The Complete Disco Guide to...
Brothers Johnson
(George Johnson and Louis
Johnson)
Performers on the "Light Up the Night"
album:
George Johnson (guitar, rhythm guitar, and vocals), Louis Johnson
(bass, guitar, piano, and vocals), Susaye Greene Brown (background
vocals), Merry Clayton (background vocals), Jim
Gilstrap (background vocals),
Quincy Jones (background vocals, synthesizer), Richard Heath (vocals),
Michael
Jackson (background vocals), Josie James (background vocals),
Augie Johnson (background vocals), Valerie Johnson (background vocals),
Scherrie
Payne (background vocals), Bill Reichenbach (euphonium, trombone,
trumpet), Paulinho Da Costa
(percussion), John Robinson (drums), Alex Weir (vocals), Gary Grant
(flugelhorn, trumpet), Jerry Hey (flugelhorn, horn, trumpet), Kim Hutchcroft
(saxophone, flute), Greg Phillinganes (electric piano, piano,
synthesizer), Steve Porcaro (synthesizer), Rod Temperton (electric piano),
Larry Williams (saxophone, flute, synthesizer)
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The Brothers Johnson created excellent funk, disco, and R&B ballads and
jams during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their most memorable song is
probably the gold single "Strawberry Letter 23" (reaching #1 R&B and #5
Pop in the USA in 1977). In addition to their own albums, they worked
with other artists, and teamed up to contribute handclapping and percussion to
Rufus's album "Masterjam". In January 2002, the Brothers Johnson got back
together, started touring again, and began working on a new album.
The Brothers Johnson's bassist, Louis Johnson, is regarded as one of the
best bassists of the 20th century. His masterwork not only appears on the
Brothers Johnson albums but also on Michael Jackson's albums "Off the
Wall" and "Thriller" and George Benson's album "Give
Me the Night".
Louis personally assisted Michael with creating the bassline for his hit
song "Billie Jean".
And that just scratches the surface of his talent. He played the bass and
bass guitar on Michael Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous", and was the
bassist on Earl Klugh's 1976 jazz/pop album "Earl Klugh" plus Earl's 1977
jazz/pop "Living Inside Your Love". He was one of three
bassists on Herb Alpert's 1979 album "Rise",
which included its top-10, Grammy-winning disco/jazz title-track "Rise".
He also played bass on the 1978 Herb Alpert album "Hugh Masakela",
the 1981 Patti Austin album "Every
Home Should Have One", the 1982 Aretha
Franklin album "Jump To It", the 1982 self-titled Donna Summer album,
the 1983 James Ingram album "It's Your Night", and the 1985 Aretha
Franklin album "Who's Zoomin' Who?".
Louis has also worked with artists like Deniece Williams, John Cougar
Mellencamp, Grover Washington Jr., Herbie Hancock, Bobby Womack, and the
Carpenters. Finally, we should mention that Louis Johnson was the
producer and bassist of the 1981 A&M Records album "Passage".
George Johnson has played with Steve Arrington, a drummer and
vocalist.
Quincy Jones worked with the Brothers Johnson for many years as their
producer and also functioned for them in other capacities. In 1989, George
Johnson contributed vocals and guitar and Louis Johnson contributed vocals
and bass to Quincy's album "Back on the Block". Louis also played bass on
most of the songs on Quincy's album "The
Dude", released by A&M Records in 1981, an album which highlights the
vocal talents of James Ingram and Patti Austin and the instrumental
talents of Quincy's best session players.
