ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

‘Fire’: The Ohio Players Ignite Both Soul And Pop Scenes

The funky collective from Dayton had one of their biggest crossover smashes early in 1975 with ‘Fire.’

Published on

Ohio Players 'Fire' artwork - Courtesy: UMG
Ohio Players 'Fire' artwork - Courtesy: UMG

It’s sometimes forgotten just how much of an impact certain key soul-funk bands of the 1970s made on the American music scene, not just in their R&B stronghold but on the pop scene too. Among the most undervalued of those acts in the modern day are the Ohio Players, the collective from Dayton who were surely one of the funkiest outfits of them all.

Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is
Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is
Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is

On February 8, 1975, the Ohio Players enjoyed one of their finest hours of crossover success when the single “Fire,” which had topped the R&B chart two weeks earlier, moved to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. They’d crossed over before, notably with two Top 20 singles, “Funky Worm” and “Skin Tight,” which both won gold certification. “Funky Worm” was their first R&B No.1; after a change of label from Westbound to Mercury, and some adjustments in personnel, “Fire” was the second. In all, the group scored an impressive total of five soul bestsellers.

Click to load video

But this was a new level of pop validation, and less than a year later, the Ohio Players did it again. “Love Rollercoaster,” another irresistible groove later covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, repeated the feat of topping both the soul and pop charts in America. Just as notably, the Players’ album containing the first of those two favorites, also called Fire, reached the top of the Billboard 200.

Listen to uDiscover Music’s Funk Phenomenon playlist.

That was the second of four No.1 R&B albums in little more than two years by a group whose album covers were almost as memorable as their music. In addition to “Love Rollercoaster,” they ruled the soul singles charts again with “Sweet Sticky Thing” and “Who’d She Coo,” staying true to their funky principles all the way.

Buy or stream “Fire” on the Ohio Players’ album of the same name.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. DJ KOOL H.

    February 23, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    Theses guys could play anything…Blues, R&B, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rock…Brilliant!!! Saw them many times while living in Miami back in the day (’70’s)

Comments are temporarily disabled and will return shortly.
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Cheaper Than Cheep
Super Deluxe Edition Box Set
ORDER NOW
ABBA
ABBA
ABBA (50th Anniversary)
Color Vinyl Box Set
ORDER NOW
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
The Emancipation of Mimi: 20th Anniversary Edition 5LP Box Set
ORDER NOW
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
The Way It Is
Limited Edition Rose Garden 2LP
ORDER NOW
Yusuf / Cat Stevens
Yusuf / Cat Stevens
Saturnight (Live in Tokyo)
Limited Edition LP
ORDER NOW
Steely Dan
Steely Dan
The Royal Scam
LP
ORDER NOW
uDiscover Music - Back To Top
uDiscover Music - Back To Top