Identify Yourself

Identify Yourself
Identify Yourself
Studio album by the O'Jays
Released	1979
Recorded	1978–79
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Philadelphia soul, R&B
Length	40:15
Label	Philadelphia International Records
Producer	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Thom Bell
The O'Jays chronology

Identify Yourself is the thirteenth album by American R&B group the O'Jays, released on the Philadelphia International Records label in 1979. 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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Smash Hits	6/10^[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

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

Side one

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

Side two

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

Personnel

Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sammy Strain – vocals
Don Renaldo – horns, strings
Roland Chambers, Dennis Harris, Anthony Bell, Bobby Eli – guitar
Quinton Joseph, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Charles Collins – drums
James Williams, Willie Ross, Bob Babbitt – bass guitar
James Mtume, David Cruse – percussion
Leon Huff, Mike Jackson, Thom Bell – keyboards
Lenny Pakula, Dunn Pearson – organ
Ed Shea – timpanies

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[6]	16
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[7]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Position
US Billboard 200^[8]	97
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[9]	18

Singles

"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

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

[1] [1] ^{[dead link]}

[AM-2] "Identify Yourself Review by Andrew Hamilton". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2024.

[3] Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (October 18–31, 1979): 29.

[CL-4] Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 247.

[5] Wynn, Ron (November 29, 1979). "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner. No. 5. p. 15.

[ac_Billboard200_The_Manhattans-6] "The Manhattans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_The_Manhattans-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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v t e The O'Jays
Eddie Levert Walter Williams Eric Grant Bill Isles Bobby Massey William Powell Sammy Strain Nathaniel Best
Studio albums	Back on Top Back Stabbers Ship Ahoy Survival Family Reunion Message in the Music Travelin' at the Speed of Thought So Full of Love Identify Yourself Serious Emotionally Yours Heartbreaker
Other albums	The Very Best of the O'Jays
Singles	"Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette) "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today) "Back Stabbers" "Love Train" "For the Love of Money" "Give the People What They Want" "I Love Music (Part I)" "Livin' for the Weekend" "Message in Our Music" "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" "Use ta Be My Girl" "Lovin' You" "Have You Had Your Love Today" "Stairway to Heaven"
Related articles	Discography

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