The Ohio Players/Funk on Fire: The Mercury Anthology (1974-1978) *

The American funk/R&B band, the Ohio Players' best compilation album (2 CDs, 28 tracks) including their songs on Mercury Records (1974-1978). Hard-driving funk/dance tracks direct descendant of James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, such as "Skin Tight", "Fire" (#1 on the US charts), "Fopp", "Love Rollercoaster" (#1 on the US charts. Famous as a sample source of hip-hop. Covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and "Who'd She Coo?" are cool. Other sweet vocal/chorus songs, such as a jazzy soul ballad classic "Sweet Sticky Thing", are also good.