Strawberry vs Get the Funk

[fabio]

I can’t stand it when I’m in a record store holding a record that I think I ought to have but I’m not sure.
I just bought a copy of the US 12” red vinyl of Brother Johnson with Strawberry letter 23 (Disco Version) on one side and Get the funk out of my face (Disco Version) on the other.
The label is the original A&M number SP-12003 and the packaging seems to be the original 1977.
Strawberry Letter 23 sound to me exactly like the original and stands at 5.08 min.
Get The Funk is 6.01 min against the 2.27 on my album.
I didn’t pay much but I don’t like the idea of wasting precious space on my record collection.
Do i like it? Yes I Do, but...
Can anybody tell me more about it?

[Disco Funk]

What do you need to know? The 6 minute version of Get The Funk... wasn't released on the LP, so its unique to the 12" and the 7". I don't think there was a remix of Strawberry Letter 23. When they write 'disco version' it can mean many things - it's an alternate longer mix to the LP version; it's the version longer than the 45 release, but not necessarily different from the LP version.

Disco Funk

[fabio]

That's what i like to hear. THANK YOU :P :P :P

[paul]

Count your blessings fabio. You've got 2 excellent songs, disco version, on one 12"
Of the two I like Get The Funk.... more.
By the way, I also have the album with Get The Funk... Is it really only 2 min 27 sec long? I guess I'll check when I get home 8)

[BrunoRepublic]

The 12" of Strawberry Letter 23 is pitched up a semitone. Of course, that doesn't mean much if you've got a turntable with pitch control.

Having said that, the fidelity on this single is phenomenal, especially the bass. It blows away the LP.

[BrunoRepublic]

By the way, I also have the album with Get The Funk... Is it really only 2 min 27 sec long? I guess I'll check when I get home 8)

Indeed it is. Different mix as well... the falsetto "outta my face!" backing vocal isn't on the 12". Apparently the long version was also put out as a 7" single.

[paul]

By the way, I also have the album with Get The Funk... Is it really only 2 min 27 sec long? I guess I'll check when I get home 8)

Indeed it is. Different mix as well... the falsetto "outta my face!" backing vocal isn't on the 12". Apparently the long version was also put out as a 7" single.

Since there is agreement with the both of you, thanks for saving me the effort Graham. In the 30 years I've had that album I just didn't recall noticing it was that short. :o
I also have the longer version on cd. Never even noticed the missing falsetto. I was mostly interested in the longer break. 8)

[Disco Funk]

The longer mix (12"/7") of Get The Funk Outta My Face also has the drums placed differently. On the album mix, the drums are straight down the middle, but on the long version, the snare is on one channel and the hi hat on the other. Probably not significant for some people, but for me it makes a difference. Also, the voice-box lead guitar is on the 12" mix, but its not on the short album mix, if I remember correctly.

For the longest time, I used to avoid buying the 12" versions of records if I knew the mixes were the same as on the LP. But now I'm finding that for certain songs, I like getting the 12" as well because of the better sound, spread over the vinyl. But then sometimes those thick grooves also collect dirt like mad and are a pain to clean.

Disco Funk

[fabio]

For the longest time, I used to avoid buying the 12" versions of records if I knew the mixes were the same as on the LP. But now I'm finding that for certain songs, I like getting the 12"
Disco Funk

Well my US 7" version of GTFOUMF is same lenght as the Album, so i am now very pleased about my new acquisition with more than 6 min of pure joy.

I have also avoided to buy the 12" format for a very long time, preferring the 7" or Album version. I have started to buy 12" (manly US copy) since a couple of years only after a friend of mine told about the better sound quality of it.
Now i love it!!!!

[remicks]

*****

I can’t stand it when I’m in a record store holding a record that I think I ought to have but I’m not sure.
?

I've learned about this the hard way too ..... trying to budget one's purchases.
However I pretty much now go with this .... once it's in my hands .... and I think I better grab it , I do. I hate that "should've got it ' feeling later on. And worse .... going back to get it ... and its gone .

I'm still thrifty in my approach .... and I will ( sadly) walk away if the dollar amount is prohibitive ( makes the overall search more challenging and rewarding)


_________________


As far as this 12" single .... US 12” red vinyl of The Brothers Johnson STRAWBERY LETTER 23 (Disco Version) / GET THE FUNK OUT MA FACE (Disco Version)

I’d label it a “must have “.

To start with the 12" has that unique jacket , nicely designed specially for the tune ...... 8) 8)

And “GTFOOMF " is a great groove, & got terrific dance floor response .... one of those evergreens, playable thereafter ....I'm personally not too keen on the overall sentiments ..... ( I never found such obvious substitution of the word "funk" for the word "f@%k" to be all that clever .... ) ... which for me compromises the song overall ....

For me then . it’s about the other tune …..the acid-trippy , is it cool ?, " STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 " …..

I much prefer this gentler, smoother side of the 12” ... ( It has been called the last psychedelic soul song …. partly a reference to Strawberry Fields Forever … but writtern more about the dreamy state brought on from the real life receiving of strawberry scented letters ) .
Starting with its intriguing title ( ever notice that the song is actually about strawberry letter # 22 ), to the summer-breeze shuffle groove, to the pleasing tinkling of the chimes ( compliments of studio magician Quincy Jones ?? )... to the most sinuous of vocalizing of these abstract lyrics .....
I've always enjoyed this one and think it still stands up to this day ... partly because of Quincy's superior production work ...

