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.
Let's Love
Ohio Players Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It takes you it takes me together
Oh, let's love, we only got one day
Oh, let's love to pass the time away
I've only known you for a moment
Oh but I love you desperately girl
If it wasn't for the things that people would say child
It takes a L and a O and a V and a E
It takes you it takes me together
Oh let's love we only got one day
I say we only got one day
Oh let's love to pass the time away
They say that I am mean and evil, oh girl
Oh but how else how can a starving man be
If you wouldn't listen to what they
Say behind my back child
You would be making love to me (Alright)
It takes a L and a O and a V and a E
It takes you it takes me together
Oh let's love we only got one day
Let's fall in love
I say we only got one day
Oh let's love to pass the time away (alright)
Love on me and let me love on you
Understand me
That's the natural thang to do
If you wouldn't listen to what they say
Behind my back girl
You would be making love to me (alright)
Please do it, please do it
Even you and me can do it
There's really nothing turning it into honey
Oh let's love we only got a day
Oh let's love to pass the time away
The Ohio Players' song "Let's Love" is a straightforward love song that encourages two individuals to come together and appreciate each other for a day. The chorus of the song is catchy, with a jingle-like quality that is easy to sing along to. The lyrics of the song suggest that it takes just four letters - L, O, V, and E - and two willing hearts to make love happen. The main idea of the song is that love is something that can be found in the simplest of things, and it does not have to be complicated or difficult.
The singer of the song has fallen deeply in love with someone he has only known for a brief time. He expresses his desire to be with her, but is hesitant due to the judgment of others. He mentions the judgments that people make about him, suggesting that his reputation precedes him, making it difficult for him to form meaningful relationships. However, he implores his love interest to see him for who he really is and not be swayed by the opinions of others.
The lyrics of "Let's Love" can be interpreted as both simple and complex, depending on the listener's perspective. On a surface level, the song is a call for two people to come together and enjoy each other's company. However, the lyrics hint at deeper emotions, such as vulnerability and a fear of rejection. The singer is worried that his love interest will not see past his reputation, and he implores her to give him a chance. Overall, "Let's Love" is a charming love song that encourages listeners to take risks and pursue love no matter what others may say.
Line by Line Meaning
It takes a L and a O and a V and a E
Love cannot be spelled without L, O, V, and E. These letters represent the passion and affection involved in one's feelings that are required for a relationship to succeed.
It takes you it takes me together
Love is a collaborative effort, requiring the participation of two individuals to make it work.
Oh, let's love, we only got one day
Life is short and uncertain, so we must seize the day and make the most of every opportunity to love and be loved.
Oh, let's love to pass the time away
Love can make time fly, and sharing it with someone special can help us forget about the worries and stress of life.
I've only known you for a moment
Although their time together was brief, the singer has already fallen head over heels in love with the person they are addressing.
Oh but I love you desperately girl
The singer's love for the person they are addressing is intense and profound, permeating their every thought and emotion.
If it wasn't for the things that people would say child
The opinion of others is preventing the singer's love interest from reciprocating their love and affection.
You would be making love to me (alright)
If it weren't for the opinions of others, the person the singer is addressing would be willing to express their love and affection for them openly.
They say that I am mean and evil, oh girl
People are spreading rumors and false information about the singer to tarnish their reputation and undermine their chances with the person they love.
Oh but how else how can a starving man be
The artist is trying to justify why they act mean or evil. They use a metaphor of a starving man who has to resort to desperate measures to survive.
If you wouldn't listen to what they say behind my back child
If the person the singer loves didn't give credence to the rumors about them and instead trusted their own feelings and judgment, they would be able to be with the singer.
Love on me and let me love on you understand me
The singer is requesting that they share their love and affection equally to foster a deeper bond and connection between them. They want to be understood by the person they love.
There's really nothing turning it into honey
Despite the challenges they may face, the singer believes that their love is genuine and can withstand any obstacles or hardships.
Please do it, please do it
The singer is pleading with the person they love to express their love and affection openly and without hesitation.
Even you and me can do it
Despite any obstacles or challenges they may face, the singer believes that they can overcome them together and make their love work.
Oh let's love we only got a day
Again, the singer is emphasizing the importance of making the most of their time together and expressing their love and affection freely and openly.
Oh let's love to pass the time away
Love can be a powerful and uplifting force that can help us forget about our worries and problems, providing a much-needed escape from the stress of daily life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLARENCE SATCHELL, JAMES L. WILLIAMS, LEROY BONNER, MARSHALL JONES, MARVIN PIERCE, MARVIN R. PIERCE, RALPH MIDDLEBROOKS, WILLIE BECK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OceansZx14
90s baby. Been listening to 70s-80s funk and soul and I LOVE Ohio Players. Lot of people don’t realize how timeless these records are
Revdr Gib
Such a slow and breezy song with the eloquence of soul. This is back when couples slow dragged. Grab your favorite honey and float to the music, timeless.
Johnell Finley
Man you got real class
kel2580
One of the best songs of the Ohio Players! What a jam it is!
Root-Beer Brown
Classic!!!
SOUL!!!
💯
WORD!!!
💣
Ms.Opulent 333
Best music ever 🎼🎵🎶🎹🎸🎧🎤
Edward Hill
C'mon man..This one here is an Ohio Players classic that has stood the test of time...I mean just listen
HappyGo Lucky7
TIMELESS 🍯🐝❤️🔥
Eva Johnson
That's it. 👍💋♥️
ARISTA EVERSON
OOOOH WEEE IM FEELIN' THIS ❤❤❤