| Odyssey | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York, United States |
| Genres | Dance music, disco, funk, R&B |
| Years active | 1977–Present |
| Labels | RCA Records |
| Website | www.odyssey.uk.com |
| Members | |
| Steven Collazo (Lillian Lopez's Son) Annis Peters Anne Peters |
|
| Past members | |
| Lillian Lopez Louise Lopez Carmen Lopez Tony Reynolds Bill McEachern Albert Jackson |
|
Odyssey was a New York, now UK-based dance music band.[1] It grew out of the talent of the Connecticut-born Lopez sisters: Lillian Lopez (born 16 November 1935), Louise Lopez (born 22 February 1933), and Carmen Lopez (born July 12 1934), who left the group before Odyssey, as the group came to be known after her departure, was formed.[1]
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Filipino singer Tony Reynolds was added, at which point the band became known as Odyssey.[1] The group was best known for its December 1977 hit "Native New Yorker", which reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Top Ten in the UK, was later covered by Frankie Valli. Although a string of albums and singles followed, the group managed only one other R&B chart smash, the Slave-produced "Inside Out", written by Jesse Rae, which peaked at US #12/UK #3 in 1982.[2] Reynolds, for unknown reasons, left after the first album and was replaced by Fayetteville, North Carolina native William "Bill" McEachern, who remained with the group throughout the remainder of its RCA record label output. During that time, Lillian's eldest son, Brooklyn-born Steven Collazo joined the group as keyboardist, vocalist and musical director. Tony Reynolds died on February 4, 2010 while residing in his home in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Tony worked as an electrician for the NYC Police Department for over 20 years. He loved music so much that he even formed a band within the Police Department.
In the United Kingdom, the band with its diverse musical style had more chart success, totalling five Top Ten hits between 1977 and 1982.[3] One of them, "Use It Up and Wear It Out", reached number one in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in 1980. [3] Odyssey thus became the third U.S. act of the year (after Fern Kinney and M.A.S.H.) to reach Number one in the UK despite not charting in their home country.[4] Later hit "Going Back to My Roots" was written and originally recorded by songwriter Lamont Dozier, who for many years was one third of the legendary Motown writing/production team of Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland. Post RCA, Odyssey, then composed of Lillian Lopez, Al Jackson and Steven Collazo, continued touring, performing, and making television appearances throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. Lillian and Al married in 2000 and retired from the music industry in 2003.
Odyssey's "If You're Looking For a Way Out" was covered by Tindersticks on their 1999 album, Simple Pleasure. Other covers of Odyssey's material include "Don't Tell Me Tell Her" by Phyllis Hyman and "Native New Yorker" by Esther Phillips amongst several others. The band, now led by Steven Collazo and featuring vocalist twins Annis and Anne Peters released a new album "Legacy" in June 2011 on ISM records.
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100[5] | U.S. R&B[5] | U.S. Dance | UK Singles Chart[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "Native New Yorker" | 21 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| 1977 | "Weekend Lover" | 57 | 37 | - | - |
| 1980 | "Don't Tell Me, Tell Her" | - | 44 | 6 | - |
| 1980 | "Use It Up and Wear It Out" | - | - | 6 | 1 |
| 1981 | "Hang Together" | - | - | 6 | 36 |
| 1980 | "If You're Lookin' For a Way Out" | - | - | - | 6 |
| 1981 | "Going Back to My Roots" | - | 68 | 55 | 4 |
| 1981 | "It Will Be Alright" | - | - | - | 43 |
| 1982 | "Inside Out" | - | 12 | 25 | 3 |
| 1982 | "Magic Touch" | - | - | - | 41 |
| 1985 | "(Joy) I Know It" | - | - | - | 51 |
| Year | Title | Billboard 200[6] | U.S. R&B[6] | UK Albums Chart[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Odyssey | 36 | 15 | - |
| 1978 | Hollywood Party Tonight | 123 | 72 | - |
| 1980 | Hang Together | 181 | 66 | 38 |
| 1981 | I've Got the Melody | 175 | 62 | 29 |
| 1982 | Happy Together | - | 23 | 21 |
| 1982 | The Magic Touch of Odyssey | - | - | 69 |
| 1985 | Joy | - | - | 69 |
| 2011 | Legacy | - | - | - |