Brothers Johnson – Photograph: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
George and Louis Johnson reduce their tooth as members of Billy Preston’s band between 1973 and 1975, so once they made their recording debut as the Brothers Johnson, they have been able to hit the bottom operating.
Their 1976 debut album Look Out For #1 lived as much as that title, with a month atop the US R&B chart, and launched their thrilling new sound, a funk-soul recipe with added jazz flavors. It turned the primary of 4 platinum information in a row, because the siblings created a sequence of memorable soul and pop hits and a few nice album tracks. We have a good time them in reminiscence of bassist Louis Johnson, who died in Could 2015, on the age of simply 60.
Among the many most enduring songs within the duo’s complete catalog is “Strawberry Letter 23,” a canopy of the Shuggie Otis authentic that George and Louis made totally theirs. The duo took it to the highest of the R&B chart and the US pop High 5 in 1977. The stylish recording was enormously enhanced by the manufacturing know-how of confidant and mentor Quincy Jones, and a guitar solo by the much-respected Lee Ritenour.
“Stomp!” is maybe the pair’s best-known crossover hit, one other R&B No.1 from 1980’s Mild Up The Night time that not solely hit No.7 on the American pop chart but additionally turned their one UK High 10 single, reaching No.6 and filling dancefloors from that day to this.
After these introductory hits, a chronological transfer via the Brothers Johnson’s A&M catalog arrives on the Quincy observe on which that they had their first key function. “Is It Love That We’re Missin’” hit the R&B High 20 late in 1975, establishing their distinctive vocal sound and highly effective musicianship. When Look Out For #1 arrived, with Jones’ manufacturing and fellow A-list musicians like Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason, Ralph MacDonald, Billy Cobham, and Ernie Watts, the outcomes have been highly effective. From it, “I’ll Be Good To You,’ a No.1 R&B single, was later remade by Quincy with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, and hit the highest once more.
From the identical album, “Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin’ Licks” was the autobiographical title to explain Louis’ bass and George’s guitar work; “Get The Funk Out Ma Face” was a wonderfully funky hit that unfold their title internationally; and “Free And Single” echoed the horn-laden exuberance of Earth, Wind & Fireplace.
Proper On Time, their second album, featured “Strawberry Letter 23” alongside the R&B High 20 entry “Runnin’ For Your Love” and “Q,” impressed by their nice producer. On February 23, 1978, that observe gained the Grammy Award for Greatest R&B Instrumental. Then in 1978, Blam! had the brothers adopting a space-age theme with the title observe and “Ride-O-Rocket.” The LP additionally boasted one other huge funk favourite in “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now” and the stylish, romantic “It’s You Girl.” The album topped the soul chart for no fewer than seven weeks.
1980 was the yr of “Stomp!,” co-written with Quincy’s frequent collaborator on Michael Jackson’s multi-million-sellers, Rod Temperton. It was on the Mild Up The Night time album, from which additionally got here a fantastic title observe and one other single, “Treasure.” George and Louis then stepped out as producers in their very own proper for 1981’s Winners LP, from which highlights included “The Real Thing” and one other single, “Dancin’ Free.”
1983’s Blast! The Newest and the Biggest mixed hits with new tracks, one in all which, “Welcome To The Club,” made the R&B High 15; the next yr’s Out Of Management did the identical for “You Keep Me Coming Back.” The brothers’ final soul chart entry was “Kick It To The Curb,” from 1988’s Kickin’ album, by two of the funkiest and most soulful brothers within the annals of R&B.
Hearken to the perfect of the Brothers Johnson on Apple Music and Spotify.
