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This is just another one of the many smash hits written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. This song came into my mind as I am making preparations to attend a family reunion next month. Whenever I hear it I think of the first family reunion I attended with my Dad (it wasn’t mine by the way) and how the very large family showed so much love for one another. To this day this song brings tears to my eyes.
Gamble and Huff’s songs about love, family and betrayal (Back-Stabbers) are all classic Philly Soul and no discussion of oldies would ever be complete without their music.
“Family Reunion” first appeared on the album of the same name released in 1975. This masterpiece set, containing “Unity” AND “Livin’ for the Weekend” AND “Stairway to Heaven” AND “I Love Music” (whew!), went to #7 on the Top 40 Album Chart and #1 on the R&B Album chart. Rightly so — every song on this LP was a smash!
The “Family Reunion” single, released in 1976, charted at only #45 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart — but I find that oh so hard to believe. It simply had to be higher than that. It sure was popular here where I live.
L-r: Walter Williams, William Powell and Eddie Levert.
Well I can’t leave out the brilliant performance of this song by the mighty mighty O’Jays (as Don Cornelius would introduce the group on Soul Train).
Friends Walter Williams, Bill Isles, Jerome Pierson, Bobby Massey, William Powell and Eddie Levert formed a singing group while attending high school in 1958 Canton Ohio. First know as The Triumphs, then The Mascots, the group finally decided in 1963 on the name “The O’Jays” in tribute to radio disc jockey Eddie O’Jay. The group had some regional hits but did not become nationally known until their 1972 hit “Backstabbers”.
The group dwindled down to three members and has remained a trio ever since. Original member William Powell died of cancer in 1977 and was replaced by Sammy Strain of Little Anthony & the Imperials. In 1992, Sammy Strain left the group, and returned to the Imperials, to be replaced by Nathaniel Best, and later, by Eric Grant.
Even thought this is the last day of the month, and I will be moving on from the theme of male vocal groups to something different in July, I will definitely be re-visiting this class act, The O’Jays, in future blogs to come so stay tuned.
Enjoy your summer family reunion. It will make special memories you will have forever.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1462575_crkqt/.TheIntruders-CowboysToGirls.mp3] Cowboys to Girls – The Intruders/ 1968
This is The Intruders’ fourth single and 3rd hit. It went to #1 on the R&B Charts and #6 Pop. The LP of the same name (pictured above) went to #11 on the R&B Album Charts but only #112 on the Pop Charts (ridiculously low).
“1968, though, was the Intruders’ breakthrough year: “Cowboys to Girls,” a template for what would become Philly soul’s trademark sound, topped the R&B charts and climbed to number six on the pop side, giving the group their biggest hit. The follow-up, “(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game,” was their only other Top 40 pop hit, and the accompanying LP, Cowboys to Girls, wound up their most popular.” (Source)
Of course this is another one of those classic cuts that I can remember singing my teenaged heart out to. Here are the lyrics for you.
Cowboys to Girls – Composed by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Cowboys to girls
I remember when I used to play shoot em up
(Shoot em up, bang, bang baby)
I remember when I chased the girls and beat em up
But I was young and didn’t understand
But now I’m a grown up man
I know girls are made for kissing
Never knew what I was missing
Now my life is not the same
My whole world has been rearranged
I went from (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
(Cowboys to girls)
I remember when I used to see you jumping rope
(Jumping rope up and down baby)
And I remember when you got your first baby coach
But you were young and didn’t understand
Now you want me that I’m a man
And it’s me that you’re kissing
Ain’t it fun reminiscing
Now our lives are not the same
Our whole world has been rearranged
You went from (Pretty dolls to boys)
Oh yes you did
And I went from (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
Still it’s me that you’re kissing
Ain’t it fun reminiscing
Cause our life is not the same
This whole world has been rearranged
I went for (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
You went from (pretty dolls to boys)
Here’s a partial clip that was found of an Intruders performance of “Coyboys to Girls”.
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The Intruders’ second single and first hit, (We’ll Be) United”, only reached #78 on the Hot 100 — but #14 on the R&B Charts. Thank goodness that this fantastic third single and second hit, “Together,” fared a bit better at #48 on the Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B Charts. In addition the song appeared on the group’s first LP, “The Intruders Are Together” (OOP), produced by Kenny Gamble. The LP zoomed up the charts to peak at #23 on the R&B LP Charts in 1968.
I think that the single “Together” should have charted even higher than #9. I think it is the group’s best song out of many excellent cuts. But their biggest hit is yet to come so stay tuned.
I generally listen to the song I am blogging about as I write the post. When I played “Together” I realized I had not listened to it in years and yet I could sing every single lyric without a second thought. It also brought back the time, that even though I knew nothing of love, I would sing this song as if my Prince Charming were really singing it to me. Those innocent times were the best! I wonder if children today are fortunate enough to have those fantasy times with everything now being just “out there” for them to see in the media and on Internet?
Oh well, here are those lyrics so that you can sing along. I don’t need them. (LOL) After listening to this I will be singing this song for the rest of the week.
Together – Composed by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
(Together, together)
Oh, oh we could be on a desert
Lost without a place (place) to (to) go (go)
And we`re so in love, in love with each other
That we wouldn`t even (even) know (know)
(Oh, I) don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We are there) as we are there, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and me) just you and me
(Woah) oh, how (happy) happy (we`ll) we`ll be (be)
And, oh, oh, oh, we could be in poverty
No one to lend a helping (helping) hand (hand)
But it`s alright (alright), alright I know
Because you always under(under)stand(stand)
(Oh, I) and I don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We can share) as we share them, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and me) just you and me
(Woah) oh, how (happy) happy (we`ll) we`ll (be) be
(Oh, I) and I don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We can share) as we share them, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and) just (me) you and me
(Woah) oh, how happy (happy) we`ll (we`ll) be (be)
(Together) oh, we`re together
(Together) we`re gonna stay together
(Together) do it all together
(Together) gonna work together
(Together) girl, every day, ever now
(Together) gonna stay together
(Together) oh, we`re together
Hope you enjoyed singing along. Such an awesome love song that only Little Sonny could sing that way. Whenever you hear someone say “they don’t make them like that anymore” please think of this classic.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1462579_7qu5j/TheIntruders-_We_llBe_United.mp3] (We’ll Be) United – The Intruders (1966) Formed in 1960 Philadelphia, The Intruders were lead singer Sam “Little Sonny” Brown, Eugene “Bird” Daughtry, Phil Terry, and Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards. After singing locally for a few years the doo-wop group signed with the new Gamble label in 1966 and scored a hit with [...]
Those innocent times were the best! I wonder if children today are fortunate enough to have those fantasy times with everything now being just “out there” for them to see in the media and on Internet?
