Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23 ('77)

[danielh115]

look good, play good, sound good.....daaaamn good.

[mineurbizness]

the one in white is got dame find ..if i was grown bac then...i would of had the biggest crush and i shole would have done him ....yes sir would have had all his babies

[N333A3]

This isn't live. Maybe the instruments are, but there are no mics and the voice is clearly edited.

[amber442]

Loop this-real music and make this new generation of rap label it "drop em draws bitch and it will be a hit. LOL Just kidding

[broadwayjoe412]

The fuckin jam.

[ryanlike]

When this song comes on I grab my Johnson and stroke it till it breaks.

[natanqo]

Jackie Brown :)

[scarrmd]

@natanqo - Beaumont Livingston

[jCd1058]

So many times over the past 35 years I have heard this song playing in my mind. Once you hear it, it never leaves. Great work by Louis and George, as well as Lee Ritenour on the incredible solo.

[TheAmaranthineRift]

I woke up this morning with this song stuck in my head! Love it :)

[circleseverywhere]

not live

[spunkets]

This is another reason why I can never hate black people.

[dynelol]

@spunkets

I misread that as "date" LOL

[xvxliftedxvx]

@spunkets lol wtf. why do you need a reason to not hate black people?

[spunkets]

@xvxliftedxvx

Its good to have reasons for not hating anyone, son.

[spunkets]

That part, 2:12 - 2:38...

is that not out-of-this-world amazing?

[6h967]

Great funk!

[spunkets]

One minor point. This isn't "live."

[carmel1119]

@spunkets

That much is obvious.

It's cloying and mocking.

[spunkets]

@carmel1119

Explicate.

[carmel1119]

@spunkets

It's just your usual Vaudeville and theatrics.

Oh, and lol @ "unicorny and the law of diminishing return." nice one. 

[officerbigdaddy]

this shit smoove i wanna dance wit some females

[marcfedak]

I love the trippy guitar part from around 2:15 - 2:35.

[DESMYTTER]

Congratulations ! Your video is on facebook.com pages Louis-Brothers-Johnson

[dynelol]

This starts out like it could be Castlevania music.

[jennykennypants]

Great tune ... takes me back to my H S senior year... but I'm just puttin this out there... why is the title Strawberry Letter 23 ( I 've seen it many places with that title) when they CLEARLY sing.... " A present from you... Strawberry letter 22 " ????...Doesn't matter... I mean .. I NEVER get tired of hearin it !!!!!

[jCd1058]

@jennykennypants As I understand, the song IS Strawberry Letter 23. The Brothers J refer to the previous Strawberry Letter 22 within 23.

[DR000]

@jCd1058

I N C E P T I O N

[mtrman64]

the bass line kicks f in a

[poppinthangs]

@mtrman64 yes it does too bad he is not really playing during this performance

[harlembrewful]

This is classic!

[dynelol]

"The Brothers Johnson" sounds like it could be the name of an incest porn.

[capricorn4003]

@dynelol lol!!! ;) in today's world, just the name would have some embarrassing connotations.

[jCd1058]

@dynelol Just watch where you put that apostrophe!

[bama3417]

Cool!

[dynelol]

@bama3417

Is it cool?

[capricorn4003]

@dynelol ha!!! ;) some wild lyrics in this tune!! i always liked the line '...playgrounds will laugh...'.

[scarrmd]

Is this digital underground's daddy? lol.

[Bunzypoo]

Wow haven't heard this song in so long. Groovy! :)

[tonyzackery]

Doesn't get much better than this.

[kreativekoils613]

I love listening to this song when I'm stoned

[rocknroll19842]

FUNK YES!

[kreativekoils613]

@rocknroll19842 YES!!!

[MsOldierock]

smooth song/ good beat

[ToolBag48]

Homecoming Dance, 1977. My 1st HS dance. I remember the my date and I dancing to this song. It's one of those memories that you go back to when you've had a shitty day and you need something to cheer you up.

[Bree41125]

For many yrs I thought he was saying strawberry letter 22 **confused**

[1974MLW]

@gospelevans You are right that is sad and I'm ten years younger than you and I love this music!!!!

[mrsbadomen]

Real music!

