Best From Artist 42 - The Brothers Johnson

**paul** · April 14th, 2003, 01:42 AM

"You don't like my music, you don't have to use it"
That still resonates with me after all these years. For that as well as the Brothers Johnson's easy funk style on that jam makes it my Best From Artist.

**QUINNY** · April 14th, 2003, 02:47 AM

The Brothers Johnson - another band that never truly reached their absolute zenith IMO, and faded into relative obscurity. They never quite delivered what their talent promised. I remember being hugely disappointed by many of their releases as well as truly ecstatic with others. Maybe they had an identity problem or something?
As for their best, I'd have to go with the aforementioned 'Get The Funk Out Ma' Face' along with 'Ain't We Funkin' Now' as my personal favourites, but there's no doubting that 'Stomp' was their biggest dancer and most remembered track overall.

**K-Bee** · April 14th, 2003, 03:20 AM

I agree with Quinny's choices but I'd also like to add "You Make Wanna Wiggle" (1980).
BTW Louis Johnson released a solo album "Evolution" in 1984. Unfortunately, it was terrible.

**jazz_pilgrim** · April 14th, 2003, 07:14 AM

My favourite from the Brothers Johnson was the wonderful jazzy Streetwave

**martinus** · April 14th, 2003, 07:22 AM

My Favourite Brothers Johnson tracks:
-Ride o' Rocket
-Stomp
-This had To Be
-The Real Thing
-Light Up The Night

**BrunoRepublic** · April 14th, 2003, 07:39 AM

"Stomp" gets my vote, although I also love "Ain't We Funkin' Now" and "Strawberry Letter 23".

**MPS** · April 14th, 2003, 09:51 AM

Of course, "Stomp" is a beautiful disco song, with wonderfully arranged and sexy disco strings. Credit to Brothers Johnson and mostly Quincy Jones.

A soulful and laid back tune is "Land of Ladies" (which have been nicely sampled in some house tune).

And lastly, a forgotten piece of jazzfunk (in a Mastercuts style): "Smilin' on Ya", from the same album as "Stomp".

**HustleBaby** · April 14th, 2003, 12:39 PM

Paul, I'll have to go with:

"Stomp"
"Strawberry Letter 23"

*DISCO DELIGHT*

**NickNack** · April 14th, 2003, 04:14 PM

"Stomp" --- great dance music.
"I'll Be Good To You" --- You know me and "sleaze" and Syretta's backup just rocks me on this one.

**Outsider** · April 14th, 2003, 06:34 PM

My favorite song of theirs is "Strawberry Letter 23". :evil:

**efunk_adelic** · April 15th, 2003, 10:20 AM

Brothers Johnson have a lot of good songs and I own 3 of their LP's

I'll Be Good To You
Strawberry Letter 23
Stomp
Get The Funk Out Ma Face :D
Runnin' For Your Lovin'
Free And Single
Right On Time
Ain't We Funkin' Now[/b]

**discosavvy** · April 15th, 2003, 03:10 PM

The Brothers Johnson got back together in January 2002 and started recording new songs for an album which they'll release themselves someday. So we haven't heard the last of them yet. To date, my favorite songs from them are:

* Strawberry Letter 23 (1977)
* Stomp! (1980)
* All About the Heaven (1980)
* The Real Thing (1981)
* Do It for Love (1981)
* Get the Funk Out of My Face (1976)
* Smilin' on Ya (1980)

The only album of theirs that I own is "Light Up the Night" from 1980. I wish "Winners" from 1981 would be re-released on CD because I'd buy that too.

**keefelc** · April 15th, 2003, 08:41 PM

Anybody remember that the twelve for Strawberry Letter 23 was strawberry scented?

**BrunoRepublic** · April 15th, 2003, 08:49 PM

Originally Written by keefelc

Anybody remember that the twelve for Strawberry Letter 23 was strawberry scented?

Nope... but this one goes for big bucks these days. A local store had a copy for $50 CAD, and it was gone the next time I was there. :(

**keefelc** · April 15th, 2003, 08:58 PM

Graham, I remember, back in the days, you used to be able to find this twelve everywhere. However, they may not have been the scented copies. I'll have to check when I get home, but I also think the twelve was on red vinyl!

**Bernie** · April 15th, 2003, 09:34 PM

One can find many of the records discussed in the forums in the Disco Vault A-Z...

http://www.discomusic.com/records/brothers-johnson.html

**paul** · April 16th, 2003, 01:24 AM

Originally Written by keefelc

Anybody remember that the twelve for Strawberry Letter 23 was strawberry scented?

As you mention it, I seem to remember something about that. Unfortunately I didn't fall for the marketing gimmick.

**efunk_adelic** · April 16th, 2003, 01:52 AM

I love it when you guys bring up these treasured details...

I bought the 7" single picture sleeve... Smelled like strawberries for a couple of years. I also bought the 12" single (red vinyl). However I don't recall it smelling like strawberries :o

I can't believe only 2 people like "I'll be good to you" :(

**keefelc** · April 16th, 2003, 06:39 PM

Originally Written by efunk_adelic

I bought the 7" single picture sleeve... Smelled like strawberries for a couple of years. I also bought the 12" single (red vinyl). However I don't recall it smelling like strawberries :o

I can't believe only 2 people like "I'll be good to you" :(

Well, if you can call that scent strawberries. But, yes, the sleeve was soaked with that cheap scent! I know you're not suppose to but I left the shrink wrap on for decades thinking some of the scent would linger and perhaps increasing the value. The scent was so toxic smelling, it probably would have done the opposite! However, today the scent is no more. :roll:

I liked "I'll Be Good To You" also, but I'm more partial to Quincy's remake with Chaka Khan on vocals!

**Robbie** · April 16th, 2003, 08:09 PM

I'll Be Good To You
Strawberry Letter 23
Stomp!

Dance With Me In The Disco Heat
----------------------------------
Robbie

**HustleBaby** · April 17th, 2003, 09:33 PM

efunk

I forgot about "I'll Be Good To You" until I saw it posted. Otherwise it would have been included in my favorites from BJ.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

**Funky Dude** · April 18th, 2003, 11:13 AM

Brothers Johnson are a FANASTIC band. I've got two of their LPs "Right On Time" 1977 and "Winners" 1981 and have a compilation CD of them plus a number of 45s of them. My favourite songs of them are:

Get The Funk Outta Ma Face 1976
Thunder Thumbs & Lightnin' Licks 1976
I'll Be Good To You 1976
Dancin' & Prancin' 1976
Right On Time 1977
Brother Man 1977
Strawberry Letter 23 1977
Never Leave You Lonely 1977
Runnin' For Your Lovin' 1977
Ride-O-Rocket 1978
Ain't We Funkin' Now 1978
Streetwave 1978
Stomp 1980
Light Up The Night 1980
The Real Thing 1981
Funk It 1982

__________________________

The Black Box (circa 1958). Another great Aussie invention! :D :D :D