Great [re-]Reaction NicknLex! Here's the info I provided with this, a bit of a repeat from the original marathon from a couple months ago: Strawberry Letter 23 is originally by Shuggie Otis in 1971. This is a better known 1977 cover by the Brothers Johnson, produced by Quincy Jones. The premise of the song is that a couple is exchanging love letters in musical form. The singer received a love letter titled Strawberry Letter 22, and wrote this song (23) in reply.
I am so glad that you discovered this song and shared it with lex. This takes me back to my funky childhood! I had friends a few years older than I was and they, along with my sister, kept me up to date with a fabulous funk of the early 70's - Parliament Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla baby!), Brothers Johnson, Rick james, Stanley Clarke, the Bar-Kays, Cameo... Fun fact, I was 9 years old when Strawberry Letter 23 came out, and I loved it so much that I went down to the record store and bought the single on 45. It not only had a very cool strawberry themed cover art, but the record and the cover sleeve had a strawberry scent infused in them. As a 9-year-old I thought that was so awesome!
Just discovered you two tonight. Really enjoying your reactions! Louis Johnson also played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller album. That's him laying down that fantastic groove on Billie Jean.
Lee Ritenour (that soft tapping guitar at the end of Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues") does the same here. Both he and the Johnsons were session players for Quincy Jones (this album's producer) at the time. If you want to hear music playing awesomeness, don't miss "Streetwave" from the Johnson's Blam! album. It's a deep cut, an instrumental very Quincy-esque were they all break loose and have lots of fun.
The 70s had absolutely great R&B music. I'm glad I grew up with it before rap killed urban music's musicality. This is real musicians playing real instruments and playing real music, not just rhythm.
Great comment but, respectfully, I disagree with you that rap music killed urban music's musicality. Technology is what killed it! And that is why what passes for music today is really nothing more than cheap noise! ✌️🫤
I'm glad you two like the look of the late 70's. I've spent the last 40 years distroying every picture of me from 1974 to 1978! I know I was young but...a white kid in platforms and bell bottoms! What was I thinking! 😳 I love my tie-died t-shirt pictures from the early 70's though! I guess I stopped being "cool" at the age of 12! 😊
I remember this song from years ago when I was a kid, 1971 original release date by Shuggie Otis, covered by The Brothers Johnson 1977, really cool song, great beat, great vocals, great song, Love it.
NicknLex! That was Lee Ritenour on the proggy guitar solo! I was 13 years old when my older brother bought this album in 1977. When he was out and about, I would wear out this album! I'd do the same with "All 'N All" by EWF, "Breezin'" by George Benson and "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione! Great reaction as well! Love, Peace & Blessings!!!
Louis Johnson recorded with many folks, listen to him early on with Earl Klugh on an album called Living Inside Your Love, the song Kiko. When technique is used to be part of the musical fabric and not something to call attention to yourself!
Louis "Thunder Thumbs" Johnson RIP So many epic Basslines with The Brothers Johnson, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Duke, Michael McDonald, Grover Washington jr...
the brothers were fondly known as Thunder Thumbs & Lightning Licks!! plus,I would think their biggest song and the one that charted the highest was 'I'll Be Good To You'....was certainly my favorite,lol
One more thing. Back then FM radio was kind of...segregated. FM stations really only played one type of music back then. Rock, R & B, country, classical, etc. But there were some songs that crossed over to other stations. This R & B song was constantly played on main-steam FM rock stations because it was so good! AM radio was much more inclusive. The top 40 was sprinkled with many genre's. FM was more speciallized.
The sibling thing, I bet is harder especially when one gets more attention or is better than the others, but when you look at The Warning where they are all 3 equally amazing and loved by the fans, it makes it easier...
George and Louis Johnson were from Los Angeles, and earned the nicknames "Thunder Thumbs" and "Lightning Licks" for obvious reasons. They came to the attention of Quincy Jones, who signed them to his "Q" productions group, and the rest is history. Louis later played that classic opening bass line on Michael Jackson's hit "Billie Jean," and on other big songs.
I occasionally follow a few different "reactor" channels and the thing that I've learned is how many songs that I have enjoyed over the last 60 years or so, like this one, are actually either covers or were written by someone else. I still enjoy them just as much, but now I have even more artists and song writters to thank and appreciate! This is one of those songs that sounds great on my car stereo! Pretty good in the house too!
Like many records produced by Quincy, this one is engineered by Bruce Swedien who uses a process he calls the Acusonic Recording Process which lends the sense of “air” around the music and the vocalists in general.