[strummersbrother]

This is such a great song! Can't help but think they would have had more success with it if they woulda come up with a better name. 'strawberry letter 23'??? One of the worst song titles ever.

[MrKrime]

@strummersbrother NOPE!!!!



[gospelevans]

lovvvve this jam!!!! and i am 37

[apatheticempathy]

@gospelevans

im 47 and love old s'cool timeless music like this.

Poor kids today have nothing but HATE and Gangsters music ...how sad is that ?

[MsOldierock]

hello, my love.....da da

[OSixx]

classic

[lebarosky]

Great groove. Think it's lip sync'd.

[MrKrime]

@lebarosky It is. It's an early music video pre-MTV



[rocker173]

I'm 15 and I play punk, but when I heard this song on the Jackie Brown soundtrack, it was love at first listen.

[taxidriver508]

55 year old punk rocker white boy digs this tune so i have 2 up on you bro!

[mineurbizness]

LADIES CAN U SAY FINE ASS HELL ( THE ONE IN WHITE ).OOOLALA

[MultiplicityMe2]

@mineurbizness Yes, George was fioonnne! lol

[passion4posh]

@mineurbizness

i had the biggest crush on him

[capricorn4003]

@mineurbizness ha!!! ;) that's George, aka 'Lightnin' Licks'!

[63mrl]

Slappin! So, sweet!



[messina03901]

The first time i heard this song was in Chang Hang Ri, S.Korea in 1977 when i was in the Military.

[RetroTony1959]

@messina03901 Memories of Texas St and Pusan! Whew !! KimChi stunk

[BBSatin13]

folz208, you got good musical taste. The Brothers Johnson still can rock the house. Yeeah!!!!!!!

[vvblues]

With velvet roses diggin' freedom flight.

[shorty64100]

great music to get stoned to!

[stkeelliott]

Such a smooth/great voice...love this song:) :)

[latin1988AC]

PIMP PIMP HOORAY MUFFAFUCKA!!!!!

[68guitardude]

Give some love to Shuggie Otis for this song too! :-)

[pierpa010]

Ordell Robbie love this tune!!

[74choppzilla]

wether a gibson ripper ,an alembic,a p bass or a music man,louis johnson still sounds like himself.thats when you know you have your own sound.

[MrZipcode6]

23 this that pimp sh?> yall dont know nothing about this

[TheHeavymetal80]

16 year old likes this stuff and should do :)

[dopeboy915screwhead]

dats dat shit homie still bangin that funk in texas ya herd me

[666xb]

im 17 and listen to this at least twice a day.

[DjPADYBU]

@666xb same here lol

[68guitardude]

@666xb Check out Shuggie Otis's version. He wrote it.

[666xb]

@68guitardude wow thank you so much, really enjoyed it :D

[celestehtkj27]

Hey guys the next time you listen to this song, make sure you put on a good pair of head sets and rock out.

[teet551]

57 yr old white boy love itt to its stil SUPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR greetings from amsterdam

[trugent23]

ooooohweee!! Bassline baby!! Classic cut from back in the day, takes me back to some good old days. Will always keep this cut in my old school rotation. Yes sir!!

[carlyoung1]

great!

[YesYouAreIgnorant]

not a big fan of this song but wouldn't mind if fro's came back in style... their just fun to look at amiright?

[allenritchey]

im a 25 year old black man and i know this is far greater than any song that has come out in my era

[thonyman]

Its a shame guys dont wear 'fros like that anymore. it was a great look....

[starladodge3]

I have always loved this song and I still do today!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT SONG!!!!!!!!!!  I Love a lot of songs by Brothers Johnson!! I have a CD of their greatest hits and would love sometime to see them in concert!!

[NUVOGRIOT]

This is actually a remake. The original writer/singer was a young cat named Shuggie Otis. The original is nice but the Brothers improved on it with the help of Quincy. Good Good stuff

[PhiZappaCrappa]

All over FM in NE Pennsylvania winter 77/78. Too cool to remember! With a half-gram o' schrooms, a near perfect time/space machine!

[Guaglione82]

bellissima!

[jacquelinebraxton]

My friend William sent this to me in a email junior & high school days...

