Brothers Johnson ~ Strawberry Letter #23 1977 Disco Purrfection Version
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- The 45th anniversary of the release of this song on this day July 2 in 1977. This is a remix I have wanted to do for so many years and finally through the marvel of studio magic I can. There is a Beatlesque psychedelic quality to the music these brothers created for it with the calliope-like opening and closing chords and of course, that mysterious Strawberry Letter #22 they keep chanting about. Did you know the song IS Strawberry Letter #23?. Confusing? Read on
The song was written by Shuggie Otis and stood out on the album since the men rarely did covers, but when they did, they shined it up like a diamond and gave it to the world. R&B has never been so exhilarating! Shuggie recorded that song for his own 1971 album Freedom Flight and George fell in love with the song and thought that they could do something great with it.
Shuggie says he got the idea from his girlfriend who sent him strawberry scented letters, when they got to #22, Shuggie answered her letter with a song "Strawberry Letter #23". You will notice that #23 is not mentioned once in the song.
When the brothers brought the song to Quincy Jones, he had never heard the song before but agreed to produce it for their album. Lee Ritenour was brought in to handle the guitars on the bridge and he did an outstanding job! Quincy was easy that way. It became an R&B #1 on August 6, 1977 for one week and peaked at #5 on the Hot100 whereas their "I'll Be Good To You" had peaked at #3 for three weeks! The original pressing of the singles had picture sleeves and the scent of strawberries imbued in the paper label. 45 years later, there is STILL a faint odor ( I sniffed this morning). I think it was the first time something like that was done.
One of the great songs of summer 1977! The loping insistent drum beat and those guitars, man those real life brothers knew how to grab you by the yankas! I did not realize how trancy the music track is until I started on this one, no wonder it was so hypnotizing! I found some hot loops to put space in between the main parts of the song leading to the to the break where the piano progression builds back into all tracks.
This type of remix is something I have shied away from cos I didn't have the expertise yet, I had too many remixes to get done....until I did learn how during COVID mostly through trial and error and researching., messaging with others on reddit about it. Now these is a snap. And I get to mess around a bit with stone cold classics, I hope you find me respectful to the original material and enjoy this anniversary remix edition of "Strawberry Letter #23"
I have my original red vinyl 12” single of this song. It smelled like strawberries.
Me too, still does.
❤😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
THIS SONG IS STILL A PURE FUNK SOUL CLASSIC AFTER 45 YEARS.
You're always respectful to the originals, and this is a great indication of the reverence this great music deserves.
Exactly 💯
Yes, but this isn't the original. It's a cover song. The original is by Shuggie Otis
Yes, true.....although The Brothers Johnson made it a hit!
@@anthonygarcia49 Yes, Shuggie's is magic. Was supposed to see him in London about
5 years ago but he was unwell. Thanks for bringing the magic back as ever, Cat xxx
I played this non_stop continuously in the hospital with a broken hip in the 70s.
This song is like a lava lamp for your ears, when hear it from beginning to end with the trippy guitar solo, it's awesome!
Happy Birthday to Louis Johnson of the Johnson Brothers REST IN POWER Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
OMG!!!! This a Beautiful mix!!!!!.....I really enjoy it. Thank you!!
Thank you "Cat!" A great "transport in time" to TheBrothersJohnsons great tune🎶 7:45 of NostalgicBliss on this!
Their masterpiece.
Very very Very Nice
Psychics, Angels, Rhythms that transports you too a star that returns you to: your "LOVING HOME STAR!!!"
All that effort. Wow! Trancy. Psychedelic. Trial and error.
I guess I can only imagine how you felt after you decided it was good to go.
Well appreciated here. I will always remember your persistent and diligently work on this one whenever I listen to it.
Great outcome.
This song brings back memories of my childhood years in the Bronx on Topping Ave. I would listen to this on the radio
Love the fact that You always provide an interesting backstory with every track that You upload for us - and that Your remixes are always done with the utmost respect for the original.
THANK You for yet another classic jam, DJDiscoCat!💕
Pure funky music 👍👍👍
These lyrics are beautiful
This is another great classic tune of the Brothers Johnson. Does it take two more important names than Quincy Jones and Lee Ritenour? Once again you did such a great job on a very well chosen track. I just love your rework DisoCat.👏💥❤🎶
Fantastic . So tuff
I LOVE that story of Strawberry Letter #23!!! The song takes on an added significance now, finding out that is was a response to a strawberry-scented love letter. It now makes me want to pass the story on to somebody else! That is SO damn cool!!! I love the song even more now.
Ohhhh yeeessss😍🎶❤😻
Classic
This is cool 😎
Beautiful song great choice Awesome remix Awesome group
Love Love this song 🎵 ❤ 💕 💗 💓 ♥ 🎵
In 1972, The Raspberries (Featuring Eric Carmen) album had the raspberry scent!!
