Scribbler's Throwback of the Week: The O'Jays, "What Am I Waiting For"

The often overlooked beauty of hip-hop music is that it can musically provide a formal introduction to the past.  Although The O'Jays are easily in my favorite top 5 singing groups of all time, I have never owned their 1975 Survival album that features this particular gem.  I first heard it via a Jay-Z song, "You Must Love Me", from In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.  Subsequently, I purchased one of those Smooth Grooves compilation albums mainly because I was so enamored once I heard the original.  It was also notably sampled in 50 Cent's "Ski Mask Way" from The Massacre--and although the sampling was a bit more creative in Fiddy's version, Jay's lyrics were more introspective and had the advantage of Kelly Price singing the hook.  However, this post is not about them...let's talk throwbacks, shall we?

Musically, it's what you expect from a classic Philadelphia International Records release--especially from their most successful group.  Plush, layered compositions executed to perfection by their house orchestra, M.F.S.B.  Simple, but picturesque lyrics (written by Bunny Sigler and Ron Tyson) to tell a heartbreaking story and allow Eddie LeVert to bring the kind of fiery energy to those words that only he could while Walter Williams and William Powell provided extra harmonic splashes.  So prepare to get a few goosebumps and consider keeping a box of Kleenex handy...by the end of this one, you might be ready to cry along with Eddie--even if your man or woman is still in the picture along with the dog, the cat, the fork and the spoon.

(For the record, unless you want to hear "Let Me Make Love to You" as well, skip to the 3:39 mark to hear "What Am I Waiting For"; what's on the actual YouTube site is not always available through Blogger.  It sucks, but look at it this way...you just got two songs for the post about one.  Thank me later.)