[Cruisenthehighway]

No music today compares to this type of funky bass soul breathing songs. Wow, today's generation has no clue how wonderful musicians, singers were in the past. What you see on video is what you received in LIVE concerts. Long live this music for future generations to absorb and dream of what the times use to be.

[milwaukeerican5]

as much of a hiphop head as i am i also love me some of these classics

[HurdRidge]

I had forgotten about this tune 'til a buddy sent me the URL. I always loved their material. It's hard to satisfy a musician like myself.

[PopsTake4]

☆☆☆☆☆1:15☆☆☆☆☆2:10☆☆☆☆☆

[lukeydoeslikey]

just the best...so cool so chilling so summer days...love it..

[taralo16]

This is one of the greats! Poor Beaumont...He thought he was gonna give it to the Koreans! Ordel had different ideas. I remember I was in eight grade making out to this song!! The best times of my life...Can I go back???

[BabyFaceAlTu]

Listening to this song makes me feel like an Original Gangster >:-)

[PhiZappaCrappa]

Smoooooth!

[TheSupersneed]

yep i remember trying to score chicks to this song... pity i couldnt dance too good, lol.

[WhiteRusski]

jackie brown!

[62muki]

The 2 dislikes are probley biebers.

[mrsbadomen]

@62muki And the other 2 after them are CaCa gagas

[62muki]

Best funky,groovin,crusin,1977-1982 get down dancin music ever.Reminds me of lowriding days. Makes me feel cool !

[talkischeapornot]

this is gooooood stuff...!

[hornygoat007]

Pure Atmospheric Funk...Love dis man...

[teet551]

dat waren nog eens tijden te gek the good old days hell yes

top pop ad visser

[SuperBRISKO]

oya!



[WaryBuck1]

Remember driving to school, hearing this song, and turning my radio off as music ended so it would be the LAST song in my mind for the day! And I'm a white guy from the midwest. :) Great stuff from my high school years.

[geminiprincess8806]

sad 23 years old and know this song word from word...

[melvinpoopoo1]

This is a great son that brings back great memories!!!!

[r2dxhate]

kick ass

[veryshywoman]

big hair dude

[TheFatyBella]

My own Bomba!!!!!!!!

I'll Alwayz Love-Heart-Adore this track!!!!!

[Moreasy]

This was recorded at the famous 70's Dutch pop show Top Pop.

Presented by Ad Visser.

[timdoog42]

Louis is strokin that Bass like some cool cat does a woman. What a Smoova

[folz208]

50 yr old white boy loves this tune....this is the BOMB!!!!

[apatheticempathy]

@folz208 ditto 46 year old whittey also. Like LOVE itself, fantastice timeless music passes ANY barrier

Love always wins .... ALWAYS ~

[CotardDelusion]

@folz208 so fucking true hahahahaha cant stop laughing... this song is the shiz

[tonyzackery]

@folz208 great music trancends all that ridiculousness of racism and bigotry.  keep on rockin'....

[Omaha76Steve]

@folz208 53 year old white that loves funk!

[chg657]

@folz208 This 54-yr Olde Pharte YT loves it, too ! Reminds me of my sophomore year in college...Oh, yeah, baby ! (grin)

[kbfhaunt]

@folz208 are you kidding me i have the promo copy before it was released to the public for radio play only

[folz208]

@kbfhaunt And?.....What is your point?

[strummersbrother]

@folz208 dude, who else do you think digs this tune? doubt it's the justin beiber crowd, it was a hit in 1977.

[folz208]

@strummersbrother Are you saying NO one else but us old folks can appreciate this song?......You're probably right!....LOL

[lmadzimoyo1]

This was the joint.

[etyvnio]

CLASSIC! 

[tonyzackery]

music this good is gone...

[hector69ize]

OMG, OMG the fantastic 70's produced so much,many talented musician that today's youth can only hope they've been born in that era. I realy dig this song, It was cool even before the word COOL was over used.

[Edshread]

this song goes places

[westcoastwheelsally]

Best bass playing ever in this song!!!

[redderstheamazing]

so cool its cold.

[VJDJ1965]

Straight Classic!! Love it!!! 

[Bionic9]

Classic Jam!

[Bionic9]

Classic Jam! One of my favorite groups.

