The O'Jays originally consisting of Walter Williams (b. August 25, 1942), Bill Isles (January 4, 1941 – March 2019), Bobby Massey, William Powell (January 20, 1942–May 26, 1977) and Eddie Levert (b. June 16, 1942). The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) had their first hit with "Lonely Drifter", in 1963. In spite of the record's success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a legendary team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with Back Stabbers (1972), a huge pop hit, and topped the U.S. singles charts the following year with their anthemic "Love Train".
They formed the group in Canton, Ohio in 1958 while attending Canton McKinley High School. Originally known as The Triumphs, and then The Mascots, the friends began recording with "Miracles" in 1961, which was a moderate hit in the Cleveland area. In 1963 they took the name "The O'Jays", in tribute to radio disc jockey Eddie O'Jay (Toop, 1991), and released "Lonely Drifter", which charted nationally. Their debut LP was Comin' Through. Throughout the 1960s, they continued to chart with songs such as "Lipstick Traces" (which they performed nationally on the ABC Television program, Shivaree), "Stand In For Love", "Let It All Out", "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow", "Deeper In Love With You" and "One Night Affair", along with several other regional and national Pop and R&B hits. In 1972, they finally scored with their first million-seller, "Back Stabbers", from the gold album of the same name. By this time, original member Bobby Massey had also departed, leaving the group a trio. This album produced several more hit singles, including "992 Arguments", "Sunshine", "Time To Get Down" and the #1 Pop smash, "Love Train". They became known as "The Mighty O'Jays" due to their exciting, emotion-packed stage performances, led by the dynamic Levert, and the cool, multi-range vocals of Walter Williams, coupled with the matinee idol looks and smooth first tenor voice of William Powell.
During the remainder of the 1970s the O'Jays continued releasing chart-topping singles, including "Put Your Hands Together" (Pop #10), "For the Love of Money" (Pop #9), "Give the People What They Want", "Let Me Make Love To You", "I Love Music" (Pop #5), "Livin' for the Weekend", "Message in Our Music" and "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)". Original member William Powell died of cancer in 1977 at the age of just 35.
After adding Sammy Strain (born December 9, 1941) (of Little Anthony & the Imperials), the O'Jays continued recording, though with limited success. 1978's "Use ta Be My Girl" was their final Top Five hit, though they continued placing songs on the R&B charts throughout the 1980s. Their 1987 album, Let Me Touch You, was a breakthrough of sorts, and included the #1 R&B hit "Lovin' You". Eddie Levert also got a copy of Kevan Tynes' "Loving You" prior to recording their version .Though they continued charting on the R&B charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the O'Jays never again achieved pop success. In 1992, Sammy Strain left the group, and returned to the Imperials, to be replaced by Nathaniel Best, and later, by Eric Grant. Later in the 1990s, the group did little recording, though they remained a popular live draw. Their latest album was Imagination in 2004.
In 2003, they co-starred in the movie The Fighting Temptations, which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. In the film, they played three barbers who joined the local church choir to help out the film's protagonist Darrin (Gooding) who was the choir director.
In 2005 the O'Jays were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Original members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Bobby Massey and, posthumously, William Powell, were inducted. In a note of controversy, 70's O'Jays member Sammy Strain was also inducted with the group, while original member Bill Isles was not. (Strain is one of the few artists in popular music history who is a double RRHOF inductee: with The O'Jays in 2005, and The Imperials in 2009). In 2006, the O'Jays performed at the ESPY awards, hosted by Lance Armstrong. "For the Love of Money" is the theme song to the hit reality TV show The Apprentice, starring Donald Trump, which is ironic considering that the lyrics warn of the evil people will do for the love of money.
On February 23, 2007, Radio-Canada's website reported that Canadian Industry Minister Jim Prentice had used the song "For The Love of Money" without the group's permission during a political event, a faux pas since Prentice is responsible for the application of the Copyright Act in Canada. Radio-Canada also reports that Prentice has since been contacted by the attorneys for both the O'Jays and Warner/Chappell Music.
On June 28, 2009, at the 2009 BET Award Show in the Shrine Auditorium the O'Jays were honored with BET's 2009 Life Time Achievement Award. Tevin Campbell, Trey Songz, Tyrese Gibson, and Johnny Gill performed a medley of the groups songs followed by the presentation of the award by Don Cornelius. The group reminisced, joked with the audience and accepted their award before performing a rendition of their hit songs.
