O-o-h Child

"O-o-h Child"
One of US reissues
SinglebyFive Stairsteps
from the albumStairsteps
A-side	"O-o-h Child"
B-side	"Who Do You Belong To"
Released	April 1970
Genre	Pop R&B Chicago soul
Length	3:11
Label	Buddah
Songwriter(s)	Stan Vincent
Producer(s)	Stan Vincent
Five Stairstepssingles chronology
"Because I Love You" (1970) "O-o-h Child" (1970) "Dear Prudence" (1970)
Audio
"O-o-h Child"onYouTube

"O-o-h Child"is a 1970 single, written by Stan Vincent, recorded byChicago soulfamily group theFive Stairstepsand released on theBuddahlabel.

The Five Stairsteps previously had limited success recording in Chicago withCurtis Mayfield.When Mayfield's workload precluded his continuing to work with the group, they were reassigned toStan Vincent,an in-house producer for Buddah Records who had recently scored a Top Ten hit with theLou Christiesingle "I'm Gonna Make You Mine".The Five Stairsteps' debut collaboration with Vincent was the group's rendition of"Dear Prudence"designated as theA-sidewith Vincent's original composition "O-o-h Child" asB-side.However, "O-o-h Child" broke out in the key markets of Philadelphia and Detroit to rise as high as #8 on theBillboardHot 100in the summer of 1970.

The track'sR&B chartimpact was muted, peaking at #14, although in time it came to be regarded as a "soft soul" classic.Billboardranked the record as theNo. 21 song of 1970.

Song information

The Five Stairsteps' only popTop 40hit, "O-o-h Child" would be the group's last R&B top 40 hit (they had several top 40 R&B hits in the 1960s) until 1976's "From Us to You". Included on the band'sThe Stairstepsalbum from 1970, it has become the Stairsteps'signature songand has inspired more than twenty covers since its release. The song featured various members, including lone female member and eldest sister Alohe, brothers Keni, Dennis, James, lead singerClarence Burke Jr.singing in various parts of the song.

The lyrics tell the listener that "things are gonna get easier" in times of strife. The song's uplifting message helped it to become popular among pop and rhythm and blues audiences when it was released.

The song is ranked #402 on theRolling Stonemagazine's list ofThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Critical reception

AllMusic review by Joe Viglione: "Producer Stan Vincent's Top Ten hit for the Stairsteps," O-o-h Child, "was one of those bright, memorable, sterling songs which, as withAlive 'N Kickin's "Tighter, Tighter,"made the summer of 1970 so memorable."

Personnel

The Five Stairsteps

• Lead vocals by Alohe Burke, Clarence Burke Jr.,Keni Burke
• Backing vocals by James Burke, Dennis Burke

Musicians

• Guitars byHugh McCrackenand Clarence Burke Jr.
• Bass by Keni Burke
• Keyboards byRichard Tee
• Drums byJerome BraileyorBernard Purdie- Disputed

Production

• Recorded at Allegro Studios
• Produced, written, arranged, and conducted byStan Vincent

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1970-1971)	Peak position
CanadaRPMTop Singles	3
U.S.BillboardHot 100	8
U.S.BillboardR&B	14
U.S.Cash BoxTop 100	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1970)	Rank
Canada	57
U.S.BillboardHot 100	21
U.S.Cash Box	40

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)	Gold	1,000,000^
^Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

