SHUGGIE OTIS
''LIVE IN WILLIAMSBURG, DISC TWO''
OCTOBER 14 2014
43:22
1 Strawberry Letter 23 04:34
2 Wings of Love 09:17
3 Doin' What's Right 03:55
4 Shuggie's Boogie 07:08
5 Ice Cold Daydream (Bonus) 18:26
Tracks By Otis
Larry Douglas/Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Vocals
James Manning/Bass
Eric Otis/Guitar
Nicky Otis/Drums
Shuggie Otis/Guitar, Vocals
Russ "Swang" Stewart/Keyboards, Vocals
Michael Turre/Flute, Piccolo, Sax (Baritone), Vocals
Albert Wing/Sax (Tenor)
REVIEW/AMG
by Timothy Monger
After releasing 1974's Inspiration/Information, his third and final album, California singer/guitarist Shuggie Otis spent the next three decades slowly drifting into cult status on the strength of his brief solo career and of that album in particular. Largely ignored upon its release, the elegant psych/soul/funk sounds he created (playing almost all of the instruments himself) lived on through record collectors, eventually earning a reputation as a lost classic before receiving its first reissue on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label in 2001. A sort of companion album called Wings of Love appeared as part of a 2013 reissue bundle, but it was mainly a collection of unreleased material and not necessarily a new album. While a follow-up to his acclaimed masterpiece might never arrive, the renewed interest in his work inspired Otis to put together a new band and enjoy a late career resurgence as a live act. Recorded at Brooklyn's Music Hall in April 2013, Live in Williamsburg marks Otis' first ever live album and the renditions he offers up here are loose, spirited, and charming. With a band that features his son Eric on guitar and his brother Nick on drums, it's an engaging live representation of his songs and his abilities as a player and frontman. Peppered with horns and keys, the group plows through career highlights like "Aht Uh Mi Hed," "Island Letter," and the 1977 hit he penned for the Brothers Johnson "Strawberry Letter 23." More than just a long-awaited victory lap, Otis and his band sound like they're having fun and it comes across on this release.
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Ed Hogan
Guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis may not be a household name, but his "Strawberry Letter 23" is in the record collections of millions of households. The Brothers Johnson's cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" has sold over a million copies, peaking at number one R&B and number five pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1977. It was on their LP Right on Time, which went platinum, selling over a million copies, holding the number one R&B spot for three weeks and making it to number 13 pop in spring 1977. Otis wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" for his girlfriend, who used strawberry scented paper for her letters to him. Another Otis favorite, "Inspiration Information," received substantial airplay in Chicago and other markets, charting #56 R&B in early 1975.
Born Johnny Otis, Jr. on November 30, 1953, in Los Angeles, CA, Otis' formidable musical talents appeared at an early age. He began his professional career around 1965. He played a guitar solo on his bandleader, father Johnny Otis' 1969 number 29 R&B hit, "Country Girl," issued by Kent Records. His guitar skills were so adept that during his teen years, he would have to wear dark glasses and strategically apply black ink between his nose and mouth to appear old enough to perform in clubs with his father.
Signing with CBS Records, Otis began recording virtuoso guitar-laced R&B/West Coast blues sides. His first LP was Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis on CBS. Johnny Otis produced 1970's Here Comes Shuggie Otis, which was issued on the CBS imprint, Epic Records. Otis' Freedom Flight was issued September 1971 and included the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23," the heart-tugging "Someone's Always Singing," "Ice Cold Daydream," and the bluesy "Me and My Woman," co-written by Otis and Gene Barge (known best for his association with Chess Records, Chuck Willis, and Natalie Cole).
His LP Inspiration Information was issued in October 1974, with Otis playing all of the instruments on jazzy and Latin-tinged R&B numbers. The LP was one of the first releases to showcase the electronic rhythm box then found usually on organs. Besides "Inspiration Information," the LP included the sly "Sparkle City," the sweet ballad "Outtamihead," and the lush, strings-laden "Island Letter," which was the B-side of "Inspiration Information."
George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' cousins who gave Johnson a copy of Freedom Flight. Immediately, he liked "Ice Cold Daydream" and "Strawberry Letter 23." The latter song was played at his brother Louis Johnson's wedding during the wedding march. Louis suggested the song to their producer Quincy Jones for an album track. The track's complex guitar solo was played by Lee Ritenour. The Brothers Johnson version is quite close to Otis' original version.
Later on in the '90s, Otis played with his own band around northern California and toured extensively. His son, Lucky Otis, played bass with Johnny Otis' band. Shuggie Otis is featured in the book Alligator Records Presents West Coast Blues, issued in August 1998 by Milwaukee, WI, publisher Hal Leonard.
