For the casual observer, perusing record bins down at the local Kmart back in the day, one image (likely) comes to mind (quickly) when recalling the Ohio Players — nekked ladies. However, for their more fervent legions of faithful followers, it wasn’t what was pictured on the covers of their albums, it was what was oozing from the grooves that earned our attention and ignited our passion. After slogging through the ’60s, the dudes from Dayton began to bubble in the early ’70s with a series of provocatively packaged, modest-selling LPs on the Detroit-based indie Westbound label. As a result of signing to mega-sized Mercury Records, their fifth studio set, Skin Tight, became a million-seller that birthed the soon-to-be staples, “Jive Turkey (Part 1)” and the Top 20 title track. Fueled by the...