• The Spinnerscovered the song on their 1970 album2nd Time Around.
• Bruce Ruffinreleased a reggae cover of the song in 1970.
• Nina Simonecovered the song on her 1971 albumHere Comes the Sun.
• Dusty Springfieldcovered the song in 1971 for possible inclusion onSee All Her Faces.It was finally released in 2001 on the posthumous compilationLove Songs.
• TheNew Birthcovered the song on their 1971 album,Ain't No Big Thing, But It's Growing.
• TheEdwin HawkinsSingers recorded this song for their 1973 releaseI'd Like To Teach the World To Sing,also on theBuddahlabel.
• Richie Havenscovered the song on his 1974 albumMixed Bag II.
• Dee Dee Sharpcovered the song on her 1975 albumHappy 'bout The Whole Thing.
• Valerie Cartercovered the song for her 1977 releaseJust a Stone's Throw Away.
• Mary WilsonfromThe Supremescovered the song in 1989, and released it as a single.
• Dino'sversion hit #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.
• BeBe & CeCe Winanscovered the song on their 1993 Christmas albumFirst Christmas.
• Wondermintscovered the song on their 1996 albumWonderful World of the Wondermints.
• Milton Nascimentocovered the song on his 1999 albumCrooner.
• Beth Ortoncovered the song on her 2003 compilation albumThe Other Side of Daybreakas a soft, acoustic guitar version. The song was featured on the pilot episode "First Responders" ofThe Unit,on an episode ofAliasentitled "Repercussions", on an episode inAlly McBealentitled "Love Unlimited", sung byCalista Flockhart,Jesse L. Martin,Lisa Nicole CarsonandVonda Shepard,on an episode ofLifeentitled "Serious Control Issues", on aCSI: NYepisode entitled "Unusual Suspects", on aCold Caseepisode entitled "Superstar", on aERepisode entitled "Graduation Day", on aThe Good Doctorentitled "Dr. Ted", at the end of theHawaii Five-0episode "Hahai I Na Pilikua Nui".
• Molly Johnsonrecorded themedley"Ooh Child" / "Redemption Song"for her 2002 albumAnother Day.
• In its 2002CDrelease the 1971 albumGonna Take a MiraclebyLaura Nyrowas augmented by four live tracks from Nyro's May 30, 1971 concert atFillmore Eastincluding "Ooh Child" with the entire concert being issued in 2004 asSpread Your Wings and Fly: Live at the Fillmore East.
• Kelly Rowlandrecorded a live version of the song inRotterdam,theNetherlandswhich was released in 2003 on theDestiny's Child World TourDVD.
• Nancy WilsonandRamsey Lewisremade the song for their 2003 collaborative albumSimple Pleasures.
• Hall & Oatescovered the song on their 2004 albumOur Kind of Soul.
• Donnie McClurkincovered the song featuringKirk Franklinon his 2004 albumPsalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songsand his version was also on the soundtrack of the 2005 filmThe Gospel,starringBoris Kodjoe.
• Trey Anastasiohas covered this song live in concert numerous times, including onLate Night with Jimmy Fallonon October 30, 2012.
• The song was covered by Raya Yarbrough andBear McCrearyin "The Devil in the Dark",Episode 3 Season 1, of the TV showDefiance.The show was first aired April 29, 2013, and is contained on the accompanying soundtrack album to the series.
• Christine Anucovered the song on her albumIsland Christmas(2014).
• Vulfpeckdebuted a cover of the song at theBrooklyn Bowl,with lead vocals from Antwaun Stanley (2016).
• Janet Jacksonsampled the song in her song "Truth" from her 2001 albumAll For You.
• Lisa Loebcovered the song on her 2017 albumLullaby Girl.
• MILCKcovered the song on her 2018 albumThis Is Not the End.
• Kamasi Washingtoncovered the song on the 2018 EPThe Choice.
• Jill Sobulecovered the song on her 2018 albumNostalgia Kills.
• The Quiet Loud (formerlyThe Show) covered the song in 2018. The song was unreleased until 2020, when the band made it available to radio and for download as a fundraising song for their hometown Pittsburgh music venues during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
• Paul Stanley's Soul Station covered the song on the 2021 albumNow and Then.