Loved loved loved this song when it came out, and it's held up so well to this day. Don't know if it's been mentioned elsewhere, but Quentin Tarantino used it to great effect in "Jackie Brown"...Hippie Soul that I associate with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic...
Great and groovy sound by two brothers. I have red some years ago Louis Johnson was in a hotel room in las vegas. Feeling not well he went to the reception asking for emergency. This receptionist refused and Louis went back to his room where he died. Anyone who can proof something else are free to comment. But this is how a magnificent bass guitar player life was ended in the great semi continent where united is just a plane fake. So glad I still have there albums since BLAM in 1975. Also thanks to Q. Jones. Kissing a faithful dog makes much more sence. Bye Bye.
Nick, stuck with you and enjoyed the marathons, (maybe do another occasionally?) TOTALLY enjoy that I get to see you both doing song reactions for now. And yes that guitar interlude was very prog, Yes inspired maybe? Lex: BITD when that interlude came on in clubs, most just did their own little solo dances until the main song came back, and you picked up where you left off.
Louis Johnson plays the bass on I Keep Forgettin' by Michael McDonald, and was a big Stingray player, like yours. Google his name and images and most of the first pics are of him playing a stingray.
Just found out that Pierre Morlean and brother was playing on Mike Oldfields Guilty live 1980. Very good.... PS..... Taurus 3 is a treat for guitarplayers...
Not every funky R&B tune end up being played in a disco, it's just the genre they use to write a song. "Stomp" by the Bros. Johnson was a fantastic and very deliberate club tune. If you have time you should check out Vortex Effects interview with Lee Ritenour talking about his solo on the track. Cheers and all the best.
check ain't we funkin now thunder thumbs the bass player louis johnson also studio guy play bass on billie jean on micheal mcdonald i keep forgetting countless hits in the late 70s and 80s until his death !
Hello NicknLex, how are you? I have a question, would it be possible to check to see if I have a paid request on your list, Little River Band- Lonesome Loser, I honestly don't remember if I do or not, I remember starting the process but I don't remember if I finished the process of paying for it, I have a list of requests here that I check off when I submit the request, I don't have it checked off, my memory is not what it used to be, ok, Thank you.
Great [re-]Reaction NicknLex! Here's the info I provided with this, a bit of a repeat from the original marathon from a couple months ago:
Strawberry Letter 23 is originally by Shuggie Otis in 1971. This is a better known 1977 cover by the Brothers Johnson, produced by Quincy Jones. The premise of the song is that a couple is exchanging love letters in musical form. The singer received a love letter titled Strawberry Letter 22, and wrote this song (23) in reply.
I am so glad that you discovered this song and shared it with lex. This takes me back to my funky childhood! I had friends a few years older than I was and they, along with my sister, kept me up to date with a fabulous funk of the early 70's - Parliament Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla baby!), Brothers Johnson, Rick james, Stanley Clarke, the Bar-Kays, Cameo...
Fun fact, I was 9 years old when Strawberry Letter 23 came out, and I loved it so much that I went down to the record store and bought the single on 45. It not only had a very cool strawberry themed cover art, but the record and the cover sleeve had a strawberry scent infused in them. As a 9-year-old I thought that was so awesome!
1977 - What a great year for amazing music like this.
What a great year to be alive. The 70’s were the best.
1977 included Aja by Steely Dan, so yeah - the best!
Fantastic ! The 70's, was so diverse musically. To have grown up at that time, was great ! Thanks for this !
Louis Johnson was my favorite slap bassist back in the day. RIP
You should check out their "Stomp" extended version, of course!! Thanks so much for this one!
ABSOLUTELY WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE LOL
STOMP makes you move
Originally by Shuggie Otis from his 1971 album Freedom Flight.
Yes. And while I love the original, this is one of those rare covers, I like even more. Both are great. But somehow, this one owns me.
I hope they hit that original at some point, it's also a cool version. It's fun to compare the two.
Yep…..and the Brothers Johnson took it to an entirely different level. Original was unheard of by 95+% of the public until this version came out.
Just discovered you two tonight. Really enjoying your reactions! Louis Johnson also played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller album. That's him laying down that fantastic groove on Billie Jean.
Heard this song for the first time on radio……….back when it came out in 1977. Was in 4th grade; even remember the girl I had a crush on. ❤
The guitarist, Lee Ritenour, who is also on back up vocals has a great hit of his own - Is It You? - a great jazzy feel with cool vocals.
