O.V. Wright<div hidden>OV Wright</div>
O.V. Wright was an influential American soul and R&B singer known for his powerful gospel-rooted vocals. Born Overton Vertis Wright on October 9, 1939, in Lenow (or Leno), Tennessee, he rose from gospel groups to become a key figure in Southern soul.
Wright grew up singing in church and joined The Sunset Travelers in 1956 while in high school, serving as a lead singer for the gospel group. He later fronted the Harmony Echoes, where he was discovered alongside James Carr by songwriter Roosevelt Jamison.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he performed with groups like the Five Harmonaires, Spirit of Memphis Quartet, Luckett Brothers, Highway QCs, and Sunset Travelers, recording singles and an album for Peacock Records starting at age 19.
Wright left gospel for R&B in 1964, signing with Goldwax Records for his debut single "That's How Strong My Love Is," later covered by Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones. A contract dispute shifted him to Don Robey's Back Beat label.
Collaborating with producer Willie Mitchell at Hi Records, he scored R&B successes like "Ace of Spades" (1971), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), and "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), blending deep soul with Memphis grooves.
Wright died on November 16, 1980, at age 41 in Memphis, likely from a heart attack related to drug issues. He remains celebrated for his emotive delivery in blues-soul circles.
Memphis Unlimited
OV Wright
A1 I've Been Searching
Written-By – E. Randle
2:34
A2 Nothing Comes To A Sleeper
Written-By – E. Randle
3:15
A3 The Only Thing That Saved Me
Written-By – D. Carter, J. Shaw
2:30
A4 He's My Son (Just The Same)
Written-By – D. Malone, G. Hollis
2:44
A5 You Must Believe In Yourself
Written-By – C. Jerue, D. Malone
2:41
A6 Lost In The Shuffle
Written-By – E. Randle
3:22
B1 I'd Rather Be (Blind, Crippled & Crazy)
Written-By – C. Hodges, D. Carter, D. Malone
2:41
B2 Please Forgive Me
Written-By – C. Hodges, D. Malone, E. Randle
4:01
B3 Are You Going Where I'm Coming From
Written-By – D. Malone, E. Wright
3:08
B4 Ghetto Child
Written-By – D. Malone, J. Copeland
3:15
B5 Memory Blues
Written-By – D. Malone
3:28
B6 I'm Going Home (To Live With God)
Arranged By [Trad. - Arr. By] – Willie Mitchell
2:40
Label: Back Beat – BBLX-72
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul, Blues
Style: Southern Soul, Memphis Blues
The Bottom Line
OV Wright
A1 The Bottom Line 3:09
A2 I Don't Do Windows 2:21
A3 That's The Way I Feel About Cha 4:24
A4 Your Good Thing Is About To End 4:56
A5 Let's Straighten It Out 3:47
B1 I Don't Know Why 3:19
B2 No Easy Way To Say Goodbye 4:00
B3 A Little More Time 5:22
B4 Since You Left These Arms Of Mine 3:41
B5 A Long Road 2:31
Label: Hi Records – HLP 6008
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
The album generally receives positive reviews for its authentic soul sound, especially for a late-1970s release when disco was prevalent.
Critics consistently highlight Wright's exceptional vocal performances, noting his gospel roots, emotional delivery, and confidence that makes each song feel deeply personal.
Willie Mitchell's production work at the Hi Records studio is considered masterful, creating a "timeless quality" with a full band, seven-person horn section, and a string section, while still maintaining minimalism that keeps the focus on Wright's voice.
Standout tracks often mentioned include the title track, the upbeat "I Don't Do Windows," the powerful cover of "Let's Straighten It Out," and the emotional "No Easy Way To Say Goodbye".
Reviews often break down key songs:
"The Bottom Line" (title track): A strong, slow opening track with a classic Hi Records sound, showcasing Wright's powerful voice.
"I Don't Do Windows": The album's main up-tempo number, described as a "smart and sassy riot" and one of the best-known songs on the album.
The album features several covers:
"That's the Way I Feel About Cha" (Bobby Womack cover): Generally viewed as a commendable version, though some find Womack's original slightly better suited to his voice.
"Your Good Thing Is About To End" (Isaac Hayes/David Porter cover): An interesting, emotion-packed version with strong backing vocals.
