Shuggie Otis - Strawberry Letter 23

[73soulboy]

Love this original,but because I heard The Brothers Johnson version first I favour theirs,but their both great.Pax to all from 73soulboy.Xxx.

[sir404]

WHO SINGS THE ORIGINAL TO THIS SONG? WHICH ONE IS THA BEST

[dianniscool]

@sir404 he does

[cosmokism]

This is the original and unless Hendrix covered it, the original always wins.

[embracesme]

I like this one to

[MrJonasprayer144]

from 2:23 'til the end is the best part!! even better than the remake i think

[2012lacruz]

I just found out that the Brother's Johnson remade this classic.

[ohshogunate]

idk about all that....



[PoetryManDC]

Have always Loved this song - and today, for the first time, I am hearing the Original Version - and learned the meaning behind it - Soul Amazing - Respect Brother Otis!!!

[eazenyce]

Never heard the original....I like this a lot!

[RickySTT]

R.I.P. Shuggies' dad.

[silky1700]

Thanks for the musical education didn't know the Brothers Johnson version was a remake...Wow both versions sound great to me,

[meppsims]

Wonderful! Heard this version before and didn't know whe sang it, now I know. Thanks for sharing! :)

[jbov1953]

Hey DrBukcake - This was out in the early seventies. Do a little research before you open your pie hole.

[lei7tzel7]

@jbov1953 I tried to like your comment over and over again haha

[DrBukcake]

I'm sorry miss Jackson! THIS SONG IS BY OUTKAST! LISTEN TO IT, THIS IS A RIP OFF

[BeforeTheStarsSleep]

@DrBukcake I weep for you...

[Izik]

@BeforeTheStarsSleep haha....right?



[lcusatis]

@DrBukcake This song is from 1977, retard. Outkast was formed in '92.  Again, you're a moron.

[FRANKFUZZYNUTZ]

@lcusatis I must concur.

[midiman51]

@lcusatis Actually, this tune is from 1972. The Brothers Johnsons version was released in 1977. You are so right. I am constantly amazed at how uneducated today's music fans are.

[ndependentwoman]

@DrBukcake -ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!! Not only is this the ORIGINAL VERSION; a second version was done by Brothers Johnson!!

[RickySTT]

@DrBukcake Wow. Oh, wow.

While I do prefer the Brothers Johnson version, I still gratefully acknowledge the talent who wrote this wonderful song. Please recheck the liner on your Outkast CD.

[Bornwithoutaname]

A gifted muscian gave us a gift!!!

[NoRosesForMe]

♥♥♥THANK YOUUUU Bless you! Peace ♥♥♥♥

[MrKrime]

Damn, I like this!!!!!! Never knew. Thanks for posting

[computaLuv]

THAANKS! 4 Turnin us ignorant musishns on2 who this guy suggie is!

I always thought is was an original by Bros. Johnson

This is so sweet thank U 4 the enlitenment!

I am A brotha and I luv it!

Just when u think u know all ther is to know about the wonderful world of music that we all share! KEEP MUSIC ALIVE! BUY A YOUNG KID A INSTRUNENT NOT A MICROPHONE!

WE HAVE ENOUGH CHIN MUSIC OUT HERE NOW, AND IT MOSTLY ALL SUCKS! IM GOING TO CHOKE MY SELF IF I HEAR ANOTHER YUNG MONEY RECORD! I GOT2 T

[computaLuv]

THAANKS! 4 Turnin us ignorant musician who this guy suggie is!

I always thought is was an original by Bros. Johnson

This is so sweet thank U 4 the enlitenment!

I am A brotha and I luv it!

Just when u think u know all ther is to know about the wonderful world of music that we all share! KEEP MUSIC ALIVE! BUY A YOUNG KID A INSTRUNENT NOT A MICROPHONE!

WE HAVE ENOUGH CHIN MUSIC OUT HERE NOW, AND IT MOSTLY ALL SUCKS! IM GOING TO CHOKE MY SELF IF I HEAR ANOTHER YUNG MONEY RECORD! I GOT2 THO UP

[blazerchich2010]

best version

[Ihavealltherightstuf]

oh shit you see the fender mustang

[LanceHelmut]

i'm just now getting hip to this....omfg !!! thanx to you and brothers johnson record i am here ....!!

[gardenvarietypenis]

His father is Walt Disney?

[thetman102771]

@gardenvarietypenis no, his father is none other than...JOHNNY OTIS!

[lionneedshistiger]

Snap thats hip

[FoxyMamaRox]

GAWD he is too too too fine. All that hair. I bet he's insanely handsome now. :) This song has been in my head all night. <3 His voice is hella golden...mmmhmmm.

[CeeTheJay]

Beside myself with awe. Thanks, whoever posted this, for expanding my musical universe. How could I have been so ignorant about the existence of Shuggie Otis? Like other commenters, I wasn't aware of the origins of "Strawberry Letter 23"....

Masterpiece, indeed!

[fliptrickskater]

wow this version is really good! dang why didnt i hear this one first?

[vhickerson]

I always wonder what the hell the Brothers Johnson were talking about. Now I understand. They weren't sayng sh*t just like the guy who recorded it first!!!!

