By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 09:31 am:

This Motown outfit were mentioned on here recently.
The group evolved out of the Endeavors (who cut on Empire State, etc in the 60's / early 70's). The group were then based in Nashville, so how come they ended up in LA (at least I guess they cut their Motown stuff in LA).

By Don (68.75.60.111) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 04:09 pm:

I have an LP by Ozone, their first and only one I think? The single was call Giggolette. I heard they we're Tina Marie's band, on the LP she is the Producer. Although there maybe more than one producer and more than one writer.

By Wonder B (217.128.245.244) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 04:16 am:

I don't know how they ended up in L.A but I can tell you there were more than one LP...
WALK ON
JUMP ON IT
SEND IT
LIL SUZY
GLASSES

are the ones I remember... Walk On and Send It are the best IMHO...

Wonder B

By JSmith (195.93.34.9) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 11:30 pm:

Yes,
I believe they made 5 LP's for Motown.
The tracks I am really after (on 45) are :-
"Our Hearts" from 83 and "Come On In" from 82 (I believe Mike Lovesmith sang lead on this one !)

By Don (68.75.60.155) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Fellas. You all are right they did make more than one lp, it all comes back to me now. It was during that god awful new wave period. I mean, it had it's moments, I guess? I have Lil Suzy on lp and a tune the group had on 45 entitled " Giggolette" that f/ Tina and/or Teena Marie and Rick James at the end of the song. Also the flip side had an instrumental- at least mine did.

By Wonder B (81.49.139.147) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 07:02 pm:

Gigolette was also issued as a promo on 12" and this is one hell of a funk track... that bass line could make a dead body dance...
I looooove the instrumental version on the B-Side...
I think (since it was produced by Teena Marie) that it is even better than her biggest funk track 'Square Biz'...

Wonder B

By Allen (24.24.197.33) on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 01:07 am:

Ozone was a very talented group of musicians I had the pleasure of working with. They are an example of what life is like for a great number of musicians. Most of us toil in anonymity. I think a common thread in most career musicians is the desire to be a part of something great that will out live us and hopefully connect with people�s hearts. Even more so than making money. This gives us a sense of immortality.

Ozone was Motown�s utility band. Some of them were farmed out to other label mates like Billy Preston, or Syreeta Wright. Some of them worked with DeBarge. Gilbert �Skip� Starkey managed them and if I remember correctly, Ms Anna Gordy-Gaye participated as well.

I met them after I'd started working with Teena. When it came time to cut her next project, I suggested she try Paul. She was reluctant because she and her cousin Chris had played music together since childhood. I asked her point blank. Do you want to make hit records, or just records you can listen to and say that you did them with your cousin?

Paul Hines and Rick James� Original bassist Oscar Alston locked a hellava funky vibe on �Behind The Groove�. Paul�s fills on the breaks are invaluable to that song. So are his parts on �Square Biz�, which I co wrote and played bass along with him. I also co wrote �Gigolette��(Thanks Wonder B). Keyboardist Jimmy Stewart is also extremely talented. I loved working with him as well.

Allen

By Wonder B (217.128.156.16) on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 10:50 am:

Wowwwwwwwww Allen... you made my day... I am not kidding when I say this bass line is one of my top 5 funk records of all time favourite...
Your insight on this underrated band is fantastic...
THanks for all this info.
Are you still in touch with the members of Ozone?
I would love to carry on this discussion.
If you want to email me do not hesitate :
wonder.b@wanadoo.fr

Wonder B

By Allen (24.24.197.33) on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 05:18 am:

Hello Wonder,
I'll speak with you here for now. You don't want to be caught up in my email hell.

I speak with Jimmy Stewart/Stuart time to time. (I forget. We just call him DEAN.) He is working in and around his hometown. Youngstown Ohio. He's also doing a lot playing at his church.

Recently, we got a chance to play together for the 1st time in over 10 years. I filled in for Doug Grigsby on some Teena Marie dates. Doug has worked with her for quite a while.

David Taylor (aka Nikki Slick) also joined us for a few dates. David is my close friend since age 12. We were both Little League catchers. I hold the honor of being the only catcher in our league ever to throw him out stealing.

Although lots of other musicians played on Her albums over the years, the combination of Paul Hines, Jimmy Stuart, David Taylor and myself formed the nucleus of Teena's rhythm section for a great number of her early hits.

Thinking back, we were all 20-23 years old. Listening to those tracks now, they don't sound like their being played by a bunch of 21 year olds.

I believe this was one of those magical times in life when all the stars line up and the music just creates itself, if you can get out of the way.

Lots of artist ego's get in their way, and they force the music out. It comes better when you are able to act as an antenna. Less human gratification oriented too.

One of my favorite "DEAN" licks comes at the end of the song� Young Love". That is pure beauty.

Allen

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 07:34 am:

I seem to recall a single by Ozone titled "Listen To The Buddha" during the disco era. I think it came out on Lenny Silver's Amherst label out of Buffalo,NY.

By Wonder B (81.51.160.250) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 09:20 am:

Thanks Allen for sharing those memories.. I might get back to you someday as I am the editor of a soul/funk magazine and I am definitely considering doing a piece on Ozone... I have been looking for pics of the band (like I always do first) and I have been able to come up with at least three different promo pics...so it is on it's way and when I am ready I will post here to contact you... but first I will send you a copy of our mag so you can see for yourself what we are about.
Thanks again

Wonder B

By Greg C. (165.247.45.230) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 07:37 pm:

The Ozone jam was "Jump On It". Still sounds great today.