[Bionic9]

Classic Jam! One of my favorite groups.

[JimBrinkley1]

Oh so goood.

[tonyzackery]

gotta love how thin most of the Black performers were back in the 70s and 80s...

[mixerdog79]

this song has a bad ass baseline this stit bumps in the truck O.G. shit main! if you got some beat in your ride you youngsters play this shit you'l see

[mixerdog79]

this song has a bad ass baseline this stit bumps in the truck O.G. shit main!

[WestCoastLos]

I cant belive there are TWO idiots in this world that dont like this song....SMH

[tonyzackery]

dislike this? you gotta be crazy!

[princeiion]

right on man... = )

[johnLA1961]

I've loved this song from radio,LP,8 track,CD to mp3 on a flash drive.Never gets old.

[BlaqPanthress]

@johnLA1961: AND check out them "threads" they sporting!....guy in the brown playing the hell outta that bass guitar!....yea, boi!....got me an "old skool classic" CD that I "travel" with/to!....and you right, it's NEVER GETS OLD!.....you got GREAT TASTE IN MUSIC!....GREAT TASTE!......

[PhiZappaCrappa]

I hadda pair of bells just like the bassist. Too cool, huh?

[RossLGould]

@PhiZappaCrappa You still wear them, too... don'tcha?

[PhiZappaCrappa]

@RossLGould Well, only on "Sunday Go to Meetin'" occasions now.

[perpetual61]

Written by Shuggie Otis. Otis wrote it for a girlfriend who used Strawberry scented paper when she wrote to him. George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' Cousins. When he came across " Freedom Flight ", Otis 1972 Album that featured the song. The group later Recorded it for their 1977 Album " Right on Time" under Legendary Producer Quincy Jones. The Album went Platinum.

[Prozaac4me]

I wish I had rainbow's and waterfalls running through my mind...

[SuperSlimm]

Who wrote this?! And what were they on?! Give these people some of that!!!

[Starlitblond]

I'll take the guy in the brown... I love their little boppin they do... awwwww....awwww....awwwwee.. a.. awe.. oooooh... oooooohh.... oooooh.. who...

[totaleclipse1]

The song is titled Strawberry Letter #23 because the song is a response to the letter from her, Strawberry Letter #22. "A present from you, Strawberry Letter 22, the music plays I sit in for a few..." I was fortunate enough to play with George for 5 years while Louis was off doing other musical projects and he filled me in the misleading title. Andre Berry

[SuperSlimm]

@totaleclipse1 You rock. I knew this ever since I was eleven. I use to request this song on the local stations and always called it Strawberry Letter #22. Good thing they knew what I was talkin about.

[BlaqPanthress]

@totaleclipse1 : I'm old skool, and this is the TOP SONG that I listened to as a teenager!....THIS IS WHAT REAL MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT!!!!.....some cats today, CAN'T RELATE!....

[johnLA1961]

@BlaqPanthress Right on,right on.

[mebad2828]

thanks



[tonygrooove]

They were key musicians on Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall".

[tonyzackery]

beautiful song for a beautiful time...

[18brandon92]

2paccc

[MrYourTubed]

This looks 100% as it sounds. Thats cool.

[TotalDesignZ]

Happened to hear it in a movie and had to look it up. Knew it was The Brothers Johnson but forgot the name. Love this song :)

[perpetual61]

This Song always reminds of 1977( My Favorite Year) when I was15. The Music, Good Times & Great Memories.

[mrtlc666]

THIS IS REAL MUSIC PEOPLE....FULL OF SOUL

[wheresyourwoodyatt]

Much Respect to the Brother's Johnson, but misleading title...It's a live performance of the recording-this is lip-synched.

Evidence-

a)It sounds exactly like the recording...which I know so well I can play every part... b)where's the rest of the band? and c)they don't have mics. Anyways, cool that they made a music video back then.

Quincy Jones Productions didn't want to mess around. This such a funky tune, it may have been risky to perform it live.

[tonyzackery]

@wheresyourwoodyatt so what?  enjoy the music.

[taildragger53]

The genius of Shuggie Otis.

[SuperNdo]

Drive around with a body in ur trunk while this track is playing in ur stereo