Formed in 1964 as The Players, and eventually The Ohio Players, the group was “doing Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears-type stuff long before they were. Our crowds at home were so big by 8:30 you couldn’t get anywhere, and this wasn’t blacks, this was whites!” according to founding member Clarence “Satch” Satchell.

Meeting up with producer Johnny Brantley in 1966, the band began recording the following year. After a single on Ray Charles’ Tangerine label, they released two singles on the Compass label, and landed a contract with Capitol Records.

Observations In Time appeared in January 1969, containing a number of Ohio Players originals including “Here Today And Gone Tomorrow,” which David Bowie would make part of his Diamond Dogs tour and release it on 1974’s David Live. Covers include Allen Toussaint’s “Mother-In-Law,” the band’s take on “Over The Rainbow,” and a version of the immortal “Summertime” from Porgy And Bess.

After the release of the Capitol album, the band parted ways with Brantley and re-emerged in 1971 with their LP Pain on Detroit’s Westbound Records. When they hit superstardom with the million-selling “Funky Worm” (1973) on Westbound and million seller “Fire” (1974) and Gold-single “Love Rollercoaster” (1975) on Mercury Records, Brantley repackaged the remainder of their original pre-Capitol sessions across various releases in 1976–1977.

Now, for the first time, all 24 tracks from this pivotal and influential period of their long and successful career are available on Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions (releasing April 5th, 2024).

Containing the entire Observations In Time LP, their two Compass singles, and the material released afterward, Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions is the ultimate early look at a group that would transform modern R&B multiple times, eventually becoming part of the inaugural class inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.

1. Here Today And Gone Tomorrow
2. Mother-In-Law
3. Stop Lying To Yourself
4. Over The Rainbow
5. Find Someone To Love
6. Cold Cold World
7. Summertime
8. Bad Bargain
9. The Man That I Am
10. Lonely Street
11. Street Party
12. A Little Soul Party (A Woman & Some Soul)
13. A Thing Called Love
14. My Neighbors
15. Tell Me Why
16. You Don’t Mean It
17. Trespassin’
18. I’ve Got To Hold On
19. It’s A Cryin’ Shame
20. Alabama Soupbone Pt. 1 & 2
21. I Gotta Get Away
22. Love Slips Thru My Fingers
23. The Man That I Am (Instrumental)
24. Street Party (Instrumental)

This magnificent flashback to a most wondrous time gone by, opens on the shimmering hand-clapper Here Today And Gone Tomorrow, the upbeat and joyous Mother-In-Law and the fervent Stop Lying To Yourself, and then we get the lush balladry of Over The Rainbow, the drum and horn-led grooved Find Someone To Love, the low slung Cold Cold World, before tracks such as the dazzling Summertime, the bluesy Bad Bargain, the forthright The Man That I Am, and the soulful R&B of Lonely Street and soaring Street Party are brought forth; culminating the original album.

Along next is the James Brown-esque A Little Soul Party (A Woman & Some Soul), the fast-footer A Thing Called Love, and the funky My Neighbors, the free flowing Tell Me Why, and they are in turn backed by the hip shaker You Don’t Mean It, the James Brown-imbibed Trespassin’, the rhythmically melodious I’ve Got To Hold On, and then we get the fervent It’s A Cryin’ Shame, the glistening Alabama Soupbone Pt. 1 & 2, the Motown-hued duo of I Gotta Get Away and Love Slips Thru My Fingers, the new collection rounding out on two instrumentals in the form of The Man That I Am and Street Party.

With packaging featuring new liner notes from Tim Dillinger-Curenton outlining the story, Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions is a perfect release to showcase a band that was always on the cutting edge of musical exploration and excellence.

Official Purchase Link