Their song "Runnin' from the Devil" inspired the Van Halen song "Runnin' With the Devil".
The group disbanded again in 1970. After again reforming with a line-up including Bonner, Satchell, Middlebrooks, Jones, Webster, trumpeter Bruce Napier, trombonist Marvin Pierce, and keyboardist Walter "Junie" Morrison, the Players had a minor hit on the Detroit-based Westbound label in 1971 with "Pain" which reached the Billboard R&B Top 40. Detroit vocalist Dale Allen shared co-lead vocals on some of the early Westbound material, although not credited on the albums "Pain" and "Pleasure".
The band’s first big hit was "Funky Worm", which hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Charts and made the pop Top 15 in May 1973. The band signed with Mercury Records in 1974. By this time, their lineup had changed again, with keyboardist Billy Beck instead of Morrison and Jimmy "Diamond" Williams on drums instead of Webster. On later album releases, they added second guitarist/vocalist Clarence 'Chet' Willis and conga player Robert "Rumba" Jones to the lineup. Bonner sang lead vocals on most of the band's hits.
The band had seven Top 40 hits between 1973 and 1976, including "Fire" (#1 on both the R&B and pop charts for two weeks and one week respectively in February 1975) and "Love Rollercoaster" (#1 on both the R&B and pop charts for 1 week in January 1976). The group's last big hit was "Who'd She Coo" a #1 R&B hit in August 1976.
The band became widely known not only for their sound, which has been sampled and copied by countless R&B and hip-hop artists since, but for their sexually provocative album covers, including the cover of 1974's Ecstasy, which featured a man and a woman in a pose of arousal wearing chains and leather, and 1975's Honey, which featured a nude woman holding an overflowing jar of honey and dropping some into her mouth with a ladle.
There is an urban legend that has it that a scream on "Love Rollercoaster" that came during the break after the second verse was the sound of someone being murdered in the studio while the track was being recorded. It is widely believed to be the scream of a female model (the nude woman Ester Cordet featured on the image for the Honey album) after being stabbed with a knife by the band's manager. She was complaining that the honey and fibre glass she was sitting on reacted when mixed causing permanent damage to her legs during the image photography, ending her modelling career. She then approached the manager seeking compensation during the recording of "Love Rollercoaster" only to be stabbed and attacked.
The Ohio Players then left the scream in as a sick tribute.[1] The band did not discredit this rumor at the time, because, as one band member put it later, "that makes you sell more records." This is just an urban legend however, as are any other disturbing explanations, including a person murdered outside the recording studio (although recording studios are soundproof and the scream would not have been heard), a band member murdering his girlfriend or a cleaning woman in the recording studio, or a real scream taken from a 911 call or a Psychiatric ward.
Clarence Satchell died in January 1996 after he had a brain aneurysm. Ralph Middlebrooks died in November 1997.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were one of the bands heavily influenced by the Ohio Players, covering "Love Rollercoaster" for the film Beavis and Butt-head Do America. In the UK, there was a chain of music and DVD stores named after one of their hit songs, "Fopp". "Fopp" was also covered by Soundgarden for an EP called Fopp.
4 O-H-I-O
Ohio Players Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
[Incomprehensible]
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
The Ohio Players’ “4 O-H-I-O” lyrics celebrate the state of Ohio and what it represents to the band. The repetition of the chant “O-H-I-O” throughout the song is an emblem of pride and unity among Ohioans. The state is often referred to as “The Heart of It All,” and the Ohio Players' lyrics echo this sentiment, highlighting the love and appreciation they have for the “Buckeye State.”
The Ohio Players' lyrics in “4 O-H-I-O” also reference various aspects of Ohio’s culture and heritage. The song includes lyrics about the Ohio River, which runs along the state’s southern border, as well as nods to various Ohio cities, including Cleveland and Cincinnati. The band also sings about the importance of music in Ohio, referencing Cleveland’s rock ‘n’ roll heritage and Akron’s rich musical history.
Additionally, the lyrics of “4 O-H-I-O” express the Ohio Players’ pride in being a part of the state’s vibrant and diverse community. They sing about “Black and white together,” emphasizing the importance of unity and equality in their home state of Ohio. Overall, the Ohio Players’ “4 O-H-I-O” lyrics are a vibrant celebration of the Buckeye State, showcasing the band's connection to their home and all that it represents.
Line by Line Meaning
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
The state of Ohio, represented by its abbreviation O-H-I-O, is being chanted multiple times as a way of expressing pride and solidarity for its residents.
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
The state of Ohio is being repeated multiple times as a way of reinforcing its identity and importance in the minds of the listeners.
[Incomprehensible]
This line is difficult to understand or hear, and its meaning is unclear without further context.
O-H-I-O, O-H-I-O
The state of Ohio is being chanted once again, emphasizing its importance and significance to the singers and listeners.
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
The singers repeat the name of the state of Ohio multiple times, further cementing its identity and importance in their minds.
Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio
The repetition of Ohio's name serves as a concluding reminder of the pride and association the singers and listeners have with the state.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruby nevarez
We are playing this song for the parade on Friday and are flag routine is really cool
Rod Beauvex
"I knew the song would attract Artie, The Strongest Man In the World, like a giant funk magnet, and sure enough..."
neil Johnson
Dude that’s exactly why I searched to see if there was a version of this done by a marching band. I’m glad I’m not the only one! That was like one of the best shows ever and I mean that for real. I’m 50 years old now and I used to watch it over my kids shoulders and then I just started watching it. What a multi layered piece of genius that show was! Plus all the Musical guest stars, luscious Jackson playing the school dance, freaking Iggy Popp was Nona’s dad, And Michael Stipe peddling sludge sickles… I’m sure I’ve missed a few. And when dad found a station wagon at the beach with a metal detector and drove it home. Dear Lord I’ve gotta see if I can get the DVD set.
Rod Beauvex
@neil Johnson I regret not watching it back in the day, but in my defense, it seemed like they aired it like once every three months on the second Tuesday.
Rickey Moore
GOOD JOB!
Shriggins
i need the score for this song
SixOneNiner1
Hmm!....sounds like a Caucasian band, unfortunately!
Eric Friendzoned
Did your dad ever return?
SixOneNiner1
@Eric Friendzoned both parents deceased, thanks for the being concerned!🤔