The O’Jays, Use Ta Be My Girl | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 106th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Use To Be My Girl” by 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 106^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Use Ta Be My Girl” performed by The O’Jays.

“(Shoop-shoop-shoo-shoo-shoo) Shoo-doo / Shoop-shoop-shoo-shoo-shoo) Doo-doo.” From the opening tip “Use Ta Be My Girl” marks another elite soul cut from The O’Jays. In the 1970s, the Philadelphia soul collective nabbed their fair share of hits. 6 of their 29 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 were top-10 hits including “Use Ta Be My Girl.” “Use Ta Be My Girl” peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, it was certified gold by the RIAA. Impressive.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise this was another gem from The O’Jays.  It was written and produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (Gamble & Huff), the Philly soul gods!

With Gamble and Huff composing and producing, The O’Jays are blessed with stunning, sophisticated instrumental accompaniment. The rhythm section is locked in while the orchestra accentuates.  Besides the glorious sounds of the instruments, The O’Jays – Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, and Sammy Strain – slay on vocals. Williams sings lead in the verses, delivering gems like, “The girl’s got plenty good lovin’ / Ask me how I know / And I’ll tell you so / She used ta be my girl.”  He also isn’t shy asserting, “And if I had the chance / Lord knows I’d take her back.” Levert provides the grittier, cutting riffs, including leading the infectious “Shoop-doop(s).” The section to beat is the marvelously catchy chorus, one of the best of the best by the collective, led by the titular lyric. “Use Ta Be My Girl” speaks volumes by itself sans extensive commentary.

The O’Jays // So Full of Love // Sony Music Entertainment // 1978

The O’Jays, Use Ta Be My Girl: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 106 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]