You had to scratch part of the Raspberries album cover though; the 45 of this song was not "scratch 'n' sniff," it was smelly just from smelling!
Great memories. Amen 🙏.🇺🇸🇵🇷🕺💃🙏.
Another of my favorites that I've been waiting a few years for you to work your magic on... Thank you Sir Cat!
Literally been waiting months for this one 😆
This is it , Luigi
DJ Cat 😺 Person GREAT JOB
Ritenour is also playing the percussive rhythm guitar
I was 17....
STILL BANGIN........MARCUS KING ZAVEN GRIGORIAN CLUB MARS
SAN ANTONIO TX reading broadcast 237. dayd a weekk baby
How much is my LP worth in thĺe sleeve6
If the song is Strawberry letter 23, why do they keep saying 22?
23 (this song) is the response to 22 which he received
Joe Oaxaca House NATIONS
I'm not crying. No I am not!!! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for uploading one of my all-time fave songs as a child and still in the Top 5
Back in the day in the Midwest there was an audio chain called Playback. The store had their cooling system running hard to offset the heat generated by the audio systems on a regular basis. As a regular visitor, I had an outer-body-experience one day when this song was played on one of their most powerful system (2 high power bridged amplifiers and an octet of massive Cerwin Vega speakers). The systems was so powerful you could feel a change in pressure as you entered the store. I believe I lost a small bit of my hearing range in the 70s but would not change a thing.
This song was big in the summer of '77 . A group of my friends and I would go every weekend to Venice Beach and have breakfast and then we'd go rollerskating on the beach. God I miss those fun days ! 🌊🌊🌊💙
Absolutely Phenomenal! I’ve been waiting for someone to remix the Masterpiece to perfect. I’m so thrilled you’ve done it! Thank you from the bottom of my heart💜!
DiscoCat, I’ve been waiting for this one brother. I’m glad you finally put it on out. Awesome remix.
Wow this brings me back! However I cannot hear this song without thinking of the movie Jackie Brown :)
Beaumont.
@@bijoubijou6446 RIP
Thank you so much for highlighting the unique keyboards and electronics - and wow, those popping bass strings! 😍
❤
❤❤
I’ve never seen a perfect movie but I’ve heard a couple hundred perfect songs… including this 1
The best time of my life had just begun a few months before I heard this gem. I want a do-over!! Thank you so much for the time trip, nice job!
That guitar solo by George Johnson is still mind-blowing all these years later.😎😎😎😎
Actually: True Fact Here: Quincy Jones had Session and Smooth Jazz Guitarist Lee Ritenour perform the revered guitar solo on this song....
A longer version is needed like an hour🤣👍🙏
Wish I could find a hour loop
😅
Oh...that lick embodies rock,soul,funk,pop,traditional....sliding twisting soaring...outrageous...
One word “ BRILLIANT “
Keep ‘em coming
Don’t ever stop
Your doing a great service to many that love the tunes in a whole new form
Quality xx
Superb version. One of my favorites from high school in the 70's.
45 years? Wow I remember where I was the day it first came out
I do as well! I 9 yr old kid&family just moved to US(from🇩🇪)As a kid for love of listening to music...this had heavy air play in N. Va(outside Wash DC) in 77!!
Right! ⏳
This song came out the year I graduated from high school. Too many memories...and I believe that I still have the original single!
One of the greatest slow jams of all time just got the DiscoCat treatment and it sounds way better. It sure beats the 5:02 extended version put forth by A & M Records which was just a few seconds longer than the album version. Now we get a chance to savor the singing, the throbbing bass, Lee Ritenour’s guitar solo, the swirling keyboards, and the slow jam music. Thank you Disco Cat!!
Love this extended version,along with stomp pure brilliance❤❤
You did it again, good sir!!! Making a classic into a remix masterpiece!!! Thank you!!!
oh, man this is an absolute classic and jam. pops played this baby a lot
YAAAAAAS!! I was waiting for this!!❤️❤️💃🏾💃🏾
One of my all time favored takes me back in time to a love i lost 💔
You're right, quite hypnotic! I love your enhancements!
This masterpiece is acid drenched!
One of my favorite bass lines to play ✌✌
I saw these guys a month after this album came out. They put on an awesome Show and a little too tough of an act for the Blackbyrds to follow at least that night. A memorable time. Awesome mix! Thanks for posting!
I was fourteen years old when this song came out. We used to have house parties in New Jersey and we would have friends DJ without paying them. They loved to do it. I remember sitting watching my brother and sister dancing to this since they were older and had the parties. Later on I had them and the house would get packed with friends. My mother supervised. Love how you write the history of the song too. Thank you.
