70年代のファンク全盛期を代表するグループの1つ,オハイオ・プレイヤーズ。彼らの代表とされているのが本作(75年発表)です。 サイレンの音で幕を開けるタイトル曲「Fire」。挑発的なホーン・セクションとファルセットも交えた猥雑な掛け合いが始まるボトムの重いファンクで,ファンカデリックみたいなサイケっぽいギターやら,奔放なパーカッションも飛び出し,大いに盛り上がります。 一転して「Together」は,爽やかな朝焼けを思わせる美しくブライトなバラード。女性シンガーかと思わせるほど綺麗なファルセットを交えたコーラスは夢見心地の逸品です。で,3曲目はまたもやアップテンポへ。「Runnin' from the Devil」は,挑発的なホーン・セクションに軽快なギター・リフで押すブギ。そして,4曲目は,派手なドラムのソロで幕を開けるも,実はしっとりとメロディアスなバラード「I Want to Be Free」。このメリハリが素晴らしいですね。 もっとも後半は少し楽曲のポテンシャルが落ちてしまうのが残念ではあります。ホーン・セクションがまくし立てる「Smoke」や,ノイジーで不穏なギターとジャジーなピアノの対比がユニークな「What the Hell」など,それらしさは出ているのですが,前半の完成度に比べると少し見劣りが…。 それでも70年代のファンク全盛期を支えたグループとして一聴の価値あり,の1枚です。
Nice flat 180 gram red vinyl. I purchased it brand new and cleaned it and transferred to a MoFi type sleeve with rice paper before the initial spin. The Gatefold cover has a top seam split due to loose shrink wrap packaging by Friday Music. As for the vinyl….snap, crackle and pop….Smh
Having just received this DTS mix I have to say it's one of the better surround sound remixes I have heard. I have this on vinyl and I remember liking the album for the most part, and this stellar mix is a prime example of how a 5.1 music mix should be. The only observation is, and it's just that, an observation, is the back surrounds can be a tad shrill on the higher notes at times. Not really bad considering how old the original recording is. The bass is about as good as you can get, not overdone and boomy like alot of todays music. Even though there is a song or two I don't really care for on this album, it's still a great one to have in the inventory.
I enjoyed listening to the Ohio Players a lot! The CD was brilliant and all the songs they wrote and sang were great! I never get tired of "Fire" and "I Want To Be Free"; these brothers were fabulous and it's a shame they are no longer singing anymore. Their vocal harmonies were outstanding and the music today is hardly worth listening to right now! Ah, the Seventies! What a magical time to be free and enjoy yourself!