One of my favorite funk tunes ever
Lee Ritenour (that soft tapping guitar at the end of Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues") does the same here. Both he and the Johnsons were session players for Quincy Jones (this album's producer) at the time.
If you want to hear music playing awesomeness, don't miss "Streetwave" from the Johnson's Blam! album. It's a deep cut, an instrumental very Quincy-esque were they all break loose and have lots of fun.
The 70s had absolutely great R&B music. I'm glad I grew up with it before rap killed urban music's musicality. This is real musicians playing real instruments and playing real music, not just rhythm.
Great comment but, respectfully, I disagree with you that rap music killed urban music's musicality.
Technology is what killed it!
And that is why what passes for music today is really nothing more than cheap noise! ✌️🫤
🔥song
I was going to suggest this one! Love these guys! Stomp is another favorite!
The Great Louis Johnson On The Bass
RIP
great song..one of my favorites
Thank you GreatScott, great request, Thank you, NicknLex,, Thank you for a great reaction and great conversation, love you guys, ❤
I'm glad you two like the look of the late 70's. I've spent the last 40 years distroying every picture of me from 1974 to 1978! I know I was young but...a white kid in platforms and bell bottoms! What was I thinking! 😳 I love my tie-died t-shirt pictures from the early 70's though! I guess I stopped being "cool" at the age of 12! 😊
I remember this song from years ago when I was a kid, 1971 original release date by Shuggie Otis, covered by The Brothers Johnson 1977, really cool song, great beat, great vocals, great song, Love it.
Quincy Jones producing. Guitarist Alex Weir is their cousin, and he was a member of this band as well as touring with Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
FUN KY!
Thunder Thumb Louis Johnson ♥️👍🏼
PURE FUNK
NicknLex! That was Lee Ritenour on the proggy guitar solo! I was 13 years old when my older brother bought this album in 1977. When he was out and about, I would wear out this album! I'd do the same with "All 'N All" by EWF, "Breezin'" by George Benson and "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione! Great reaction as well! Love, Peace & Blessings!!!
I've always thought this song was a masterpiece.
I was shocked to discover a few years after this song came out it was a cover
'77. What a time to be young...
This is one of my all time favorite songs 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Not your typical disco tune, lyrics are very cool
Louis Johnson recorded with many folks, listen to him early on with Earl Klugh on an album called Living Inside Your Love, the song Kiko. When technique is used to be part of the musical fabric and not something to call attention to yourself!
Love that psychedelic soul/funk.
I like their version of the Beatles COME TOGETHER.
Brothers Johnson..."Stomp" !!!!!!!
Oh! I've been WAITING for Lex to hear this! Yippie!
Awesome song! Great funk.
Louis "Thunder Thumbs" Johnson RIP
So many epic Basslines with The Brothers Johnson, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Duke, Michael McDonald, Grover Washington jr...
the brothers were fondly known as Thunder Thumbs & Lightning Licks!! plus,I would think their biggest song and the one that charted the highest was 'I'll Be Good To You'....was certainly my favorite,lol
I haven't heard this song in quite a while but it's Fantastic! Brings back a lot of memories! Great song request! Love this.
Lee Ritenour on solo.
The video for this song is 😎 cool😅
Still my favorite song ever.
This song has such a dream like quality. And that breakdown in the middle is KILLER!
One more thing. Back then FM radio was kind of...segregated. FM stations really only played one type of music back then. Rock, R & B, country, classical, etc. But there were some songs that crossed over to other stations. This R & B song was constantly played on main-steam FM rock stations because it was so good! AM radio was much more inclusive. The top 40 was sprinkled with many genre's. FM was more speciallized.
The sibling thing, I bet is harder especially when one gets more attention or is better than the others, but when you look at The Warning where they are all 3 equally amazing and loved by the fans, it makes it easier...
One of my absolute favorites from this era! Adore it!❤
George and Louis Johnson were from Los Angeles, and earned the nicknames "Thunder Thumbs" and "Lightning Licks" for obvious reasons. They came to the attention of Quincy Jones, who signed them to his "Q" productions group, and the rest is history. Louis later played that classic opening bass line on Michael Jackson's hit "Billie Jean," and on other big songs.
Love this track
Nice reaction. And yeah, for me, The Brothers Johnson were kind of proggy funk. Nice catch, Nick.