This song has on memories from a really good group/band. Great song to listen to on a Saturday. Stomp Have to be next thank you I really enjoy your channel
Yes, I agree!
DiscoCat already did that--extended the song “Stomp” by the Brothers Johnson. Enjoy.
Thanks for this choice of music. It's been quite awhile since I reveled in it . A big up to the selector.
Wasn't this featured in Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown? Great mix.
Jackie Brown! One of the early scenes.
@@nostalgicsoul76 thank you. It rang a huge bell when I heard it.
Jackie Brown...
Great upload again Cat!
If you think this version was psychedelic, you should here the '71 original.. the guitar riff, arrangement and production was all Shuggie - AND he was 19yo at the time!!
How the Brothers Johnson got the song was pretty simple - Shuggie was dating their sister, the song is about her. I think they were married by the time of this release.
Great to see the back story of this song explained here. I knew what the lyric meant, but a lot of people are mystified by the "22" in the lyric and the "23" in the title. And anyone who likes this should seek out the Shuggie Otis original. Heck, seek out the whole Freedom Flight album; it's terrific. (Shuggie Otis is one heck of a great guitar player).
Always liked this song! Classic soul from the best era of music. I hated the disco era but this was kind of pre-disco. And thanks for the history lesson! "I'll Be Good To You" was also a fav.
Back to high school baby!
Elementary going into middle school!!! A love 4 music early on!
Another masterpiece
Your best remix! Wow, the bass and keyboards!💗
DJDISCOCAT do you have a copy of my playlist? All the songs that you make into a masterpiece are in my playlist. We Love You. ❤
Another great remix! DISCO LIVES HERE!!!!!!
Absolutely incredible 👏. Thanks
Oh, YES!! One of my all time 70's favorites re-done very well here. "A present from you," DJ. Thank you!!
Love it! This may be your finest work, sir!
I remember this great classic song Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson in 1977 I love this classic song from back in the day!!! The summer of 1977 were the best years of my life I remember when they played this song 45 years ago on every radio station until now I love 70s funk & soul music never faded away!!!!! The Brothers Johnson had a long career with A&M Records at the time!! But what happened after that that's what I want to know!!! Thanks so much for posting this video!!!! I love it!!!! I love the 70s!!! Can you dig it!!!! 😍😍😍😍✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😃😃😃😃😃😃🌈🌈🌈🌈😀😀🌈🌈🌈🌈🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹♥️♥️♥️♥️👍👍👍👍👍💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
What happened was so sad, you dont wanna kno, trust me. Lotta infighting btwn the brothers, bitterness and death.
A top 10 favorite tune from the 70s just was upgraded! Outstanding mix DJDisco Cat!
At or about 3:46 you show you know what you’re doing! I love everything you’ve done with this classic of my youth! Thanks brother 🤜🏼
Straight Fi-ya!
This is so freaking rad!❤🇯🇲👊🏿
One of the best songs of 1977...Great LP too....
Fantastic! One of my all-time favourites!!
If no one knows about "The Cat"....you better ask somebody!!
Nobody does remixes better. Nobody.
Truly amazing job with The Brothers J Cat!!
Outstanding choice, outstanding mix. Thank you Sir.
Amazing tune and remix! Btw, I love absolutely ANYTHING strawberry 🍓 😋 .
Excellent work on this excellent version of excellent song! I bypassed the scented pic sleeve 45 as I bought the album instead, now of course I wish I had bought both but funds were much tighter then for me. I aways figured the reason the lyric says 22 instead of 23 is the song itself amounts to #23 as it is being about her letter #22.
Love Brothers J the depth of soul and the funk of the beat of their music makes them distinct among the other artist of the day.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!
Excellent rendition and very true to the essence of what the BJs were about. I truly loved this song when it came out, especially the psychedelic influences which were kind of where my head was at if you feel me!
thank you as usual for a great interpretation!
Thank you for doing this!! I love your remixes
WOW LOVE THIS SONG KCMO!!!!!! CRUISING DOWNTOWN!!!!!❤
This is just pure heaven!
What an awesome job you have done with this heavenly track, I've heard other attempts on a remix from others, but you have truly have extended this awesome track and managed to keep the essence as if it was originally recorded like this.
I'm creating a playlist of 70's funk anf and with your permission i will started of with this track/remix.
Brothers Johnson ~ Strawberry Letter #23 1977 Disco Purrfection Version
I've been waiting for this!
Thanks DJ DiscoCat!
🎶💜🎶
I had this album back in the day when it was new. That’s vinyl record. I’m sure y’all remember those.
Awesome. Classic.
Thanks for mentioning the great Lee Ritenour on guitar! Cool classic and great remix DJDISCOCAT!
This version is hot again ! ! 😊😊