Louis Johnson described those album sessions as being in music heaven Louis Johnson talks about... 14 - 2013

[Edited 3/29/13 5:28am]

SoulAlive said:

I still have my vinyl copy of this record.

Mee too with some singles of it

The cover of this promo is a solid and thick sleeve

This one below is cool one to find someday

Most of the Brothers Johnson's albums were reissued on cd, exept that I didn't see "Blast" from 1982 yet appear on digital disc. But at least "The Great Awakening" fom "Blast" appears on a cd reissue of "Winners". Then there are or were a ton of compilation cds of them available. Some of those often appeared as a nice price offer.

Quincy was right when he prophesied in the album liner notes that ''Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin' Licks are going to get your souls in '76''.

Look Out for # 1 is without question a masterpiece, melding seriously funky anthems with evocative instrumentals like "Tomorrow". It's their finest work.

[Edited 3/29/13 11:41am]

CLASSIC! Love it.

SoulAlive said: Actually,all four of the 'Blast' studio tracks sppear on the 'Winners' remaster.

Thanks man for reminding! Last time that I saw the "Winners" reissue online, I quickly flashed through the tracklist thinking: "Hey, "The Great Awakening" finally on cd..."

SoulAlive said: The "12 extended version of "Get The Funk Out Ma Face" is a funk masterpiece! The album version is much too brief.

Doesn't Get any better than this!!

Shango said:

SoulAlive said: Actually,all four of the 'Blast' studio tracks sppear on the 'Winners' remaster.

Thanks man for reminding! Last time that I saw the "Winners" reissue online, I quickly flashed through the tracklist thinking: "Hey, "The Great Awakening" finally on cd..."

I can see why...."The Great Awakening" is the best of the four studio tracks that song is a JAM!

SoulAlive said: I can see why...."The Great Awakening" is the best of the four studio tracks that song is a JAM!

Yeah , I was surprised to read in the liner notes of the Blast vinyl lp that George Johnson slaps the bass on "The Great Awakening". The beef and feuds between the brothers seemed already going on back then. On the Blast b-side, Louis was mainly involved for "Funkedelala" and "Welcome To The Club" and George for "The Great Awakening" and "I'm Giving You All Of My Love" (which includes a magical strings intro).

SoulAlive said:

^^ I was surprised to learn that George isn't too fond of "Funk It (Funkadelala)",which he described as a P-Funk/Bootsy rip-off.I like the song.

Yeah lol, George doesn't seem at all to contribute on "Funkadelala"

Brothers Johnson, The* - ...at Discogs

He sings lead and background on "Welcome To The Club", but as with "Funkadelala" a composition by Louis and Valerie Johnson. Louis isn't performing on any of George's songs.

Speaking of P-Funk, did you hear Louis' story in that interview link, which I posted earlier? About how he was recording for the Brothers' "Look Out.." album, and during a break, he hooked up with Clinton's crew in a near studio room, singing background along with Chaka Khan and a whole bunch of others on the original recording session of "Mothersip Connection" ? Bootsy was there too, and he asked Louis if Thunder Thumbs could show some of his slapping skills. Right after those jams, Louis was still on a high of "hearing that noise with him and the boys" and it inspired him to record the bass and guitar parts for "Get The Funk...". That is indeed a track which he laid down on tape after being hipped to a P-Funk groove. "Funkadelala" is a jam on it's own right imho, even if there might be some P-Funkish moments here and there .

yeah.George probably heard the "Funk It" demo and said "I ain't gonna contribute to that dumb song"

speaking of that song....I had heard a rumor that in early 1982,the guys began work on a new album that was tentatively titled Funk It,but the record company insisted that they release a 'Best Of' album instead,which became Blast.I guess the four studio tracks on Blast are from the rejected Funk It album?

SoulAlive said:

yeah.George probably heard the "Funk It" demo and said "I ain't gonna contribute to that dumb song"

speaking of that song....I had heard a rumor that in early 1982,the guys began work on a new album that was tentatively titled Funk It,but the record company insisted that they release a 'Best Of' album instead,which became Blast.I guess the four studio tracks on Blast are from the rejected Funk It album?

Heh...

That would've been an interesting release and possibly those four tracks came indeed through for the half-classic-half-new compilation

From those Blast sessions, there is also the 45 b-side-only: Echoes Of An Era. I guess that comes from George's side, as he is on lead vocals and the bass slaps sound like his thumping.

[Edited 4/10/13 0:14am]

phunkdaddy said:

When I get back from vacation in Philly I'm gonna get this album. Can't believe I don't already have this. I just have a few songs from it. It makes you really appreciate how good this album really is and brings back memories of my uncle jamming this during the summer of 76.

Enjoy the jam

As far as coming back to "Funkadelala". The chorus is imo not much similar to P-Funk or Bootsy's style, but more in the vibe of the Brothers' own groove or in the same mode as Louis did on his solo project "Passage" with (ex) wife Valerie and Brothers-percussionist Richard Heath. Overall not a weak track.

[Edited 4/9/13 10:04am]

I got to see them at my very fisrt concert. It was 1978 & the bill was The Commodores (on tour with the blue album)....with The Brothers Johnson opening (on tour with the "Blam" album).

I was so young that I needed my dad to take me (ha)......decked out in polyester & platforms...I was DEF the funkiest lil white dude in the joint! Was ALL about it!!!

Anyway, the thing I'll never forget is my Dad. He's like the MOST "un-hip" dude you could EVER find...and I remember him just being totally blown away by The Brothers Johnson. He isn't "hip" but still KNEW raw talent when he saw it....and esp Lewis playing the bass behind his back....on the ground....with his teeth....my Dad was just like "Whoa!!!! Now THAT's some talent right THERE!"

Awesome show & a great one to have as my first live music memory.

[Edited 4/9/13 16:29pm]

[Edited 4/9/13 16:30pm]

Shango said:

SoulAlive said:

^^ I was surprised to learn that George isn't too fond of "Funk It (Funkadelala)",which he described as a P-Funk/Bootsy rip-off.I like the song.

Yeah lol, George doesn't seem at all to contribute on "Funkadelala"

A1

Funk It (Funkadelala) Arranged By [Horn Arrangement] – David DiggsBacking Vocals – James Ingram, Jim Gilstrap, Louis Johnson, Valerie JohnsonDrums – John Robinson (2)Guitar – Louis JohnsonLead Vocals – Louis JohnsonPercussion – Paulinho DaCosta*Piano [Acoustic Piano] – Raymond CrossleySynthesizer [Bass Synthesizer] – Louis JohnsonSynthesizer [Synthesizers] – Greg PhillinganesWritten-By – Louis Johnson, Valerie Johnson

Brothers Johnson, The* - ...at Discogs

He sings lead and background on "Welcome To The Club", but as with "Funkadelala" a composition by Louis and Valerie Johnson. Louis isn't performing on any of George's songs.

Speaking of P-Funk, did you hear Louis' story in that interview link, which I posted earlier? About how he was recording for the Brothers' "Look Out.." album, and during a break, he hooked up with Clinton's crew in a near studio room, singing background along with Chaka Khan and a whole bunch of others on the original recording session of "Mothersip Connection" ? Bootsy was there too, and he asked Louis if Thunder Thumbs could show some of his slapping skills. Right after those jams, Louis was still on a high of "hearing that noise with him and the boys" and it inspired him to record the bass and guitar parts for "Get The Funk...". That is indeed a track which he laid down on tape after being hipped to a P-Funk groove. "Funkadelala" is a jam on it's own right imho, even if there might be some P-Funkish moments here and there .

Now that's hip

But wasn't it Chaka's sister that was on the Mothership album?

JamFanHot said:

I got to see them at my very fisrt concert. It was 1978 & the bill was The Commodores (on tour with the blue album)....with The Brothers Johnson opening (on tour with the "Blam" album).

I was so young that I needed my dad to take me (ha)......decked out in polyester & platforms...I was DEF the funkiest lil white dude in the joint! Was ALL about it!!!

Anyway, the thing I'll never forget is my Dad. He's like the MOST "un-hip" dude you could EVER find...and I remember him just being totally blown away by The Brothers Johnson. He isn't "hip" but still KNEW raw talent when he saw it....and esp Lewis playing the bass behind his back....on the ground....with his teeth....my Dad was just like "Whoa!!!! Now THAT's some talent right THERE!"

Awesome show & a great one to have as my first live music memory.

Ultra cool . That must've been a ball to experience both groups throwing down. I've seen parts of the Brothers' filmed concert in 1979 and can imagine the atmosphere. And the builded up intro of the Commodores' "Brick House" during a concert is a trip as well... the live album version rocks! I talked some years ago with a recordshop owner who went with his wife to a Brothers concert in L.A. around the Light Up The Night album release. He and his wife were overwhelmed by the show and also about how many concert visitors were dressed, fancy gowns, hairdoos, classy suits, stetson hats, etc

[Edited 4/9/13 23:31pm]

HuMpThAnG said: Now that's hip

But wasn't it Chaka's sister that was on the Mothership album?

Yeah man! And Taka Boom might indeed have been there too . Louis tells during the posted interview that he recorded for Taka around those years, although the session was never officially released ( ...whut?... ). Would like to hear that jam, heheh.