DISCOGRAPHY
Classic Songs:
1976: I'll Be Good to You, Get the Funk Out of Ma Face
1977: Strawberry Letter 23, Runnin' for Your Lovin'
1978: Blam!, Ain't We Funkin' Now
1980: Stomp!, Light Up the Night
1981: The Real Thing
1982: Welcome to the Club
1984: You Keep Me Coming Back
1988: Kick It to the Curb
Albums:
Light Up the Night (1980)
TRACKS: Stomp! Light Up the
Night You Make Me Wanna
Wiggle Treasure This
Had to Be All About the
Heaven Smilin' on
Ya Closer to the One that You
Love Celebrations
The 1980 album "Light Up the Night" is a fine collection of R&B and disco
songs. "Stomp!", a very catchy disco song, reached number one on the
American Disco chart in April 1980, and did well on the Pop and R&B
charts also, reaching #7 and #1 respectively in May 1980.
In the United Kingdom, "Stomp!" was on the music charts for 12 weeks
beginning in late-February 1980 and its peak position there was #6 in
April. (Incidentally, the U.K. "Stomp!" single has a B-side funk-dance
song by the duo called "Let's Swing", but this song did not appear on American
releases.)
There are radio and extended versions of "Stomp!", with the latter
containing an extra horn segment. Other dance songs include "Light Up the
Night" and "Celebrations". Michael Jackson participated in the song "This
Had to Be". There are also some superb ballads, especially "All About the
Heaven" and "Treasure" (the latter reached #73 on the American Billboard
Pop chart). This substantial album was produced by the
legendary Quincy Jones.
Winners
(1981)
TRACKS: The Real
Thing Dancin'
Free Sunlight Teaser Caught
Up In The Way I
Want You Do It For
Love Hot
Mama Daydreamer Dream
This album was produced by the Brothers Johnson themselves and
released in July 1981. The amazing disco song "The Real Thing", released
as a single in May 1981, got as high as number 11 on the American R&B
chart, but only number 67 on the American Pop chart and number 50 on the
British Pop chart. "Dancin' Free" is another dance song
that was also released as a single (October 1981) but didn't become a hit.
"Caught Up" slows down the tempo a little.
"Do It For Love" is a nice uptempo R&B song.
Brothers Johnson Compilations:
Strawberry
Letter 23: The Best of the Brothers Johnson
Greatest
Hits
20th
Century Masters: The Best of the Brothers Johnson
The
Best of Brothers Johnson
Stomp!
Covers of Brothers Johnson Songs:
"Stomp" by Love and Music
"Stomp" by International Disco Band and Singers (1980)
"Stomp" by Larry Brown (1980)
"Raju Yö" by Karma (1980) - Finnish version
"Stomp" by Special Edition (1980)
"I Love Music" by Enigma (1981) includes a partial (26 second)
cover of "Stomp!" as the 8th song in their medley
"Stomp All Night" by Tony Evans Band (1982) - electro-disco version of "Stomp!"
"I'll Be Good To You" by Chatham featuring Fred Huber
"I'll Be Good to You" by Ray Charles and Chaka Khan (1989)
"Stomp" by Ernest Kohl (1992)
"Stomp" by Big Fun II (1993) - euro-house version
"Stomp" by The Drifters (2012)
"Stomp" by Count Basic (featuring Kelli Sae) (2014)
"Stomp!" by Ultra Spec (2018)
Brothers Johnson-Influenced Songs:
"Raincloud" remix by Lighthouse Family and DJ Cuca - sampled "Ain't We
Funkin' Now"
"Stomp" (1998) - house song that sampled "Stomp"
"Ladyland" by Black Science Orchestra (1999) - house song that sampled
"Land of Ladies"
"I Want You" by Docspot (2000) - French house song that sampled "Stomp"
"Soul Bells" by Le Knight Club (2002) - French house song that sampled
"Streetwave"
HOW TO ORDER YOUR FAVORITE BROTHERS JOHNSON
SONGS
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Related links:
Mistermaxxx:
Brothers Johnson
Disco Funk:
Brothers Johnson
Deep
Groove Encyclopedia: Brothers Johnson
Andrea's Brothers Johnson
Page
Louis Johnson and the
Brothers Johnson - in Japanese
Disco Savvy Homepage
