Artists & Bands

The O’Jays | Tunes + Guitar Lessons

With smooth harmonies and irresistible grooves, The O’Jays helped define the sound of '70s soul—often sampled, widely covered, and instantly recognisable, even if you didn’t know their name!

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The O’Jays: The Band You’ve Heard Without Knowing It

The O’Jays formed in 1958 under the name The Mascots while the members were still in high school. Remarkably, as of 2022, they remain active, though only one original member is still part of the lineup.

Throughout the 1960s, under their new name, The O’Jays, they released their first charting single, Lonely Drifter, in 1963, followed by a series of other singles that charted but never made a significant impact. Despite releasing over 30 singles and 5 studio albums, the band struggled to find major commercial success.

It wasn’t until 1972, almost 15 years after their formation, that they truly broke through with the album Back Stabbers. The album produced three hit singles, including the title track and Love Train, which went to number one. Love Train became their signature song, an uplifting anthem that remains a staple of wedding playlists, and its audience participation vibe made it a favourite for working bands.

Back Stabbers and Angie Stone’s I Wish I Didn’t Miss You is a great example of how sampling can work effectively. And fun fact—Back Stabbers was written by McFadden & Whitehead, the duo behind Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.

The O’Jays’ success continued with their next album, Ship Ahoy, which included the song Now That We Found Love. Though the original version barely charted, it was later covered by Heavy D and The Boyz in 1991, reaching the top 10 in 17 countries. The album also featured For The Love of Money, another track that would go on to be successfully covered.

The O’Jays are one of those bands whose tunes you’ve likely heard countless times, whether through their original recordings, sampling, or covers by other artists.