OFFICIAL SITE
TO THE TOP
2 Wings of Love 09:17
3 Doin' What's Right 03:55
4 Shuggie's Boogie 07:08
5 Ice Cold Daydream (Bonus) 18:26
Tracks By Otis
Larry Douglas/Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Vocals
James Manning/Bass
Eric Otis/Guitar
Nicky Otis/Drums
Shuggie Otis/Guitar, Vocals
Russ "Swang" Stewart/Keyboards, Vocals
Michael Turre/Flute, Piccolo, Sax (Baritone), Vocals
Albert Wing/Sax (Tenor)
REVIEW/AMG
by Timothy Monger
After releasing 1974's Inspiration/Information, his third and final album, California singer/guitarist Shuggie Otis spent the next three decades slowly drifting into cult status on the strength of his brief solo career and of that album in particular. Largely ignored upon its release, the elegant psych/soul/funk sounds he created (playing almost all of the instruments himself) lived on through record collectors, eventually earning a reputation as a lost classic before receiving its first reissue on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label in 2001. A sort of companion album called Wings of Love appeared as part of a 2013 reissue bundle, but it was mainly a collection of unreleased material and not necessarily a new album. While a follow-up to his acclaimed masterpiece might never arrive, the renewed interest in his work inspired Otis to put together a new band and enjoy a late career resurgence as a live act. Recorded at Brooklyn's Music Hall in April 2013, Live in Williamsburg marks Otis' first ever live album and the renditions he offers up here are loose, spirited, and charming. With a band that features his son Eric on guitar and his brother Nick on drums, it's an engaging live representation of his songs and his abilities as a player and frontman. Peppered with horns and keys, the group plows through career highlights like "Aht Uh Mi Hed," "Island Letter," and the 1977 hit he penned for the Brothers Johnson "Strawberry Letter 23." More than just a long-awaited victory lap, Otis and his band sound like they're having fun and it comes across on this release.
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Ed Hogan
Guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis may not be a household name, but his "Strawberry Letter 23" is in the record collections of millions of households. The Brothers Johnson's cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" has sold over a million copies, peaking at number one R&B and number five pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1977. It was on their LP Right on Time, which went platinum, selling over a million copies, holding the number one R&B spot for three weeks and making it to number 13 pop in spring 1977. Otis wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" for his girlfriend, who used strawberry scented paper for her letters to him. Another Otis favorite, "Inspiration Information," received substantial airplay in Chicago and other markets, charting #56 R&B in early 1975.
Born Johnny Otis, Jr. on November 30, 1953, in Los Angeles, CA, Otis' formidable musical talents appeared at an early age. He began his professional career around 1965. He played a guitar solo on his bandleader, father Johnny Otis' 1969 number 29 R&B hit, "Country Girl," issued by Kent Records. His guitar skills were so adept that during his teen years, he would have to wear dark glasses and strategically apply black ink between his nose and mouth to appear old enough to perform in clubs with his father.
Signing with CBS Records, Otis began recording virtuoso guitar-laced R&B/West Coast blues sides. His first LP was Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis on CBS. Johnny Otis produced 1970's Here Comes Shuggie Otis, which was issued on the CBS imprint, Epic Records. Otis' Freedom Flight was issued September 1971 and included the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23," the heart-tugging "Someone's Always Singing," "Ice Cold Daydream," and the bluesy "Me and My Woman," co-written by Otis and Gene Barge (known best for his association with Chess Records, Chuck Willis, and Natalie Cole).
His LP Inspiration Information was issued in October 1974, with Otis playing all of the instruments on jazzy and Latin-tinged R&B numbers. The LP was one of the first releases to showcase the electronic rhythm box then found usually on organs. Besides "Inspiration Information," the LP included the sly "Sparkle City," the sweet ballad "Outtamihead," and the lush, strings-laden "Island Letter," which was the B-side of "Inspiration Information."
George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' cousins who gave Johnson a copy of Freedom Flight. Immediately, he liked "Ice Cold Daydream" and "Strawberry Letter 23." The latter song was played at his brother Louis Johnson's wedding during the wedding march. Louis suggested the song to their producer Quincy Jones for an album track. The track's complex guitar solo was played by Lee Ritenour. The Brothers Johnson version is quite close to Otis' original version.
Later on in the '90s, Otis played with his own band around northern California and toured extensively. His son, Lucky Otis, played bass with Johnny Otis' band. Shuggie Otis is featured in the book Alligator Records Presents West Coast Blues, issued in August 1998 by Milwaukee, WI, publisher Hal Leonard.
OFFICIAL SITE
TO THE TOP
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