ODYSSEY-HANG TOGETHER.
ODYSSEY-HANG TOGETHER.
Not only was Odyssey’s 1977 eponymous debut album Odyssey, the group’s most successful album, it featured their biggest hit single, Native New Yorker. This was a song that would forever become synonymous with Odyssey, reaching number twelve in the US Billboard 100 and number six in the US R&B Charts. Spurred on by the success of Native New Yorker, Odyssey’s debut album Odyssey reached number thirty-six in the US Billboard 200 and number fifteen in the US R&B Charts. A year later, came the followup, Hollywood Party Tonight. It didn’t replicate the success of Odyssey, reaching just number 123 in the US Billboard 200 and number seventy-two in the US R&B Charts. Two years later, in May 1980 came Odyssey’s third album Hang Together. This would see a change in Odysseys’s fortunes, but not in the US, with one of their singles, Use It Up and Wear It Out reaching number one in the UK. Before I tell you about the music on Hang Together, I’ll tell you about the background to the album.
After the commercial failure of Hollywood Party Tonight, Sandy Linzer, who’d produced Odyssey’s debut album Odyssey was hired. Sandy decided to move thee recording sessions to the Hit Factory in Manhattan. The other change Sandy made, was bringing in Ray Chew as arranger. Previously, he’d worked with Ashford and Simpson on a number of albums. This included Diana Ross’ The Boss, Gladys Knight and The Pips’ All About Love and albums by Candi Staton. One final thing Sandy decided to do was hire a number of songwriters. They cowrote the eight tracks on Hang Together with Sandy Linzer, including three songs with Larry Russell Brown. With eight songs written, Odyssey and their band headed to the Hit Factory in Manhattan.
Accompanying the three members of Odyssey Billy McEachern and sisters Lillian and Louise Lopez were a band that included Ray Chew on keyboards and synths. Bassist Francisco Centeno, drummer Paul Kimbarow and guitarist Cliff Morriss made up the rhythm section while Sammy Figuero added percussion. Together, Odyssey and their band laid down the eight tracks that would become Hang Together. Would Hang Together see a revival in Odyssey’s fortunes on its release?
Before the release of Hang Together, Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her was released as a single in April 1980, but failed to chart. Strangely, Use It Up and Wear It Out was only on the B-side. Then when Hang Together was released in May 1980, it reached number 181 in the US BIllboard 200 and number sixty-six in the US R&B Charts. Meanwhile, in the UK the album reached number thirty-eight, while Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her failed to chart. Use It Up and Wear It Out was released as a single in the UK in June 1980, giving Odyssey their first UK number one. Hang Together was the second single released in the US in July 1980, but it too failed to chart. Following up Use It Up and Wear It Out in the UK was If You’re Looking For A Way Out, released in September 1980, reaching number six. The final single released in the UK was Hang Together in January 1981, reaching number thirty-six. Hang Together it seemed, was a tale of two continents, faring well in the UK, but only slightly better than its predecessor Hollywood Party Tonight. It seemed Odyssey were more popular in the UK than their home country. However, what made Hang Together so popular in the UK. That’s what I’ll now tell you, when I tell you about the music on the album.
Hang Together opens with the title-track Hang Together, one of the singles released from the album. It was written by Sandy Linzer and Larry Russell Brown and straight away you’re struck by the pounding, funky rhythm section which gradually, builds up of the arrangement. Guitars, piano and synths enter, before Lillian Lopez’s vocal enters. Behind her, the arrangement is spacious, with her vocal gradually growing in power and emotion. Meanwhile, the rest of the group add punchy, dramatic backing vocals, while the rhythm section, piano and horns punctuate the arrangement. Eventually, this uptempo and uplifting track reveals its subtleties, nuances and charms, but the wait has been well worthwhile.
Never Had It All sees the tempo drop, with the track having a more thoughtful, considered sound. It’s just piano and Lillian’s half-spoken vocal that open this gospel tinged track. The arrangement is much more subtle, with the rest of the group adding gospel infused backing vocals. Strings cascade gently, while the piano and rhythm section combine. Together, they provide a sympathetic arrangement that compliments Odyssey’s vocals. This track, with its gospel influence displays a quite different, but very beautiful side to Odyssey’s music.
Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her was another of the singles released from Hang Together. It sees the group deliver a track that combines funk and soul. The arrangement is uptempo, with Lillian’s lead vocal fiery and impassioned, while Louise and Billy’s fervent, soaring backing vocals are equally passionate. They’re accompanied by blazing horns and strings which sweep and swirl, while one of the highlights of the arrangement is the bass line. Here, Francisco Centeno’s bass and Ray Chew’s keyboards are key to the track, augmented by the strings and horns. Meanwhile, Lillian delivers one of her most heartfelt vocals, on one of the highlights of Hang Together.
Down Boy is a track that has a much more poppy sound. The band combine to create a sound that resembles a chase, with the rhythm section and rocky guitars driving the track along. Keyboards and braying horns punctuate the track, while Lillian’s vocal is loud and strong. Meanwhile the rest of Odyssey deliver punchy, dramatic and soaring backing vocals. Although the song has a more poppy than other tracks on Hang Together, it’s a track that shows another side to Odyssey.
Follow Me (Play Follow the Reader) sees Odyssey return to a track that’s much atypical than the previous one. From the get-go, it’s obvious that this track is something special. Percussion, cascading, lush strings and rasping horns combine before the vocal enters. Lillian and Louise share the lead vocal, accompanied by backing vocalists. Their voices sit well together, while strings dance and shimmer behind them. Later, guitars, percussion and the rhythm section seamlessly combine elements of funk and soul. By the end of the track, you realize this is a track which has everything going for it. Two sassy vocals, an arrangement that while it combines soul and funk has populist appeal and a killer hook.
Use It Up and Wear It Out was the track that gave Odyssey their only number one single in the UK. Here, Odyssey combine, disco with elements of funk, soul and Latin music to a tempo of 128 beats per minute. A myriad of percussion, rhythm section and squelchy synths accompany Odyssey as Lillian gives a joyous, impassioned vocal, while backing vocalists accompany her. Punchy, blazing horns, steel drums, whistles and keyboard solos all play their part in this irresistible, joyful and uptempo track.
While Use It Up and Wear It Out was the most successful single released from Hang Together, I always felt If You’re Looking For A Way Out was the better track. The tempo is much slower, with the arrangement laden in emotion, drama and sadness, while Lillian gives one her most heartfelt vocals. It’s just the piano, guitar and subtle percussion that combine with her vocal. It’s tinged with emotion and sadness, quickly growing in power, while lush strings and subtle, soulful and soaring backing vocalists accompany her. Here, she gives everything she has, singing the song as if it’s personal and pertinent to her life. This she does against the best arrangements on Hang Together, one that’s steeped in drama, getting across the emotion, sadness and beauty of the song. That’s what makes this the best song on the album easily.
Closing Hang Together is Rooster Loose In the Barnyard, a track which has a funk laden introduction. Key to this is the beefiest of bass lines, while Lillian and Louise add sassy, suggestive vocals. They’re enveloped by rocky guitars, while the rhythm section concentrate add the fattest slice of funk. Although funky and full of innuendo, Lillian and Louise deliver the lyrics with a smile on their faces., providing a lighthearted and good natured way to end Hang Together. Having said that, it’s still funky with a capital F.
While Odyssey’s third album Hang Together didn’t sell as well in the US, it performed much better in the UK. Not only did it reach number thirty-six in the UK, but Use It Up and Wear It Out reached number one and If You’re Looking For A Way Out reached number six. After this, Odyssey continued to be more popular in the UK than the US. For me, Odyssey’s music was always underrated, with tracks like Never Had It All, Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her, Follow Me (Play Follow the Reader) plus the two hit singles Use It Up and Wear It Out and If You’re Looking For A Way Out demonstrate this. Of these tracks, the gospel tinged Never Had It All shows a quite different, but very beautiful side to Odyssey’s music, while Follow Me (Play Follow the Reader) is blessed with a killer hook. Then there’s the fusion of funk, disco, soul and Latin music that is Use It Up and Wear It Out. It’s one of the most memorable tracks on Hang Together, apart from If You’re Looking For A Way Out, which to me, is absolutely peerless. To me, You’re Looking For A Way Out is one of the highlights of Odyssey’s career, bettered only by Native New Yorker, from their debut album Odyssey. It was rereleased by BBR Records in 2011, while Hang Together will be rereleased by BBR Records on 7th May 2012. This rerelease of Hang Together, Odyssey’s finest album, is the perfect introduction to their music and will allow you to hear the various sides to Odyssey’s music. Standout Tracks: Never Had It All, Follow Me (Play Follow the Reader), Use It Up and Wear It Out and If You’re Looking For A Way Out.
ODYSSEY-HANG TOGETHER.
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