Pain
Ohio Players · 1972
60 min · 13 tracks · funk
A vibrant fusion of funk rhythms and soulful melodies that captures the essence of early 70s groove.
Top tracks — play these first
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Pain — The title track encapsulates the album's themes with its deep grooves and expressive vocals, drawing listeners into the emotional landscape of the record.
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Never Had a Dream — This track showcases the band's smooth harmonies and intricate instrumentation, reflecting their mastery of blending funk with soul influences.
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Player's Balling (Players Doin' Their Own Thing) — A lively anthem celebrating individuality, this song highlights the Ohio Players' signature sound while resonating with the carefree spirit of the era.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong funk compositions with rich arrangements and a distinct sound characteristic of early '70s funk.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong title track that sets a mid-tempo groove, followed by tracks that alternate between upbeat funk and slower, soulful melodies.
- Several songs feature layered horn arrangements that create a rich texture, while the bass lines are prominent and drive the rhythm throughout.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, allowing for a more reflective mood as the album concludes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- sultry grooves for intimate evenings
- longing melodies for reflective moments
- smooth vocals with emotional depth
- steady pacing for relaxed listening
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced tracks
- prefer upbeat party anthems
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1972, Pain was the Ohio Players' fourth studio album and marked their transition into a prominent force in funk music. Following their previous album, Pleasure (1972), this record showcased their evolving sound and solidified their place in the genre during a period of burgeoning popularity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Parliament· Kool & The Gang· Earth, Wind & Fire
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Pain
The chorus features repeated lamentations that convey a sense of longing and heartache through its rhythmic intensity.
The repetition emphasizes the emotional weight of the experience, creating a powerful connection between rhythm and lyrical content.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Pain 6:15
- 2 Never Had a Dream 4:36
- 3 Player's Balling (Players Doin' Their Own Thing) 4:23
- 4 I Wanna Hear From You 2:54
- 5 The Reds 5:05
- 6 Singing in the Morning 6:59
- 7 Climax, a.k.a. Theme From 69 4:18
- 8 What's Going On 6:01
- 9 Time and Space 1:47
- 10 Feelin' Alright 3:10
- 11 If You Were My Woman 4:15
- 12 Ain't That Loving You 5:44
- 13 Proud Mary 5:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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