PHILADELPHIA SOUL

Glyn from Mixed Music Bag is asking us to feature musical groups starting with the letter “O” for the month of October; today I’m showcasing a very well-known group and one of their most popular songs.

The O’Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio formed in 1958. They made their first chart appearance with the minor hit “Lonely Drifter” in 1963 but reached their greatest level of success in 1972 once they were signed to the Philadelphia International label by producers and songwriters Gamble & Huff.  The O’Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with “Back Stabbers” (1972) and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year with “Love Train“. Several other US R&B hits followed; the O’Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

“Love Train” by the O’Jays was written by the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. This hit single skyrocketed to No. 1 in the US and No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It was the O’Jays’ first and only number one record on the US pop chart. “Love Train” has been considered one of the first songs of disco music. 

On January 27, 1973,“Love Train” entered the Hot 100’s top 40, the same day that the Paris Peace Accords were signed. The song’s lyrics of unity mention a number of countries, including England, Russia, China, Egypt and Israel, as well as the continent of Africa. Record World said of the single release that the “tune chugs right along with a Gamble and a Huff” and could become the biggest hit from the “Back Stabbers” album …. which it did. “Love Train” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006. 

I think you will agree this song’s message of peace and unity throughout the world is one that is needed even more today than ever before.

NAR © 2023

Mixed Music Bag – week 34

Performing on the TV show “Soul Train”, here are the O’Jays doing their classic hit song, “Love Train”:

Lyrics

People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train

The next stop that we make will be England
Tell all the folks in Russia, and China, too
Don’t you know that it’s time to get on board
And let this train keep on riding, riding on through
Well, well

People all over the world (you don’t need no money)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train (don’t need no ticket, come on)
People all over the world (join in, ride this train)
Join in (ride this train, y’all)
Start a love train (come on, train), love train

All of you brothers over in Africa
Tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too
Please don’t miss this train at the station
‘Cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you
Well

People all over the world (sisters and brothers)
Join hands (join, come on)
Start a love train (ride this train, y’all), love train (come on)
People all over the world (don’t need no tickets)
Join hands (come on, ride)
Start a love train, love train
Ride, let it ride
Let it ride
Let it ride
People, ain’t no war

People all over the world (on this train)
Join in (ride the train)
Start a love train, love train (ride the train, y’all)
People all over the world (come on)
Join hands (you can ride or stand, yeah)
Start a love train, love train (makin’ love)
People all over the world (’round the world, y’all)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Kenneth Gamble / Leon Huff
Love Train lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

“Love Train”
Side A of the US single
Single by the O’Jays
from the album Back Stabbers
B-side	“Who Am I”
Released	December 20, 1972[1]
Recorded	Summer 1971 to 1972
Genre	Proto-disco, R&B, Philly soul, bubblegum pop
Length	6:15 (extended version); 2:59 (album version)
Label	Philadelphia International
Songwriter(s)	Kenneth Gamble,  Leon Huff
Producer(s)	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
The O’Jays singles chronology
“992 Arguments” (1972) “Love Train“ (1972) “Time to Get Down” (1973)
Music video
“Love Train” (Official “Love Train” Video on YouTube