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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 22 october 2018
Old-school R&B group The O'Jays get into a political groove

By MARK KENNEDY change things if they want preme Court Justice Brett
Associated Press change." Kavanaugh.
NEW YORK (AP) — The icon- "Above the Law" was com- Levert, 76, said he feels like
ic R&B group The O'Jays posed by Betty Wright and he's stepped back in time
has always made music for Angelo Morris, and pro- to when he was a child in
the heart. Now the group duced by Steve Green- Alabama and the Ku Klux
is going for the jugular on berg, Wright, Mike Mangini Klan was terrorizing people.
what it says is its last album. and Sam Hollander. More He watched with alarm
The Rock and Roll Hall of of its lyrics include the lines as white supremacists are
Fame inductees known for "Re-invent slavery/ Erase walking through U.S. city
the classic song "Love Train" the war on poverty/ Sepa- streets once more.
on Friday released the rate primarily/ By class." "Now, it seems like we've
politically charged single "As soon as I heard it, I told done a 360-degree turn
"Above the Law ," which Mr. Greenberg, 'We are and gone back to those
explores racial and class in- all going to jail,'" Williams same times when they
equality. The lyrics include: said, laughing. "He said, can hang and shoot and
"Game is fixed/ Pure parlor 'Don't worry about it. I'll be kill people just because
tricks." the guy that gives you the of their color," Levert said.
The single will be part of The cake with the file in it.'" "Walter and myself, we're
O'Jays' final studio album, The cover, by artist Christa living this twice. It's like re-
the socially conscious "The Cassan, shows business- peating yourself. It's crazy."
Last Word," their first original men with briefcases riding Williams and Levert formed
material in almost 20 years, This image released by S-Curve Records shows "Above the flying pigs over the Capi- the band in Canton, Ohio,
which is set for release Feb. Law," a release by The O'Jays. tol. A lyric video for "Above in 1963, alternating as lead
22 from S-Curve Records. Associated Press the Law" begins with a $100 singers. Hits from their peak
Group co-founders Eddie bill being burned, before in the 1970s and 1980s in-
Levert Sr. and Walter Wil- compelled by what it has know, it's bad. I've never showing photos of black clude "Backstabbers,"
liams Sr. told The Associ- seen over the past few seen it this bad," said Wil- men manhandled by the ''Love Train" and "Use Ta Be
ated Press this week that years. liams, 75. "You have to say police, scary newspaper My Girl." The group's last al-
the group didn't intend to "You almost have to say something. You have to do headlines, White House bum of new material, "Love
make new music as it looks something. You almost something. People have press secretary Sarah You to Tears," appeared in
toward retirement but felt have to get involved. You to get out and vote to Huckabee Sanders and Su- 1997.q