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A Number 1 USA R'n'B hit in late 1973 and a heavy-hitter pop breakthrough album -
along with "Backstabbers" that went before it in 1972 - "Ship
Ahoy" holds a special place in the hearts of every O'Jays fan. It's also
one of the Soul gems on a record label that's held in mighty affection to this
day - Philadelphia International. And once again it has to be said that BBR of
the UK (Big Break Records) has done the album proud with this 40th Anniversary
CD reissue. Here are the Phillybuster details...
Reissued
February 2013 in the UK - Big Break Records CDBBR 0207 breaks down as follows
(55:17 minutes):
Tracks
1 to 8 are the album "Ship Ahoy" - originally released in the USA and
UK on Philadelphia International KZ 32408 and S PIR 65860 in October 1973.
Track
9 is "Put Your Hands Together (Live In London, December 1973)" while
10 and 11 are "Single Versions" of "For The Love Of Money"
and "Now That We Found Love".
This
CD will allow fans to sequence the following singles issued around the album:
1.
Put Your Hands Together b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - November 1973 US 7"
single on Philadelphia International ZS7 3535.
2.
For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 US 7" single
on ZS7 3744
3.
Put Your Hands Together b/w The Air That I Breath - November 1973 UK 7"
single on S PIR 1905
4.
For The Love Of Money b/w People Keep Telling Me - March 1974 UK 7" single
on S PIR 2186
5.
Now That We Found Love b/w You Got Your Hooks In Me - August 1974 UK 7"
single on S PIR 2577
The
jewel case is one of those new rounded corner deals and the 16-page booklet
features detailed liner notes by CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE - a New Yorker writer
who is a contributing Editor to "PopMatters" website. The booklet has
various US picture sleeves, Philly memorabilia etc. The remaster is by WAYNE A.
DICKSON and is superlative - incredibly clean, clear and present reflecting
GAMBLE & HUFF'S superb production values back in the day. I can't emphasize
enough how good BBR CDs sound - I've reviewed over 15 (see list below) - and
this is no different. A joy to listen too...
Side
1 is pretty much flawless - and how good is it to hear the full album stretch
of "Ship Ahoy" at nearly nine minutes with its bells and fog horns
and spoken passages. “The Air I Breathe" is an uptempo dancer about
suburban pollution that could easily have been another successful hit single
while the truly lovely "You Got Your Hooks In Me" (lyrics above) is
the kind of BUNNY SIGLER ballad that defines their 'lurve' side - pull them
close and feel that heat people!
Side
2 opens with the full album version of the fabulously perky "For The Love
Of Money" - funkifying your speakers for over seven minutes (the remaster
is so good on the bass and brass). "Don't Call Me Brother" apes
Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" for its opening seconds but then
settles into a stunning smoochy vibe about 'getting yourself together' and
'respecting your woman'. It finishes on the almost disco-precursor "People
Keep Telling Me" where someone is doing someone wrong - yet again. The
polish of the 'live' version of "Put Your Hands Together" is amazing
- the band tight while the boys whip the crowd into a 'let us pray' and 'come
on' frenzy - great stuff. And I've been looking for the single edits for years.
This
is a superb reissue - and kudos once again to BBR for its top sound quality and
classy presentation.