"Let's Straighten It Out" (Benny Latimore cover): Often cited as the best of the covers, where Wright "really lets loose" and delivers a song with "deep blues foundation and a dark gospel urgency".
"A Little More Time": A poignant track that pays tribute to late musicians like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Elvis Presley. The lyrics have been noted as slightly weaker than other songs, but the emotional build-up is powerful, especially given Wright's own death shortly after the album's release.
Overall, The Bottom Line is considered a must-have for fans of southern soul and deep R&B. It is an album that expertly balances ballads and up-tempo tracks, highlighting O.V. Wright's raw, passionate voice and Willie Mitchell's refined production skills. Despite never achieving massive commercial success at the time, it has developed a strong reputation and is praised as one of the best records of Wright's career, particularly his work with Hi Records.
The Complete Back Beat-ABC Singles
1-2 Don't Want To Sit Down
1-3 You're Gonna Make Me Cry
1-4 Monkey Dog
1-5 I'm In Your Corner
1-6 Poor Boy
1-7 Gone For Good
1-8 How Long Baby
1-9 Eight Men And Four Women
1-10 Fed Up With The Blues
1-11 Heartaches, Heartaches
1-12 Treasured Moments
1-13 What About You
1-14 What Did You Tell This Girl Of Mine
1-15 Oh Baby Mine
1-16 Working Your Game
1-17 I Want Everyone To Know
1-18 Gonna Forget About You
1-19 Missing You
1-20 This Hurt Is Real
1-21 I'll Take Care Of You
2-1 Why Not Give Me A Chance?
2-2 Love The Way You Love
2-3 Blowing In The Wind
2-4 Ace Of Spades
2-5 Afflicted
2-6 Born All Over
2-7 When You Took Your Love From Me
2-8 A Nickel And A Nail
2-9 Pledging My Love
2-10 Don't Let My Baby Ride
2-11 He Made Woman For Man
2-12 Drowning On Dry Land
2-13 Please Forgive Me
2-14 I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled And Crazy
2-15 I'm Going Home (To Live With God)
2-16 I've Been Searching
2-17 What More Can I Do
2-18 Henpecked Man
2-19 Nobody But You
2-20 Slow And Easy
Label: Geffen Records
Format: 41 x File, MP3, Compilation
Released: 2018
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Southern Soul
We're Still Together
OV Wright
A1 We're Still Together
Written-By – Earl Randle, Richie Key
3:45
A2 I Found Peace
Written-By – Earl Randle, James Shaw
4:12
A3 It's Cold Without Your Love
Written-By – Earl Randle, Jim Dotson
3:42
A4 Baby Baby Baby
Written-By – Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin
3:30
A5 I'm Gonna Stay
Written-By – Earl Randle, Willie Mitchell
3:22
B1 The Hurt Is On
Written-By – Earl Randle, James Shaw
5:13
B2 Today I Sing The Blues
Written-By – Curtis Lewis
4:48
B3 Mirror Of My Soul
Written-By – Earl Randle, Renee Kirk
4:33
B4 Sacrifice
Written-By – Melvin Carter
4:30
Label: Hi Records – HLP 6011
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Released in 1979 near the end of his life, O.V. Wright’s We're Still Together is a poignant, critically acclaimed Memphis soul album produced by Willie Mitchell. Despite Wright's personal health struggles, the nine-track LP showcases his powerful, emotional vocals against a slicker production style, balancing heartache ballads with funk-driven soul.
Produced by Willie Mitchell with the Hi Rhythm Section, the album features a more contemporary late-70s sound with dense strings, yet retains a deeply emotional, church-influenced feel.
Despite battling health issues (heroin addiction), Wright delivers exceptional, raw, and moving performances that compare to his earlier, more celebrated work.
The album covers a diverse range of styles, from deep, gospel-infused ballads to danceable soul-funk. Key tracks often cited include "I Found Peace," "Baby, Baby, Baby," "The Hurt Is On," and "Mirror of My Soul".
While some critics note it may not be as cohesive as his early 70s peak, We're Still Together is considered a vital, high-quality addition to any Southern soul collection. It serves as a final, powerful testament to Wright's status as a premier soul singer before his death in 1980.