992 Arguments
The O'Jays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
992, quit just a-fighting
992, I'm sick of you
I can't even go down to the corner
To get myself a cold, cold beer
Cause when I come back to the house
Your mouth is the only thing I'm gonna hear
It's a shame
All this fussing and fighting we're doing
Don't you know that it's got to stop
Don't make sense to go on this way
Our love affair is a total flop
992 arguments
992, quit just a-fighting
992, I'm sick of you
I don't want to leave you
But I gotta tell you just how it is
Life is too short to live in this arena
There's so much that has to give
Maybe we just weren't meant for each other
You know, we might have made a big mistake
But two people understand one another
Tell me, how long does it take
992 arguments
992, quit just a-fighting
992, I'm sick of you
Maybe we just weren't meant for each other
You know, we might have made a big mistake
But two people understand one another
Tell me, how long does it take
992 arguments
992, quit just a-fighting
992 arguments
992, quit just a-fighting
The lyrics of The O'Jays's song "992 Arguments" explore the fragmentation of a romantic relationship due to constant arguments and fights. The lyrics suggest that the singer is utterly fed up with the never-ending arguments, and it is difficult for him to manage the situation any further. He expresses his desire to get away from the constant bickering and create some distance. The singer tries to assert that the constant arguments are pointless and draining, and the relationship cannot continue like this anymore. He feels that life is short, and there is much more to live for than arguing all the time. The song's tone reveals a sense of frustration and exhaustion that comes from the constant fighting and shouting.
The song suggests that the relationship the singer is in is doomed and possibly toxic. The constant fighting and arguments indicate that both parties are not capable of reconciling their differences and finding common ground. The singer acknowledges that their relationship may have been a mistake and that they might not have been meant for each other. He recognizes that it takes two people to make a relationship work and that if that is not possible, it is best to move on. The song conveys a sense of sadness and regret that comes from the realization that the singer and his partner may not be able to save their love affair.
Line by Line Meaning
992 arguments
There have been countless arguments between the two people
992, quit just a-fighting
It's time to stop fighting and arguing all the time
992, I'm sick of you
The constant arguing has made one person tired of the other
I can't even go down to the corner
The person doesn't even want to leave the house due to the constant arguing
To get myself a cold, cold beer
The person can't even enjoy a simple pleasure due to the constant arguing
Cause when I come back to the house
Returning home leads to more arguments
Your mouth is the only thing I'm gonna hear
The other person's constant talking and arguing is all the person can hear
It's a shame
The situation is regrettable
All this fussing and fighting we're doing
The constant arguing is unnecessary and unproductive
Don't you know that it's got to stop
The arguing needs to come to an end
Don't make sense to go on this way
Continuing the arguing does not make sense
Our love affair is a total flop
The relationship is not working out
I don't want to leave you
The person cares about the other and doesn't want to leave them
But I gotta tell you just how it is
The truth needs to be expressed
Life is too short to live in this arena
Life is too short to spend it constantly fighting and arguing
There's so much that has to give
There is so much potential for the relationship if they stop arguing
Maybe we just weren't meant for each other
Perhaps the two people are not compatible
You know, we might have made a big mistake
It's possible that the relationship was a mistake
But two people understand one another
There is still hope for the relationship because two people can understand each other
Tell me, how long does it take
The person is questioning how long it will take for the other person to understand
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@freddiebrown9075
September covid-19 2022
Yeah this is got to be one of my all-time favorite OJ's tracks "992". I actually did a "992" word-composition for my high school music class back in the day.
I tried to convey the collaboration it took for the musicians to capture every Nuance of the soul, the funk and the groove that they put together to pull this awesome Musical-track off. I also gave gave credit to the producer, and the Musical arranger. Thank you Vince Montana/ The SalSoul Orchestra, with
MFSB backing-band., And props to Writer, producer, arranger, the legendary Genius of Philly-Soul Tom Bell. At the 2:46 second mark of the song you can feel the groove as The O'Jays begin to ad lib. Now! hold-on, the music starts
to Elevate and burns white-hot
Instrumentally with a driving Soul-pyrotechnics force.The same way the Tramps "Disco Inferno" did. I've been enthralled by this song ever since.
My music teacher graded my paper
an A. Primarily because I added some musical jargon and reference notations. Then it was Not just solely based on my opinion only. And lastly I'll add, I've always loved The O'Jays pre-Philly Gamble & Huff sound as well. They've sustain themselves because they always manage to find the right producers back in the early days
of R&B Soul. It's to their credit what they could do with the song material presented to them. That's why they will always be Top-Tier Hall of Fame artists to me. Love you O'Jays. Eddie, Walt, and William.
@frafra4910
Old school,is the best? THE BEST.
@sidneysmith9518
The musical arrangement on this song is incredibly sophisticated and smooth as butter. Listening to this song on a high fidelity apparatus is exhilarating.
@huckbarry579
Musicianship of MFSB was just off the charts.. That was sound of Philadelphia!! I bet they jammed for hours to get the sound down!
@phillipwattsjr.4714
The closing moments of this song...OMG.
The orchestra really goes in.
@shemcg7830
💫✨ PW, Jr! 💫✨
@willardlockejr2965
The musicians of MFSB really let loose on this song. And whoever is playing piano is really going all out.
@phillipwattsjr.4714
@@willardlockejr2965 That pianist is Leon Huff himself!
@willardlockejr2965
@@phillipwattsjr.4714 Leon Huff was ferocious on the piano! You should check out his 1980 hit "I Ain't Jivin' I'm Jammin'
@reginaldgillam4911
The closing moments of this song,,, "True Indeed"!!!
@great159
You KNOW your relationship is in SERIOUS trouble when you keep count of your arguments🤤💯