hang with. We won't even talk about them TIG ASS BITTIES. I'm a beast with the ladies and have never had a problem cracking one that I want. The trick with Lo though is the longer you know her, the more you realize you can't just hit it and quit it. She's the kind of woman you wife. Another thing: if you don't crack her right away, the harder it becomes to do it. She's so sweet and shit she's almost kinda innocent and you realize that if you wait too long then suddenly come on to her it might catch her off guard and scare her off, and the last thing you want is to scare someone like Lo off. She's a diamond, bruh. The rarest kind.So you weigh the odds and you have a talk with your dick. You say "Dick…..you can try to get at her and fuck it up, or you can be cool and have this diamond in your world." You suddenly find yourself in the friend zone and your dick is mad as fuck, but you accept it. Lo has a way of making a nigga act mature. How many cats you know go against they own dick?You figure out how to desexualize her when she comes around. You think dumb shit to ward your dick off. I convinced myself that fucking her would be like fucking my sister so that killed the urge for me. Oh and I just ignore them TIG ASS BIDDIES, which is hard because she's not that big but the biddies are. One by one you watch your boys who meet her for the first time try to plot how to fuck her. You just shake your head, try to warn em, them walk away.Lo's a bad bitch.And oh yeah…..I've heard her sing. I guess she must feel safe with me!!!!!!!!!;-)
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>how come i feel like an overprotective big brother ret tuh fuck up somebody, tryin' to mack on his sister?;-( …grrrr!
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>Juan G, The Al Jarreau album I have is not "Live in London," (1985) it's "Look to the Rainbow," (1977)which was recorded live at the Montreux Jass Festival (note to self: Move that one up on the list of "to do's" in life). Al was just breaking onto the international scene when that was recorded (he began his singing career in San Francisco after moving here after college in Iowa). One of my ATF albums!
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>I dated Lo. Took a hella-long time for it to happen, but I felt like I had hit the Lotto. She's definitely the wifey type. Don't feel bad anonymous #1. I fucked it up too.
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>GRRRR!!!!!
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>HOLY FUCK!!! What the hell is going on in here??????!!!This is supposed to be a post about The Ohio Players. How did it become a post about me?Willie D., I have no idea who that Anonymous love confession is from. While I appreciate his sweet remarks, if I had a dime for every ex that regretted the loss of me…
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>DC, glad you enjoyed the post and definitely glad to have you as a Zoner.Sorry about the Bucks. Seriously.Click here to see my TIG ASS BIDDIES!!!
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>Thanks for the Ohio players clips, they are one of the best funk bands…along with my other favorites, Funkadelic, Parliement Funkadelic, oh and yall know how i love me some New Birth….Now LO, lol, those confessions were so sweet but funny too, what a wonderful or scary thing to find all of your ex's describing your shit to the world…you go girl! I really enjoyed this post.
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>I remember those covers. My mom and her friends had them. They opened up in three pieces. Didn't they have the pic with the snake charmer. And wasn't the Honey cover more risque then what the pic shows.
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>wow – miss an hour, miss a whole F%$in' LOT here on The Files! LOL!I really had a serious crush on the New Birth singers. Never saw any of them but their voices made me melt!Sistah Lo – I wanna grow up to be U. Gon' sis, wicha BZAAAD self! Lemme find out U r Cleopatra Jones of the new millenium!;-)
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>lol..i think one of covers had a burn spot on it cause my cousin used to roll a phatty off of it! I guess once they got all the seeds out(using the flat surface on their knees outside in the backyard)and got the e z widers out…they must have lit it too close to the album cover…she got a burned up titty…ooops(did i just say that)?hahahahahaha
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>New Birth is one of my faves too, CapCity. "Dream Merchant" was my joint, and "Been Such A Long Time," among others. And while I love me some Bobby Womack, New Birth's version of "I Can Understand It" puts his to shame.
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>WillieD, thanks for the correction. Actually that's the one I meant — I used to play it when I was a sophomore in college which would have been 77/78.
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>WillieD, thanks for the correction but THAT was the one. I bought it when I was a sophomore in college which would have been 77/78. We Got By was one of my favorite songs and trust me it got me by. There were only six black folk who started out with me as freshmen and only three of us graduated.
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>ooooooh, did you all know that New Birth has a WebSITE!!! I almost passed out when I found it after much round about searching! Good Lawd!New BirthEnjoy! I am! :-)Growing up with music like this reminds me of how BLESSED I really am to have been exposed to such GREATNESS! In addition to growing up in the formerly known as Chocolate City & home of that Go-Go Beat. LOL!
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>You like Bobby Womack too! Girl i luv me some Bobby, thanks to my mom for that…some of that old-old school music…but like i said New Birth is one of my favorites, the way that man gets to whining in "Been such a long time", and like you said "Dream Merchant", can't nobody hold a candle to him. Cap, i don't think i ever saw a pic of them, ever…but see it didn't make a dayum bit of difference….them boyz could sing!
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>CapCity, did you know Chuck Brown has a new studio CD out? His daughter is on a cut with him that's getting lots of air play.
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>NEW BIRTH — "It's Been Such A Long Time" and "Until It's Time For You To Go" used to be the jams.
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>Test
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>Too bad everybody moved on from the previous "three way" topic, to which I guess the answer is that, NO, you don't tell them if they are gonna be like that!I thought my comment to Lance was worth a shout out!……Uh Lance, I think you missed the point… the "three way" was with two men and her, not her, a guy and another woman… kind of takes the fun out of it, no? You think boy woulda become sick to his stomach fantasizing about his girl making it with Cameron Diaz and some guy, or over her makin it with a couple linebackers from the New York Giants? Funny how we project…. And while we're at it talkin bout 3-ways… what "men" in this blog have had the opportunity to be with another man and a woman and were cool with it? I mean come on, two women and a guy is too easy, no?
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>Oh boy. This looks like a job for Sleazy. Cort's got the definitive rule—an ironclad policy regarding what WillieD just asked. Are you out there, Cort? If so, please share with the people your very hilarious rule about a threesome involving two dudes and a chick…
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>Cort Sleazy to the rescueeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!Willie I have had adventures in threesomes from the prospective of being with two women and myself and also from me and my partner demolishing one woman cause she wanted to have multi orfices filled . You are correct that it's a much easier task to be the basketball player /entertainer that runs into someone that wants to have you and your boy for the adventure but do know there is a standing rule with partners that do this if she is my chick you dont try to slide her your number afterwards or talk to her like she and you are cool cool afterwards ( the two of you go back to being friendly like before ) oh yeah the real real rule above all is you stay on your end of the female I'll work the other .. There will be no touching of me and if you do I consider it a homosexual advance and you will be thwarted immediately ( death to all in the room as amatter of fact heheheeheh.. no witnesses no story hahahahahah ) .
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>Court, I was really just probing to see how comfortable THE REAL MAN is with his stuff, you know?
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