smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Stewart Mason" <craigtorso@verizon.net> |
| Subject | Re: The Brothers Johnson |
| Date | Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:46:10 -0500 |
[Part 1 text/plain iso-8859-1 (1.2 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Bennett" <mrhonorama@ameritech.net>
> The Brothers Johnson version copies a lot from Otis'
> original. I would say they add some nice things (like
> the backing vocal arrangement), and they took the Otis
> circular part and not only played it with more
> intensity, but then folded that into a final chorus
> that's not in the original. Heck, I love both
> versions.
Shuggie's original is fantastic, of course, but I think the Brothers
Johnson's version is overall just perfect: the solo's better (of all
people, that's weedy little fusion dweeb Lee Ritenour playing that
fantastic solo), that return to the chorus was inspired, as is all the
rest of Quincy Jones' arrangement and production -- I just love the
way that the vibes (which are my favorite instrument in the first
place) are seemingly deliberately a little *too* upfront in the mix,
just blatantly upping the impact of that particular hook -- and George
Johnson just sings it better than Shuggie does. I mean, he owns that
"Is it cool? Is it cool?" line. There's no question that "Strawberry
Letter 23" is one of the great singles of the '70s.
S
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.