The O'Jays ~ Use Ta Be My Girl 1978 Disco Purrfection Version

"Use Ta Be My Girl" became The O'Jays biggest hit of their entire career in the spring of 1978. The retro shoop shoopy shoop shoop chants were the icing on this gorgeous cake, don't forget 50's nostalgia was big! Remember "Grease"? "Happy Days" well they exploded in popularity right alongside the disco movement reaching the boiling point the following summer.

It was spring and this one transports me to back to Senior Year, Prom then graduation, the future was hopeful and bright. With this kind of music around to help life my spirits it was impossible to resist.

There was not one person involved with this recording that thought this song was going to be big even less that it could be a #1 record. Just goes to show you they were not trying to write a hit, it came naturally and at the right time for their audience.

The inspiration for the song came from a viewing of Animal House, the John Belushi movie when they noticed Otis Day & The Nights in the movie performing songs from a bygone era of the 50's with the shoop shoop and rama lama ding dong, so they decided to put some of that in the song.

Joe Tarsia who ran the Sigma Sound Studios made famous with MFSB also had his doubts, as a sound engineer he felt that the mix was muddy and not something he was proud of. Of course, he changed his opinion after seeing the strong response to the song and now says "It is a great record."

Guitarist Bobby Eli had other thoughts, he felt the song had a #1 vibe as soon the rhythm charts were written, the song just flowed and the musicians played masterfully the good energy was impossible to deny. There was someone recording something at Sigma 24/7 during that time and Bobby often slept in the studio rather than head home and then have to drive back the next morning to give him more time to work on the music he loves.