can some of u cats give me the story....

MidnightFunk said:

All I know is he's one of the baddest cats ever. HUGE influence on me as a musician and songwriter. I wrote a thread on here about Shuggie and Arthur Lee of Love about what, 8, 9 months ago. Shuggie's bad.

I happened upon Inspiration Information several years ago and was convinced I found the missing link between Jimi/Sly/Stevie and Prince.

But Shuggie has some serious blues chops as well, evidenced by that nasty bass line laid down on "Me and My Woman."

namepeace said:

that's what I keep hearing..that Shug IS the missing link...any 1 with some knowledge on this..speak it

I know he's the son of Bandleader Johnny Otis. apparently by age 12, he was already a force to be reckoned with on the guitar--the story has it that he had to wear dark shades and a drawn-on mustache to be able to play with his father's band at clubs. he was signed to a record deal in his teens(sound like anyone we know?)--his first albums were the blues-drenched Al Kooper presents Shuggie Otis and 1970's Here Comes Shuggie Otis. In 1971, he released the album Freedom Flight, which contained the track "Strawberry Letter 23", later made famous by the Brothers Johnson. (Many have assumed that the psychedelic lyrics were simply drug related, though Shuggie claims that he and his girlfriend used to send strawberry-scented numbered letters back and forth to each other). In 1974, he released Inspiration Information, an ambitious grab-bag of styles and influences. it became a cult favorite, but apparently, didn't make much of an impact sales or chart-wise...I heard that he still performs with the Johnny Otis show, while also fronting his own band, touring up and down the West coast....

but yeah, he definitely had a rep as THE smokin' guitar player --according to the CD reissue liner notes, around 1974,(when Inspiration was released) The Rolling Stones were looking at him as a possible replacement for Mick Taylor. Billy Preston called to tell him, but he politely declined... "I had my own group, my own label deal," he said later. "I just wanted to do what I want to do. I had my own identity.".....



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[Edited 3/14/05 13:21pm]

MidnightFunk said:

That's it pretty much in a nut shell, player. Shuggie captured Jimi's vibe heavily in his lyrics to "Stawberry Letter #23". He was one of the first cats to use a drum machine, Sly being another. The cat was just organic. P bit off of him all over his 1999 album as well as parts of Controversy album. He was another cat that was an influence on P just as Jimi and Sly was. Best thing to do is to go get something of Shuggie. I know some folks that can't get into his thing, so...

MidnightFunk said:

Ditto what blackguitaristz said. Pick up a copy of Inspiration Information and see if you like it.

blackguitaristz said:

well, some of my favorite tunes are on the 1999 and Controversy albums

so.. i will dig it

Way ahead of his time, that guy was.

I hear a lot of early Prince in "Inspiration Information" (or should I say I hear a lot of Shuggie in Prince's early albums), and I also hear a lot of old Hall & Oates and Todd Rundgren in his music, too. I love his stuff.

HamsterHuey said:

yep, and that unfortunately spelled his fate with the record company. sad too, cuz shuggie's pretty cool.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Hey, that's a cool pic of u, Hands.

blackguitaristz said:

thanx

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Seriously, it reminds me of an album cover from the 70's. Which is a beautiful thing, trust me. U know, how u have the sun in the background and that "in thought" look and a profile at that. Yeah, I dig it.

blackguitaristz said:

actually i took the pic indoors at my house...it does look like i'm outside on a sunny day, now that you mentioned it...

Thanks for the info,y'all.I'm d/l some shuggie otis now.And I am doing it legally so,hopefully,he will get paid.