By Dwight Ott and Sam Wood
Philadelphia Inquirer

The Ojays are singing a new tune in federal court,suing the fathers of the Philly Sound for $3 million for back payments and punitive damages.In a suit filed last week,the O'Jays,who scored massive R&B hits in the mid-70s with "For The Love Of Money","Use To Be My Girl",and "Love Train",accuse Philadelphia International Records,producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff,and others,of theft,larceny and misappropriation of royalties.

The group,which was indutced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and tours regularly,had a resurgence after Donald Trump's TV show "The Apprentice" chose "For The Love Of Money" as its theme song and Coors Brewing Co. picked "Love Train" to sell beer.

In the suit file in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia,O'Jays founding members Eddie Levert Sr. and Walter Williams claim the record company failed to comply with a 2006 court-ordered agreement to pay them royalties.An attorney for Levert had no comment other to say "The suit speaks for itself".

In court papers,Levert and Williams allege that Philadelphia International kept $47,000 it owed the O'Jays,claiming it would go to "pay their legal bill in another matter".The record company,they said,then passed the buck,placing the blame on Philadelphia International's parent company,Sony Music.The suit seeks triple the amount the record company owes them and an additional $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Ironically,Eddie and Walter were accused of being "backstabbers" themselves

Last year,ex-member Sammy Strain filed a $15 million lawsuit against the two of them,claiming that they conspired to deny him his share of royalties.He had been with the group for 16 years.