FUNK! This band ladies and gentlemen, this is the pure, out and out, the dead-on definition of that freaky word. Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Herbie Hancock, "Parliament", "Earth, Wind, & Fire", etc... etc... are all right up there on the Mt. Rushmore of Funkadalia, but arguably the funkiest of them all were the "Ohio Players". That's not to say the above mentioned quintet takes a back seat in my opinion to this incredible funk/soul group, on the contrary, these players are more like 2nd ballot hall-of-famers compared to the five no-brainer first balloters mentioned above. Yet, in the mid-70's (1974 & 75 to be exact) almost no band of their ilk could touch them as they punched out three consecutive hit records - "Skin Tight", "Fire", & "Honey" in that order. All three are classics, and all three merit 5-stars in my opinion. However my personal favorite, if I had to choose one, has gotta be "Fire". Believe me it's a tough call, because at the end of the day all three recordings, as I stated before, are quite excellent.

Released in 1974 this was, in the group's eyes, their masterpiece - a crowning touch of the dynamic, very explosive bass-and-horn-heavy style that they had always been noted for. This one topped the pop charts, and every time I revisit it, I scratch my head and ask "why? Why can't they make music like this nowadays?" The whole album is smooth, steamy, sensuous, and sublime (a lot like their avant-garde album covers, whoa.... Nelly, don't get me started on those!). From their airy ballads (i.e. "It's All Over","Together", and "I Want To Be Free") to their most recognizable, powerfully addictive title track, and all the classic burners in between like "Running With The Devil" (which inspired Eddie Van Halen & Co.) it's one album that is too enjoyable to miss. Especially if you a fan of this type of soul music!

I really dig these cats. They were a progressive soul/funk group that wrote and produced all their songs. Their funky style and sound has influenced countless R&B and hip-hoppers even up to this present day. What I personally enjoy most about their music is that it makes you feel surreally blissful and yet bustling full of energy at the same time, almost like you are floating on a cloud going ninety miles an hour without a care in the world...

The band members include James "Diamond" Washington" (drums, chimes, percussion, lead & background vocals), Billy Beck (Fender Rhodes piano, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, lead & background vocals, and no he is not related to Minnie Riperton!), Mervin Pierce (trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone & background vocals), Robert "Rumba" Jones (Fender base), Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner (guitar, percussion, lead & background vocals), Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks (trumpet, trombone & background vocals), and Clarence "Satch" Satchell (baritone sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, percussion, lead & background vocals).

Enjoy!

I was blown away when I first heard this album in 1974. Not only is this album unbelievably funky but the ballads are incredible.

The Ohio Players' album "Fire" is an extroardinary and excellent funky album that tends to be one of my favorite albums of all time. If you like the funk-rock single "Fire", then The Ohio Players album "Fire" is worth listening too.

The Ohio Players' album "Fire" is an excellent funky album, and is one of my favorite album collections at home. If you like the funk-rock single "Fire", the Ohio Players' album "Fire" is worth listening too.

These guys sure can FUNK IT UP!'Fire' is not only one of their best albums but contains some seriously dangerous funk
in the classic title song,"Runnin' From The Devil" and the deep
"Smoke".Of course "I Want To Be Free" is one of the SICKEST
slow grooves I've ever heard,notably in it's general absence of
a beat!But those kinds of precious little afterthoughts are a big part about what makes this and the Ohio Players first three
Mercury albums so specially grooving and fun to hear!