Identify Yourself

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Identify Yourself
Studio album by
the O'Jays
Released1979
Recorded1978–79
StudioSigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenrePhiladelphia soul, R&B
Length40:15
LabelPhiladelphia International Records
ProducerKenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Thom Bell
The O'Jays chronology
So Full of Love
(1978) 		Identify Yourself
(1979) 		The Year 2000
(1980)

Identify Yourself is a 1979 album by American R&B group the O'Jays, released on the Philadelphia International Records label. It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, with four tracks produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, three by group members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams and one by the esteemed Philadelphia producer and composer Thom Bell.

The album reached No. 3 on the US R&B albums chart and No. 16 on the pop albums chart, and was certified platinum for sales of over one million copies sold.[1] Two singles from the album reached the top ten on the R&B singles chart in the United States: "Sing a Happy Song" (No. 7) and "Forever Mine" (No. 4); the latter peaking at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the group's last single to reach the pop top 50.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Smash Hits6/10[3]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[4]

The Bay State Banner wrote that Eddie Levert "transforms 'Forever Mine' into an awesome, engrossing and soulful summation of great love music, just as Smokey Robinson does on 'Cruising'."[5]

Track listing[edit]

All songs written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.[2]

Side one[edit]

  1. "Sing a Happy Song" – 5:03
  2. "Get On Out and Party" (Walter Williams, Terry Stubbs, Leroy Simmons, Mike Jackson) – 5:04
  3. "Identify" – 4:56
  4. "So Nice I Tried It Twice" (Williams, Jackson, Willie Ross) – 5:50

Side two[edit]

  1. "Hurry Up and Come Back" (Eddie Levert, Jackson, Williams) – 5:09
  2. "Forever Mine" – 6:10
  3. "I Want You Here with Me" – 5:28
  4. "One in a Million (Girl)" (Thom Bell, Joseph Ericksen) – 3:55

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Singles[edit]

  • "Sing a Happy Song" (US R&B No. 7, UK No. 39)
  • "I Want You Here with Me" (US R&B No. 49)
  • "Forever Mine" (US R&B No. 4, US Pop No. 28)
  • "Hurry Up and Come Back"

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1] [dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Identify Yourself Review by Andrew Hamilton". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (October 18–31, 1979): 29.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 247.
  5. ^ Wynn, Ron (29 Nov 1979). "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner. No. 5. p. 15.
  6. ^ "The Manhattans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Manhattans Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1980". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1980". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
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