In popular culture

• In the 1979 filmOver the Edge,the closing scene (while the prison bus drives away) is underscored by theValerie Carterversion.
• "O-o-h Child" was featured prominently in a notable scene of the 1991 filmBoyz n the Hood,when Tre and Furious witness Doughboy and Chris being arrested.
• The song is played in the 1994 filmCrooklynwhen the main character Troy Carmichael attends the funeral of her mother with the entire family.
• TheBeastie Boyssong "Intergalactic"contains the lyrics" It always brings me back when I hear O-o-h Child ".
• In the 2000 filmOur Song,"O-o-h Child" is the song referred to in the title.
• In a 2000 episode ofBoy Meets Worldentitled "Angela's Ashes" Eric sings the refrain to Angela.
• The 2004 animated filmShark Taleplayed the song during Oscar's flashback sequence about his father.
• In a 2005 episode of TV seriesJudging Amyentitled "You Don't Know Me" (Season 6, Episode 12).
• In the filmBridge to Terabithia,music teacher Ms. Edmunds sings the song accompanied by her class.
• In the TV showHow I Met Your Mother,Season 3, episode 11, "The Platinum Rule".
• In 2011 a few lines of the song were sung in the US SitcomMike & Molly(Season 2 Episode 12).
• On December 5, 2011, "O-o-h Child" was covered in a cappella bySing-OffSeason 2 champion Committed and Season 3 Runner-Up Afro-Blue in the show's Sing-Off Christmas.
• In TV showThe Bernie Mac Show,Season 1, episode 1, "Pilot".
• In "A Tree Grows in Springfield",the sixth episode ofseason 24ofThe Simpsons
• In "The Devil in the Dark",the third episode of season 1 ofDefiance,performed by Raya Yarbrough, originally aired April 29, 2013, the song underscores the final scenes.
• InGrand Theft Auto Von the in-game radio station The Lowdown 91.1.
• InSaturday Night LiveSeason 39 episode 15,aGPS navigation devicekeeps interruptingLena Dunhamduring a car sing-along of the song.
• In the 2014MarvelfilmGuardians of the Galaxy,Peter Quillsings the song while performing a dance-off to distractRonan the Accuser.
• In the TV showScandal,Season 4, episode 15 "The Testimony of Diego Muñoz".
• In the TV showCSI: NY,Season 6, Episode 21 "Unusual Suspects".
• In the TV showiZombie,the song plays on the radio during season 2, episode 19 "Salivation Army".
• In episode 8 of the TV miniseriesThe People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,Johnnie Cochran(played byCourtney B. Vance) sings the first verses of the song while celebrating a courtroom victory.
• It was heard, in edited form, during the pregame show ofSuper Bowl LIon February 5, 2017, in a film about college football players fromHBCUswho have been inducted to thePro Football Hall of Fame.
• The song was part of the 'Love Over Bias' campaign forProcter & Gambleadvertised globally during the2018 Winter Olympics.
• The song was used during the2020 Democratic National Conventionwhile Joe and Jill Biden told the story of their early relationship.
• In 2021, a cover of the song byAnne-Mariewas used in a series of television adverts forO2in the United Kingdom.

Sampled

• The song is sampled throughout the 1993 song "Getting Brighter" by theDynamic Twins.
• The song's chorus is used in the 19932Pacsong "Keep Ya Head Up".
• R. Kellyquoted the song on the remix of the 1994 hit "Bump n' Grind".
• It is sampled in UKgrimeartistShystie's song "Somedayz" from the albumDiamond in the Dirt.
• Janet Jacksoninterpolated this song on her 2001 song "Truth".
• Joeused this in the intro of his 2001 song "Better Days".
• It is sampled in UK grime artistBashy's 2007 song "Black Boys".
• Hi-Rezinterpolated this song on his 2011 song "Ooh Child".
• The song's chorus was used by rapperZ-Roin the song "Lord Tell Me Why", on his 1998 debut albumLook What You Did to Me.He used the chorus again in 2000, on the song "Gonna Get Easier".
• In January 2017 the hook from the song was sampled for the song "Hurricane Of Diamonds" released byPsychopathic RecordsfeaturingInsane Clown Posse,Anybody Killa,Big Hoodoo,DJ Clay,Blahzay RozeandLyte.

See also

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States

External links

• The Five Stairsteps, 'O-o-h Child' - 500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME
• Over the Edge - Soundtrack
• The Five Stairsteps - O-o-h ChildonYouTube