Popular in the 70s this soulful pop song continues to resonate. Hear seven inventive versions
KURATED NO. 124
IN THIS (PANDEMIC) TIME
Ooh Child: Still Sharing Hope After 50 years
 CONTENTS
Kurated No.124ooh Child.jpg
The Five Stairsteps were a Chicago soul and gospel pop band that recorded from the mid 60s to the 80s.

INSPIRATION AND SOLACE IN TOUGH TIMES

70s soul and pop hit resonates half a century on

Ooh Child is a hidden gem of a song whose heartfelt message – “things are going to get easier” – continues to resonate with listeners and artists 50 years since it first hit the charts. Sung by The Five Stairsteps – a Black quintet of four young brothers and a sister from Chicago – the song came out in 1970 during massive unrest in the United States. Its simple, inspiring lyric offered hope for sunnier days against a backdrop of civil rights and Vietnam war protests that included the Kent State student shootings that year by the Ohio National Guard:

Some day, yeah
We’ll put it together and we’ll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun

The most recent cover of the song comes from Trinidad and Tobago reggae artist Ziggy Rankin and his 18-year-old daughter DJ Lila. With its strong beats, their hip hop-tinged interpretation features a powerfully sung exchange. The touching display of care and mutual concern between father and daughter adds yet another dimension to this fine piece.

Given the state of the world right now, all of us can use the balm of an inspiring and hopeful song. We’re living with some big issues. A relentless and polarizing pandemic; the urgency of the climate crisis; the struggle to redress the injustice for Canada’s indigenous peoples. There’s the debacle in Afghanistan and, in Canada, many of us are feeling cynical about being drawn into a needless federal election.

Hope can often seem elusive. Any music that helps raise it up is welcome.

Cover Versions

A million-selling single, Ooh Child hit Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became The Five Stairstep’s biggest hit and signature tune. Rolling Stone ranks it No. 402 on its The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song has been covered by dozens of artists including Laura Nyro and Labelle, Nina Simone, Molly Johnson and Andrew Craig, Hall and Oates plus Ziggy Rankin with DJ Lila whose version came out in June. It’s a testament to the song’s resonant message and beautiful melody that it’s been interpreted in different genres and styles. Variously, it’s been sung by a gospel choir; as a poignant solo ballad and a soaring soul song. Several versions play it as rousing call to action.

Other artists who’ve included the tune in their repertoire are Dusty Springfield, Roberta Flack, Richie Havens, Milton Nascimento, Beth Orton, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Ramsey Lewis, Christine Anu, Jill Sobule, The Spinners, Dee Dee Sharp, Valerie Carter, and Raya Yarborough.

While Ooh Child doesn’t qualify as a standard – the song continues to show up in soundtracks, commercials and concerts.

FUN FACT: The B-side of the single is the Beatles’ Dear Prudence which was initially pegged as the A-side until Ooh Child started gaining regional attention.

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Stay tuned and enjoy,
Kris Sig Plastic V3

05 September 2021

Playlists

Screen Shot 2021 09 02 At 4.08.00 Pm

There are two playlists in this post.

  • Part 1 features seven of the most varied and unique versions of the song I’ve found including the original by the Five Stairsteps.
  • Part 2 features a number of other great and worthy interpretations

(Please note that the playlists aren’t identical. All songs aren’t available on both streaming services.)

PART 1

  • Laura Nyro and Labelle – recorded live in 1971 for the album Gonna Take A Miracle before Labelle became famous
  • Molly Johnson and Andrew Craig – this innovative 2002 arrangement integrates Bob Marley’s emancipation-themed hit, Redemption Song, into the mix
  • Nina Simone – the 2006 Nikodemus Remix. The New York DJ takes Simone’s 1971 cover, adds some beats and other treatments to this funky piece
  • MILCK – this version by the political singer-songwriter who made a name for herself at the Women’s March on Washington in 2017 comes from her 2018 EP, This Is Not The End.
  • Ziggy Rankin with DJ Lila – The Trinidad and Tobago reggae artist released this version with his 18-year-old daughter DJ Lila in June. He sings: “We know these are troubled times. Keep your head up.” This version features the only parent/child-themed interpretation of the song I’ve come across.
  • The Five Stairsteps – 1970

PART 1 ON YOUTUBE

PART 1 ON SPOTIFY

PART 2 ON YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG-pRIXeCU7dgdbix1d1_tmBrpO69R5rV

PART 2 ON SPOTIFY

Lyrics

Song written and composed by Stan Vincent

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things’ll get brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things’ll get brighter

Some day, yeah
We’ll put it together and we’ll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things’ll be brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things’ll be brighter

Some day, yeah
We’ll put it together and we’ll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter

Some day, yeah
We’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

Some day, some day, some day, some day yeah
We’ll put it together and we’ll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter