The O'Jays - Together We Are One (2004)

Together We Are One is not a new O'Jays album, but not exactly an old one, either. Apparently, it consists of tracks originally recorded in the late '70s and '80s by producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff that were not used on O'Jays albums of the time. Now resurrected, the tracks have been updated with new overdubs including vocal performances by O'Jays members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams. Leadoff track "All Eyes on Africa" was on the 1985 Love Fever album in a later version, but the rest of the songs are unheard before. The title song is a typically moving ballad from Linda Creed. Otherwise, the music, while enjoyable and characteristic of the O'Jays' work with Gamble & Huff, is relatively minor. The album will be welcomed by fans who never got enough of the Philadelphia International years of the group, but there are no new masterpieces previously lost in the vaults.