The O’Jays, Forever Mine | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 95th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Forever Mine” by the legendary soul collective, The O’Jays.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 95^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Forever Mine” performed by The O’Jays.

“Forever mine / All because you’re my kind, oh baby.” Oh, the feels, the feels, the feels! “Forever Mine” is the sixth track on Identify Yourself, the 1979 album by legendary, Midwest soul collective, The O’Jays. At this time, The O’Jays consisted of Walter Williams, Eddie Levert, and Sammy Strain Jr. (William Powell passed away in 1977). While Identify Yourself has been described as a weak album, “Forever Mine” marks the strongest song.  It was written and produced by iconic duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.  While top-20 success eluded them, it peaked respectably at no. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1980 and reached no. 4 on the R&B charts.

“Forever mine / And I’m so glad ‘cause it gets better with time, oh girl…” What makes “Forever Mine” the crème de la crème on a less memorable album? Soul balladry is where The O’Jays’ bread is buttered. “Forever” is slow, unhurried, and silky smooth. The instrumental retains the lush Philly soul stylings.  It’s not as heavily orchestrated as some Philly soul songs, but it still contains idiomatic music cues. The vocals are high-flying. Walter Williams takes the reins early, setting the tone with his nuanced, and refined pipes.  He’s backed marvelously by Eddie Levert and Sammy Strain. Levert also gets his fair share of moments in the spotlight, bringing an earthier, grittier sound than Williams.  Levert is particularly dynamic in the bridge, giving his all.

“We’ve been around

And I had a lot of loves and I know you had a lot of loves too

But I ain’t never had nobody

That do the things you do.”

Topping the likes of seminal hits like “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train” is a tall task. “Forever Mine” doesn’t eclipse those gems but gives the legendary soul collective a fantastic hit following their most lucrative period.

The O’Jays // Identify Yourself  // Sony Music Entertainment // 1979

The O’Jays, Forever Mine: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 95 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]