OHIO EXPRESS

For more picture of Ohio Express:
BUBBLEGUM MUSIC PICTURE PAGE

Personnel:

Just another group out of the midwest -- Mansfield, Ohio, to be precise -- the Ohio Express had little inclination that they would become the first, and best, Bubblegum super group. Early on the group consisted of Dale Powers (lead guitar), Doug Grassel (rhythm guitar), Jim Pfayler (keyboards), Dean Kastran (bass) and Tim Corwin (drums). Their first single, Beg, Borrow And Steal, was a Rare Breed performance recorded in 1966 and added to their first album of the same name. In 1967 they teamed up with Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, and signed with Neil Bogart's Buddah Records (of course) and released what is regarded as the first Bubblegum classic Yummy Yummy Yummy, which became their biggest hit, reaching the Top 5 on both sides of the Atlantic. Two of their albums made the Top 200: Ohio Express (which included Yummy, Yummy, Yummy climbing to No.126 and Chewy, Chewy which peaked at No. 191), but Bubblegum music really aimed at the singles market. Their first seven 45s were sung and written by Joey Levine, who was on Buddah's staff, but Buddy Bengert was lead singer on Pinch Me and Graham Gouldman (later of 10cc fame) performed the vocals honors on Sausalito (Is The Place To Go). The group carried on until 1972 long since losing any resemblance to the original lineup and sound.

D I S C O G R A P H Y

Click on highlighted album for song list, credits and a review.

ALBUMS:

BEG, BORROW AND STEAL (Cameo 20000 - Stereo CS 20000) 1967

THE OHIO EXPRESS (Buddah BDS 5018) 1968

CHEWY CHEWY (Buddah BDS 5026) 1969

MERCY (Buddah BDS 5037) 1969

THE VERY BEST OF THE OHIO EXPRESS (Buddah BDS 5058) 1970

(Note: A non-existent album has been credited to The Ohio Express in a number of sources. The album, Buddah #BDS 5021, is Finders Keepers by the group Salt Water Taffy and definitely not The Ohio Express. It is an error that has been repeated in a number of books, articles and web-sites -- but not here!)

CDs:

GOLDEN CLASSICS (Collectables COL-CD-0535) 1994

THE SUPER K KOLLECTION (Collectables COL-CD-0579) 1994

THE BEST OF THE OHIO EXPRESS (Buddha Records 74465 99800 2) 2001

45s:

Beg Borrow And Steal/Maybe (Cameo 483) 1967

Try It/Soul Struttin' (Cameo KC 2001) 1967

Yummy Yummy Yummy/Zig Zag (Buddah 38) 1968

Down At Lulu's/She's Not Comin' Home (Buddah 56) 1968

Chewy Chewy/Firebird (Buddah 70) 1968

Sweeter Than Sugar/Bitter Lemon* (Buddah 92) 1969

Mercy/Roll It Up (Buddah 102) 1969

Pinch Me (Baby, Convince Me)/Peanuts (Buddah 117) 1969

Sausalito (Is The Place To Go)/Make Love Not War (Buddah 129) 1969

Cowboy Convention/The Race (That Took Place) (Buddah 147) 1969

Peanuts/Love Equals Love (Buddah 160) 1970

Love Equals Love/Shake (Buddah 160) 1970 (Overseas)

Hot Dog/Ooh La La (Super K 114) 1970

That's The Way A Woman Is/Talking 'Bout You (Hansa 10043AT) 1970

Wham Bam/Slow And Steady (Buddah 386) 1973 (recorded as "Ohio Ltd.")

 

(* Bitter Lemon is Sweeter Than Sugar mastered backwards and faster!)

Ohio Express circa 1973.
L-R: Bruce Schefft (drums), Dave (bass), Kenny (guitar), Joe (keyboards),
Les (lead vocals)

Thanks Bruce (a professor who rocks) for the photo!

 

Want to stay in the Express Lane? Then, hop on this cool site:

BUBBLEGUM WORLD

or hire Tim and the group to play your next party!

OHIO EXPRESS @ MARS TALENT

The Best Of: Yummy Yummy Yummy

New Buddha set!

The Super K Kollection

Just $12.98! Get it now before it goes out-of-print!