The Ohio Players - Observations in Time

 This Month of January Marks The 55th Anniversary of The Ohio Player’s Debut Studio Album “Observations in Time” Originally Released in 1968.

Observations in Time is the 1969 debut album recorded by the Ohio Players and released on the Capitol label.

The album was a regional hit in and around the group's home city of Dayton, Ohio.

This jazz influenced album and its 60's deep soul sound with a southern theme is a far cry of what was to come from the Ohio Players.

The Ohio Players were from Dayton, Ohio but their early recordings sound like they could have been recorded in Memphis Tennessee.

Many of the tracks have musical influences from the likes of Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave and Bobby "Blue" Bland and other early jazz and blues musicians.

Album standouts include on "Street Party," "The Man That I Am" and the single "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" (which was a minor hit). Songs like Over the Rainbow" and "Summertime," and "Cold Cold World" are heavily jazz and blues influenced.

Observations in Time was the only album released by the Ohio Players the band would sign with Westbound Records in the early '70s.

David Bowie included "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" into his 1974 live sets for the Philadelphia dates of the Year of the Diamond Dogs tour that resulted in the David Live album.

Tracklisting

1. Here Today and Gone Tomorrow

2. Mother-In-Law

3. Stop Lying to Yourself

4. Over the Rainbow

5. Find Someone to Love

6. Cold Cold World

7. Summertime

8. Bad Bargain

9. The Man That I Am

10. Lonely Street

11. Street Party

12. You to Me Are Everything

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology