Search - O'Jays :: Ship Ahoy

'Ship Ahoy' Is Pretty Much Undisputed

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has the indignity of being made in an era where the word "classic" seemed to be applied to every album that came out.But as everyone knowns it's time and longjevity that truly makes a classic.Luckilly for everyone 'Ship Ahoy' has aged with the same quality and great taste of a fine French wine.In terms of O'Jay history this album is linked strongly with their first masterpience album Back Stabbers and they do seem like logical extensions;both came during the O'Jays creative and commercial peak and their cultural influece was beyond intense.On EVERY one of the songs Eddie LeVert's operatic gospel shouting will still turn the ears of everyone they touch-especially on the title track.That is a musical and cultural "period" song about the events of an ancient slave ship,sung by LeVert and the O'Jays harmonies with a dry eye-I just know I couldn't have done that-singing what they did on that song would've made me either angry or sad.But in the O'Jays hands their vocals communicate,subjectively.Another aspect of 'Ship Ahoy' as opposed to the previous album is the Philly slickness of even the funkiest songs-on "Put Your Hands Together","People Keep Tellin' Me" and even the environmental please "This Air I Breath" the peppiness of the music with it's happy Philly orchestration make one not even notice Eddie's line about "the air not staying in his mouth".And what can be said about "For The Love Of Money"?Nothing that hasn't been said;O'Jays at their funkiest,hands down.During this time The O'Jays were more then just a great singing trio-they were a musical movement.Like The Isley Brothers,The Blue Notes and The Spinners were musical movements.And the fact that all three of these movements co existed in their classic period all around the same is more then enough to make albums like 'Ship Ahoy' seem overwelming.But it really isn't.But truth be told;you just cannot listen to music like this and not have some kind of excited reaction."

Followup to "Back Stabbers"

T. C Lane | Marina, CA USA | 05/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1973 album was the followup to the O'Jays breakthrough "Back Stabbers". The good news is that it's almost as strong as that album. "Put Your Hands Together" and "For The Love of Money" went Top 10 Pop and R&B, while good album tracks like "Now That We Found Love" and the title track make this 8 track CD a must for Old School R&B fans. The liner notes for the 2003 reissue are VERY brief, and there's good pictures of the group. The one bonus track is a live version of "Put Your Hands Together" which was previously released."

Epic, progressive R&B from Philly Soul's finest

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 11/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A strong Isaac Hayes influence is all over this record - the guy's brand of epic, orchestrated R&B was also a big influence on Curtis Mayfield and Norman Whitfield, as I'm sure you already know. The three extremely drawn-out tracks are actually my three favorites, too. Of course you're familiar with "For the Love of Money", the lengthy funk-jazz hybrid that was a Top 10 R&B hit. Everybody's already praised it, but I'd like to add my voice to the chorus. And you need to hear the whole thing. It's just fantastic. And as I already said, I love the other two longer pieces, too: "Middle Passage" has powerful group vocals, stirring orchestration, and a moving message about the transporting of slaves. And "Don't Call Me Brother", while the weakest of the three, still has a lot going for it, especially in the horn part and (once again) complex vocals. It's the shorter, more concise songs that don't sound the best, other than the optimistic "Put Your Hands Together" and the highly melodic "People Keep Tellin' Me"; "You Got Your Hooks in Me" is a genero Temptations copy; "This Air I Breathe" and "Now That We've Found Love" slap on the melodrama to breaking point."