The OHIO PLAYERS seemed to crank out just one album after another straight through the '70s, with fans just as eager to see the next album cover, as hear the music. True, in terms of both funk, and cover illustrations they were a lot more hard core (literally) in their WESTBOUND years, but as they moved on to Mercury they came up with a new idea... the Jazzed out, funky arp driven nasty smooth funk Jam... This isn't the music you listen to put someone in the mood for the act (say like a Barry White or Grover Washington album) its the album you listen to WHILE you're doing it!!! That's the best way to describe it. Although FIRE and SKIN TIGHT were probably their most popular albums of that era THIS and HONEY are actually my faves... I particularly like this album because ALL the tracks are good... When I was a teenager and first started listening to the players I remember always saving this album (and Issac Hayes's SHAFT) for LAST right before I went to bed, because I new I could just put it on the table and let it play straight through (!) - - then if I was still awake, turn it over, and if not... have absolutely no reason to want to STOP it and put on something else... Althoughthere were plenty of "funk" groups who were Jazzy, Slick, Smooth and Funky during that era (Gap, Cameo, Earth Wind and Fire come to mind) I like the Ohio Players because they had a genuinely nasty edge... I don't think anybody, even PRINCE in later years was able quite able to get that mix right... at least as good as the players... and now, whenever I hear those "slow jams" playing on those "urban contemporary" type stations I can't help but think how many artists need a bit of schooling from the guys who got it right well before them!