Tells It Like It Is! was Oscar's final recording under his contract with Columbia Records. OBJ was by then firmly established as a pioneer of early 60’s vocal jazz. His critically acclaimed performances inspired journalists to report of a phenomenally multi-faceted artist. However, changes in management at Columbia left Oscar Brown, Jr.- an obvious star with growing international fame - with no record label support.

“OBJ was a forerunner of the political consciousness that would become predominant in soul, funk and hip-hop in the decades to follow. His efforts to exact social change spread across the arts.”