The full story of this song is most interesting BTW ....
(... to be cont’d ??? :-? )

But let’s start with this .....STRAWBERRY LETTER #23 was written and first released by a very young man ….. aged 17 at the time …………an age when the receiving of strawberry scented letters can be ever so inspiring …… 8)

“ ... feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue …………..” 8) 8) 8)


*****

[Disco Funk]

All I know is that the song was written and originally performed by Shuggie Otis, the son of Johnny ('Watts Breakaway') Otis. I bought the album reissue of the original recording, and all of Shuggie's songs are similar, jazzie soul songs. I think it was released in '72 or '73.

Disco Funk

[eddie]

That Lp by Shuggie is great. His blues stuff isn't bad either as he had learned from his father.

I was rudely alerted that the lp version of "Get the funk" was only 2 minutes after I heard the 12" on the radio. I now have it on atleast 3 cds but have that album in much lower regard. If memory serves correctly, didn't the Brothers Johnson do a horrendous cover of Come Together on that album? Not my cup of tea!

Back to 12" singles. I'm a CD only collector and I must have hundereds of compilations of moderately hard to find and rare songs. There is much overlap and confunsion at what I have before me. I'm not going to collect any 12" singles after 1981 and I am going to limit it to certain labels like Salsoul and Cotillion.
Some later 12" remixes that seem overly generic and take away from the original are:
Fat Larry's Band-Looking for love tonight
Stephanie Mills-You can't run from my love
Debarge-Rhythm of the night
They all have drumbreaks that were clearly from another session and players. It just doesn't work.

[DonaldCleveland]

*****

I can’t stand it when I’m in a record store holding a record that I think I ought to have but I’m not sure.
?

I've learned about this the hard way too ..... trying to budget one's purchases.
However I pretty much now go with this .... once it's in my hands .... and I think I better grab it , I do. I hate that "should've got it ' feeling later on. And worse .... going back to get it ... and its gone .

I'm still thrifty in my approach .... and I will ( sadly) walk away if the dollar amount is prohibitive ( makes the overall search more challenging and rewarding)


_________________


As far as this 12" single .... US 12” red vinyl of The Brothers Johnson STRAWBERY LETTER 23 (Disco Version) / GET THE FUNK OUT MA FACE (Disco Version)

I’d label it a “must have “.

To start with the 12" has that unique jacket , nicely designed specially for the tune Starting with its intriguing title ( ever notice that the song is actually about strawberry letter # 22 ), to the summer-breeze shuffle groove, to the pleasing tinkling of the chimes ( compliments of studio magician Quincy Jones ?? )... to the most sinuous of vocalizing of these abstract lyrics .....
I've always enjoyed this one and think it still stands up to this day ... partly because of Quincy's superior production work ...

The full story of this song is most interesting BTW ....
(... to be cont’d ??? :-? )

But let’s start with this .....STRAWBERRY LETTER #23 was written and first released by a very young man ….. aged 17 at the time …………an age when the receiving of strawberry scented letters can be ever so inspiring …… 8)

“ ... feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue …………..” 8) 8) 8)


*****

I guess YOU HAD TO BE THERE.
Or maybe you were and forgot.

In addition to the red wax color of the 12" (and some of the 7"), the first pressings of both were strongly STRAWBERRY SCENTED~!!

The single and/or the 12" THEMSELVES were "Strawberry Letter 23"~!!

[efunk_adelic]

I bought all of them.... When #23 came out... I quickly bought the 7" because of the scent. Followed by the LP which had a different version of GTFOMF from the 7" version... and I bought the 7" of GTFOMF because it had the long version. Did I waste money? no, because the LP RIGHT ON TIME was good at the time. Only there hits have stayed on my list of songs to record when making compilations. The red vinyl is a collectors item which I quickly snaged from the bins... Of course the 12" was great...

Now the year is 2006, I will only play the 12" versions if I need to hear them at all.

[fabio]

Well, can't wait for remicks to continue the story......... :roll:

[qdearl]

Well, can't wait for remicks to continue the story.........

:o Ditto

(for over 25 yrs, I've wanted to know why this song is called "Strawberry Letter 23" and the lyrics say "Strawberry Letter 22") :)

[remicks]

*****

.............but first ......... a listening of a remix of the original

http://media.luakabop.com/jukebox/mp...ltr23-otis.mp3

*****

I found this blog comment about it amusing :) ......

Funny, the thing I most remember about Strawberry Letter 23 was that the picture sleeve version smelled like strawberries. I think that was actually my first (cynical) introduction to marketing thinking "oh, they figured the song was such a crapper, they found (made) a gimmick so it was playable"
I bet only half of us would have ever heard that thing if it hadn't smelt.

Posted by: Mark | January 13, 2004 07:53 AM :lol:

[qdearl]

Wow :D :D :D nice....very nice 8) I already thought the original was hot, and this extended version is even hotter. is that an official release available somewhere? :)

[ashley_k]

Luaka Bop/Gian Steps released a Shuggie Otis 12" about 5 years ago as follows:
Strawberry Letter 23 (One Rascal Extended Mix) 7:30
XL-30 2:08
Strawberry Letter 23 (Original Mix) 4:21
Inspiration Information 4:11

Or if you want Strawberry Letter 23 (One Rascal Extended Mix) on CD check the Luaka Bop Remix CD.

[Disco Funk]

Normally I hate remixes of old songs, because I think its part sacrilege, part anachronistic. But this is a pretty cool remix, even if I find the outro section a bit too long and repetitive (they could have chopped off a couple of minutes). Thanks for posting it!

Disco Funk