Listen to the Bass Man

The Brothers Johnson : Ain't We Funkin Now

[Purchase]

On August 26, 1078 The Brothers Johnson entered the U.K. charts at #71 with the by-the-numbers funk single, "Ain't We Funkin Now".  The single from the Rand B #1 album Blam!! would fail to make the Top 40 in both the UK and the US R + B charts. The follow-up, "Stomp!", would bring the brothers back to #1, but their winning streak would end in 1981,  with the release of an album called Winners.

Blue Flowers Echo

The Brothers Johnson : Strawberry Letter #23

[Purchase]

On July 3, 1977 The Brothers Johnson single "Strawberry Letter #23" entered the U.K. pop charts at #42 and the U.S. charts at #71. Originally composed and recorded by Shuggie Otis in 1971, the Quincy Jones produced tune would top the US R and B charts,  peak at #7 on the U.S. pop charts and peak at #35 in the U.K. Is it funkier than Shuggie's version? It certainly has a bridge of cascading electric guitars that would make Yes jealous. One of those songs that defines 1977.