I occasionally follow a few different "reactor" channels and the thing that I've learned is how many songs that I have enjoyed over the last 60 years or so, like this one, are actually either covers or were written by someone else. I still enjoy them just as much, but now I have even more artists and song writters to thank and appreciate! This is one of those songs that sounds great on my car stereo! Pretty good in the house too!
Like many records produced by Quincy, this one is engineered by Bruce Swedien who uses a process he calls the Acusonic Recording Process which lends the sense of “air” around the music and the vocalists in general.
Stephen Caruso at work- one of my all time favorite disco era songs used to dance to this in the clubs
Flashback
Nick has that “funk face” going. Can’t fight the funk!
GREAT SONG I STOOD IN FRONT OF MY MIRROR A LOT BACK THEN LOL
Loved loved loved this song when it came out, and it's held up so well to this day. Don't know if it's been mentioned elsewhere, but Quentin Tarantino used it to great effect in "Jackie Brown"...Hippie Soul that I associate with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic...
Great and groovy sound by two brothers. I have red some years ago Louis Johnson was in a hotel room in las vegas. Feeling not well he went to the reception asking for emergency. This receptionist refused and Louis went back to his room where he died. Anyone who can proof something else are free to comment. But this is how a magnificent bass guitar player life was ended in the great semi continent where united is just a plane fake. So glad I still have there albums since BLAM in 1975. Also thanks to Q. Jones. Kissing a faithful dog makes much more sence. Bye Bye.
Nick, stuck with you and enjoyed the marathons, (maybe do another occasionally?) TOTALLY enjoy that I get to see you both doing song reactions for now. And yes that guitar interlude was very prog, Yes inspired maybe? Lex: BITD when that interlude came on in clubs, most just did their own little solo dances until the main song came back, and you picked up where you left off.
Smooth soul with a completely, utterly prog guitar break. Tbh I'd love to hear a prog song based on that.
Used in the Tarantino movie, Jackie Brown.
rest in peace louis johnson thunder thumbs
I think the sounds texture (ice cream truck?} give that part its innocent charm
Louis Johnson plays the bass on I Keep Forgettin' by Michael McDonald, and was a big Stingray player, like yours. Google his name and images and most of the first pics are of him playing a stingray.
Just found out that Pierre Morlean and brother was playing on Mike Oldfields Guilty live 1980.
Very good....
PS..... Taurus 3 is a treat for guitarplayers...
Julius Johnson, the bass player brother, was also known as THUNDER THUMBS!! and rightly so. Les Claypool was heavily influenced by Louis.
Louis
I have this song on a 45
Not every funky R&B tune end up being played in a disco, it's just the genre they use to write a song. "Stomp" by the Bros. Johnson was a fantastic and very deliberate club tune.
If you have time you should check out Vortex Effects interview with Lee Ritenour talking about his solo on the track. Cheers and all the best.
Not a 'dance song'. I like others were/are intrigued by the lyrics. 'Stomp", "I'll Be Good to You', are BJ dance tunes.
check ain't we funkin now thunder thumbs the bass player louis johnson also studio guy play bass on billie jean on micheal mcdonald i keep forgetting countless hits in the late 70s and 80s until his death !
You should try the studio track "School Days" by Stanley Clarke, a try Master of the Bass....!
check out their cover of the beatles come together...
Listen to Brothers Johnson -Get the Funk Out Ma Face
I think my dad had this record😂
NEVAH be a bass player like Louis Johnson. Went to be with the Lord around 2012
Originally, it’s Shuggie Otis’s song. You would do it.
when music was not afraid to a little different and used guitars.
You're not a Random Dude, you are Nick from N&L....
1977 is just a good year period....
The song is great. But the lyrics, make about as much sense as Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, by the Beatles.
Your opening intro chords same
Hello NicknLex, how are you? I have a question, would it be possible to check to see if I have a paid request on your list, Little River Band- Lonesome Loser, I honestly don't remember if I do or not, I remember starting the process but I don't remember if I finished the process of paying for it, I have a list of requests here that I check off when I submit the request, I don't have it checked off, my memory is not what it used to be, ok, Thank you.
Funny during the song they sing strawberry letter 22 why is thee name strawberry letter 23
Perdón, Chicos/as , me parece a Mí o hacen muchas más reacciones en Inglés que en Español?.
The Brothers Johnson notoriously did not get along.
I did not know this
This is true. I think they reconciled towards the end
Not imitate, be original, when possible.
Wow... she's just starting to learn the bass. Calm down.
What's it like sitting next to the cutest girl in the world?