Odyssey (band)

American British band

Odyssey is a vocal trio originally from New York City, who are best known for their disco hits including "Native New Yorker" (1977), "Use It Up and Wear It Out" (1980), and "Going Back to My Roots" (1981). Now based in the United Kingdom, the band is led and fronted by Steven Collazo and continues to perform and record.

The group began as the Connecticut born "Lopez Sisters", featuring Steven Collazo's mother, Lillian Lopez (Lillian Lopez Collazo Jackson; November 16, 1935 – September 4, 2012), Louise Lopez (February 22, 1933 – January 28, 2015), and Carmen Lopez (July 12, 1934 April 22, 2016), the latter having left the group before Odyssey, as the act would come to be known after her departure, was conceived. The song was ranked at number 15 among the "Tracks of the Year" for 1982 by NME. 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 Records output. During that time, Brooklyn born Steven Collazo joined the group as keyboardist, vocalist and musical director. Tony Reynolds died on February 2, 2010, in Jamaica, Queens, New York. In the United Kingdom, the band, with its diverse musical style had more chart success, totalling five top ten hits between 1977 and 1982. The UK follow up single, "If You're Lookin' for a Way Out" had Lillian Lopez on lead vocals; the single reaching no. 6 in 1980 and spending a total of fifteen weeks in the UK chart. Their next hit, "Going Back to My Roots", was written and originally recorded by Lamont Dozier. After leaving RCA, Odyssey, composed of lead vocalist Lillian Lopez, Al Jackson and Steven Collazo, continued touring, performing, and making television appearances throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. Lopez and Jackson married in 2000 and retired from the music industry in 2003. Lopez died on September 4, 2012, of cancer.

Odyssey's "If You're Looking for a Way Out" was covered by Tindersticks on their 1999 album, Simple Pleasure. "Inside Out" was covered by Electribe 101 on their 1990 album Electribal Memories and subsequently released as a single. Other covers of Odyssey's material include "Don't Tell Me Tell Her" by Phyllis Hyman and "Native New Yorker" by Esther Phillips, amongst others. The band, now led by Steven Collazo, featured vocalist twins Annis and Anne Peters and released the album Legacy in June 2011 on ISM Records. The twins left the group in January 2013, and were replaced by song stylist Jerdene Wilson and recording artist Romina Johnson. Johnson is known for her vocals and collaboration with Artful Dodger on the 2000 hit song "Movin' Too Fast". In 2014–15, Odyssey released their Together EP via ISM records.

YearTitlePeak chart positionsRecord labelUSUSR&BCANNLDSWEUK1977Odyssey36169847———RCA Victor1978Hollywood Party Tonight12372—————1980Hang Together18166————381981I Got the Melody17562——2537291982Happy Together—23————211985Joy———————Society Hill2011Legacy———————ISM2014Together EP———————ISM"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

YearTitlePeaksCertificationsRecord labelUKRCA Victor1982The Magic Touch of Odyssey69Telstar1987The Greatest Hits26 BPI: SilverCANIRENLDSWEUK1977"Native New Yorker"216313—7——5BPI: SilverOdyssey1978"Easy Come, Easy Go"————————"Weekend Lover"5737—75—————"Single Again" / "What Time Does the BalloonGo Up" (medley)107————————Hollywood Party Tonight1979"Lucky Star"—————————1980"Don't Tell Me, Tell Her"105446——————Hang Together"Use It Up and Wear It Out"———20—2—1BPI: Silver"If You're Lookin' for a Way Out"—————9——6BPI: Silver1981"Hang Together"————————36"Going Back to My Roots"—6855—1313334BPI: SilverI Got the Melody"It Will Be Alright"————————431982"Inside Out"1041225——222—3BPI: SilverHappy Together"Magic Touch"————————411985"(Joy) I Know It"————————51Singles only1987"Inside Out ('87 Remix)"————————86"Back to My Roots (Remix)"——————67——2014"Sooner or Later (featuring Romina Johnson)"—————————2017"Native New Yorker" (40th Anniversary Version)—————————"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.