Bentleyfunk

I Got The Melody (Expanded Edition) - Odyssey

• ODYSSEY started life as The Lopez Singers, a female vocal group from Connecticut, in 1968. The original line up was the three Lopez sisters Carmen, Lillian and Louise, however Carmen left soon after and was replaced by Filipino singer and bassist Tony Reynolds. It was this line-up which went on to have worldwide success with the hit single "Native New Yorker” in 1977, taken from their debut self-titled LP "Odyssey," which was the first of their albums to be re-issued by BBR. In 1978 Reynolds was replaced by Billy McEachern and gave the group a settled line up which was a springboard for their continued success on both sides of the Atlantic.  

• I GOT THE MELODY (R&B #62/Pop #175/UK #29) was the groups fourth LP, released in 1981 and followed on from 1980's "Hang Together” and its predecessor, 1978's "Hollywood Party Tonight,” which is also released by BBR this month.  By this point Odyssey had gained a strong following in the UK due to the success of singles ‘Use It Up And Wear It Out,’ ‘If You're Looking For A Way Out’ and ‘Hang Together’ from the album of the same name, which they capitalized on with the release of I GOT THE MELODY.

• The first single to be released from I GOT THE MELODY was the classic R&B track ‘Going Back To My Roots’ penned by legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier.  ‘Going back...’ climbed to #68 R&B and #58 Disco in the US, and secured the groups popularity in the UK where it reached #4 on the singles chart. ‘Going Back...’ is featured  in a medley on the album itself called ‘Roots Suite,’ sandwiched by ‘Ajomora’ and ‘Baba Awa,’ the latter of which being another of the strongest tracks in this set and is featured on this release in its single version along with ‘Going Back...’.  ‘It Will Be Alright’ was the second single to be released and again struck a chord in the UK where e it reached #43 in the singles chart.

• BBR is very proud to bring you the first ever CD release anywhere in the world of I GOT THE MELODY, completely remastered and repackaged complete with extensive liner notes, interviews and bonus content. I GOT THE MELODY is an essential purchase for all R&B, Soul, Disco and Pop fans out there!

Happy Together (Expanded Edition) - Odyssey

• ODYSSEY started life as The Lopez Singers, a female vocal group from Connecticut, in 1968. The original line up was the three Lopez sisters Carmen, Lillian and Louise, however Carmen left soon after and was replaced by Filipino singer and bassist Tony Reynolds. It was this line-up which went on to have worldwide success with the hit single ‘Native New Yorker’ in 1977, taken from their debut self-titled LP "Odyssey," which was the first of their albums to be re-issued by BBR. In 1978 Reynolds was replaced by Billy McEachern  who gave the group a settled line up which was a springboard for their continued success on both sides of the Atlantic. 

• HAPPY TOGETHER was the groups fifth LP released in 1982, and followed on from 1981's "I Got The Melody,” 1980's "Hang Together” and 1978's "Hollywood Party Tonight,” all of which are now available on BBR.  By this point Odyssey had gained a strong following in the UK due to the success of these albums and in particular the singles ‘Use It Up And Wear It Out,’ from "Hang Together” and ‘Going Back To My Roots’ from "I Got The Melody.”

• HAPPY TOGETHER (R&B #23/UK #21) features the smash classic single "Inside Out” which gave the group their highest performing single in the US since their debut ‘Native New Yorker,’ peaking at #12 R&B (Pop #104/Dance #22). ‘Inside Out’ also continued the group’s great success in the UK giving them their biggest hit (#3) since 1980's ‘Use It Up And Wear It Out’ hit the top spot. Further stand out tracks in this set are the singles ‘Together’ (written and co-produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of CHIC) and ‘Magic Touch’ (UK #41) which bookend this classic album.

• BBR is very proud to bring the first ever CD release anywhere in the world of HAPPY TOGETHER, completely remastered and repackaged complete with extensive liner notes, interviews and bonus content. HAPPY TOGETHER is an essential purchase for all R&B, Soul, Disco and Pop fans out there!

Hang Together - Odyssey

Odyssey started out as a New York based band, they later gained a lot of success in the UK gaining 5 top ten hits between 1977 and 1982 as well as three top 40 albums. HANG TOGETHER was released in 1980 and reached #38 in the UK, leading the way for further success with later albums. DON’T TELL ME TELL HER was their first single release and reached #44 stateside.

However in the UK USE IT UP AND WEAR IT OUT (the original B-Side) was later released and became their biggest hit reaching UK #1. This song still receives a lot of radio play to this day. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT was the second single release from HANG TOGETHER and gained the #6 spot in the UK. This song was also covered by Tindersticks in 1999 HANG TOGETHER gained the #36 position in UK and helped the album into the top 40. Released in deluxe Super Jewel cases, with bonus tracks, HANG TOGETHER is a must for all Soul, Disco and Funk fans out there!

Press:-

‘Criminally ignored in their US homeland where their only top 40 hit was native New Yorker – Odyssey were more than one hit wonders in the UK, putting together a run of impressive an polished hits in the R&B/dance vein. Now remastered and expanded, Hang Together was the first of three consecutive albums by the group to crack top 40 her, and arguably the best. Music Week, May 2012

"Native New Yorker labelled them a disco act but producer Sandy Linzer widened the trio's appeal on this 1980 LP with Lillian Lopez's beautiful vocal on 'If You're Looking For A Way Out'". MOJO, September 2012  

 

 

 

Odyssey- Expanded Edition - Odyssey

Odyssey's classic 1977 debut album finally makes it to CD for the first time anywhere in the world! The album is one of the ultimate cult classics for soul, disco and seventies pop fans, as well as many Native New Yorkers! The album was a Top 40 Pop and Top 20 R&B hit on it's original release and set the scene for their huge success in the UK and Europe. Singles included the anthem Native New Yorker as wel as the disco classic Weekend Lover, Easy Come, Easy Go and Hold De Mota Down.

This newly re-mastered edition features extensive liner notes and two bonus remixes. This long sought-after CD re-master is a must for all the Soul and Disco fans!

 

 

 

 

 

Hollywood Party Tonight (Expanded Edition) - Odyssey

• ODYSSEY started life as The Lopez Singers, a female vocal group from Connecticut, in 1968. The original line up was the three Lopez sisters Carmen, Lillian and Louise, however Carmen left soon after and was replaced by Filipino singer and bassist Tony Reynolds. It was this line-up which went on to have worldwide success with the hit single ‘Native New Yorker’ in 1977, taken from their debut self-titled LP "Odyssey," which was the first of their albums to be re-issued by BBR.

• HOLLYWOOD PARTY TONIGHT was the follow up to their successful debut and was originally released in 1978. By this point Tony Reynolds had left the fold to be replaced by Billy McEachern, who helped the group take their sophomore LP to #72 on the US R&B album chart and #123 on the Billboard 200. Despite this line-up change the group maintained their soft, laid back style of soul-pop with inflections of jazz and Caribbean sounds to greater depths than on their debut LP.

• Stand out tracks on HOLLYWOOD PARTY TONIGHT are the singles ‘Single Again/What Time Does The Balloon Go Up,’ and ‘Lucky Star,’ of which both are represented here in their single mixes as bonus tracks. Other great tracks that show the depth of styles on the LP are ‘Hey Bill,’ ‘You Wouldn't Know A Real Love If It Walked Right Up, Kissed You On The Cheek And Said Hello Baby’ and ‘Pride.’  

• BBR is very proud to bring you the first ever CD release anywhere in the world of HOLLYWOOD PARTY TONIGHT, completely remastered and repackaged complete with extensive liner notes, interviews and bonus content. HOLLYWOOD PARTY TONIGHT is an essential purchase for all R&B, Soul, Pop and Disco fans out there!