[YaBoiBalla1]

@vhickerson The reasonn it sounds like sh*t to you is because you're so FULL of sh*t. Your own. Your problem is...you wouldn't know a masterpiece of music if you heard it.

[vhickerson]

@YaBoiBalla1 Aww c'mon man, everybody knows that music is subjective it's all about what the listener likes. Besides, I love the song I just don't understand what they're talking about. And although the Bros. Johnson cover is funkier, I like this one too. It's only my opinion! Just like I don't believe I'm full of sh*t just because you say so. So why don't you with your infinite musical wisdom inform ignorant lil me what this song is about.

[17ian75]

ελληναρας

[rrippp]

That smiling dog at 2:38, and the smiling Shuggie is gas :))))

[hunterspark40]

Shuggie has a more serene sound compared to the Brothers Johnson version. Shuggie and the Brother Johnson rendition are both great.

[funktron4]

This guy really wrote a beautiful masterpiece.

[didd8rs]

as I kid I heard Tevin Campbell's version and thought it was the original, then my dad played me this version...no contest Shuggie!

[funktron4]

@didd8rs The first popular version was when the Brothers Johnson covered Shuggie's original. The Brothers Johnson version (Lee Ritenaur on the guitar solo) is still the best.

[djclay33]

Actually it's called phase looping I believe, they play it from 2 sources thru one out

put at the same time to give that spacy sound

[DAYD111]

Who is Akon? Anyways, this one of my favorite psychedelic song ever, next to Strawberry Fields Forever. Damn, we don't get good music like this anymore.

[YuriGee718]

Shuggie Otis is the man!

[treadley]

simply beautiful...ethereal.

[6615267844]

The original version is a hole lot better than Akon's! I'm so sorry but it true.

[THEBURNZINATOR]

@6615267844 its called sampling....and even though i never heard akons version...nor care too im prettysure you are right

[homagetofromage]

AMAZING! And love the cover version by the Brothers Johnson

[McSpunkle]

This might be the first video I've seen with zero dislikes!

[rainspirit100]

@McSpunkle here here

[not2shy2say]

thank you. For posting the original recording of this song. You would have to bet money for anyone to believe who think the Brother Johnson are originator of this song.

[Nighthawk5210]

Vastly superior to the Brother's Johnson's version which is probably more well known--this is original and brilliant.

[skeeballpickuplines]

1971 = THE great year for music.

[shonha1]

The guitar solo sounds like something Hendrix would do

[demon4411]

is that the original version of that riff

[MinisterLynne]

What a treat...who knew? What year was this recorded? 

[PrinceEater]

@MinisterLynne

Ep release in 1971

[darrensilverman73]

@MinisterLynne 71. Unelievable. I first heard it in a coffee shop, asked who it was, assumed Shuggie was a modern singer-songwriter. The song is YRS ahead of its time. So complex & beautiful. The xylo is lovely, but how did he come up with the last section (from 2:20)??? Genius.

[TurtleTrader]

@darrensilverman73

I had the EXACT SAME experience as you! .... it's an amazing piece, isn't?

God, I love music!

[darrensilverman73]

@TurtleTrader I suppose what really surprised me was how old it is. I thought - between the style of music & his pic on the compilation CD the cafe were playing - that it was contemporary. It's so complex, and, as music is largely developed "on the shoulders of giants," and the technical nature of it, it just seemed to be a recent recording. A little like Baba O'Riley by The Who. Both these tracks are far to advanced & skilled to be from early 70s...

[augustjohnnycrashed]

This is about as good as it gets

[sunfloweraquarian]

Come on Suggie......I'll play with you .....Music that is......Stretch Baby

[StarsAreForStaring]

That guitar at the end is freaking unreal.

[brenolonghi]

With all due respect to mister Q,

after i heard and saw what he did with this song in the not so noble company of Akon, i can understand why Shuggie Otis didn't want him to be his arranger afterall...

[kc718201]

@brenolonghi In numerous interviews Quincy said he had nothing to do with the making of his album.

[laprofsimone]

@kc718201 Sure he had nothing to do with this album. I was mentioning what he did with the song on "Q Soul Bossa Nostra". It was a total disaster and turned this melancholic and slightly experimental tune into a sad (in worst sense) and pop (again in worst sense) song.

[kc718201]

@laprofsimone LOL that's what i just said Quincy had nothing to do with the making of his (as in Quincy) album. And to be honest I like Akon's version.

[SZS0001]

As of present the dude is only 57 years old, he should be releasing new stuff

[XVILB]

bad ass song

[maxmooney]

<3 'Nuff said.  :)

[timmy841212]

Shuggie was only 16 when he wrote and recorded this.

[groovatti]

Sweet Shuggie O!

[WhiteTrashExec]

Thank You for sharing :)

[ClickTheTurtle]

This is the first I have heard of him. Great song, not to mention it was posted on my birthday.

[lovintonal]

always loved this song ,think he was only sixteen when he did this albom

[rmapp59]

Awesome. It's always cool to know the original versions of classic songs made popular by artists who may not have been the original singer/songwriter/musicians. Until today, I did not know The Brothers Johnson's version of SL#23 was a cover.

[mastertung7]

so this is the original here

[NoRosesForMe]

THANK YOU so much for posting this. ♥