THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

648-The O’Jays-Love Train.

1973-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.25. While appearing on the legendary American music television programme ‘Soul Train,’ The O’Jays were asked if this song was inspired by ‘Soul Train,’ they replied ‘Yes,’ but of course they were just being nice.

The O’Jays were formed in Canton, Ohio, United States, in 1958, by Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, (1942–1977) Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles, ( 1941–2019) in total there have been eight different members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Eddie Levert being the groups one constant. When first forming at ‘Canton McKinley High School,’ they were originally known as ‘The Mascots,’ and then ‘The Triumphs,’ before deciding on ‘The O’Jays’ in 1963, taking the name in tribute to the Cleveland radio disc jockey Eddie O’Jay, Between 1960-1972, they released five studio Albums, and 33 singles, with their biggest success coming in 1965, with their 13th single release, ‘Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette,’) which peaked at Number 48 on Billboard, in America, and Number 19 in Canada. Shortly before The O’Jays big breakthrough occurred in 1972, after being signed by ‘Philadelphia International Records,’ the original members Bill Isles, and Bob Massey had left.

The discography of The O’Jays includes 29 studio Albums released between 1965-2019, and 92 singles released between 1960-2018, there are also 20 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Love Train’ making Number 1 in 1973, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 also on nine occasions, with ‘Love Train’ peaking the highest at Number 9.

‘Love Train’ was the third of four singles released from The O’Jays sixth studio Album ‘Backstabbers,’ and the first of their eight studio Albums released on the ‘Philadelphia International’ record label, from August 1972. ‘Love Train’ was co-written, and co-produced by the legendary songwriting duo of Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, (see also best songs 1001-896-725-604-571-338-322 and 258) with the ‘Philadelphia International’ studio house band, ‘MFSB,’ providing the backing. According to Eddie Levert, when The O’Jays started work on ‘Love Train,’ it didn’t have any lyrics, Levert has recalled,’Kenny Gamble wrote them on the spot in about five minutes. By the time we started laying down the vocals, we knew we had a hit, Love Train felt like destiny. It had such perfect, timeless lyrics, that it was almost as if they’d come from God, and we had to deliver them to the people.’

Eddie Levert was born Edward Willis Levert, on June 16th, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama, United States, but was raised in Canton, Ohio, where he moved at the age of six. His two sons Gerald Levert, (1966-2006) and Sean Levert, (1968-2008) were both also musicians, who formed the American ‘R&B’ vocal group ‘Levert,’ with Marc Gordon in 1983, releasing seven studio Albums, and 23 singles between 1985-1997, and charting with ‘Casonova’ in 1987 (Billboard Number 5 & UK Number 9.) In 1992 Eddie and his son Gerald recorded the song ‘Baby Hold On to Me,’ which went to Number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, and also reached Number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, he has also released three solo Albums between 1995-2012.

The lyrics to ‘Love Train’ call for unity, and world peace. One of The O’Jays founding members Walter Williams has said,’1972 was explosive. Vietnam was rumbling on, the rich were getting richer, so it was the perfect time to sing about social issues. The song mentioned places that were having human rights problems, but in a positive, hopeful way. The first stop we make will be England, tell all the folks in Russia and China too.’ Coincidentally ‘Love Train’ entered the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 on January 27th, 1973, which was the same day that the agreement on ending the war, and restoring peace in Vietnam was signed.

‘All of you brothers over in Africa, tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too. Please don’t miss this train at the station, ’cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you.’