The Brothers Johnson* – Look Out For #1

Solid play from front to back. Side two leads with a stellar Come Together and grooves into Land of Ladies with soulful keys and percussion tones.

Album Revolution #1:

"George and Louis Johnson", A/K/A, "The Brothers Johnson".....

These "LA" KATS, had done PLENTY of dues paying in the early '70's...They got their LICKS in playing for GREAT artists like, "Bobby Womack" and "Billy Preston"...But what REALLY got their feet wet was working with the ONE and ONLY, "Quincy Jones", helping him reshape his sound like on FANTASTIC ts like, "Is It Love That We're Missin'", from "Q's" "Summer Madness" LP.....

With that, "Q" CONVINCED "A&M Records" Owners, "Herb Alpert" and "Jerry Moss" to sign the "Brothers"...With that on tap, and with "Quincy" in the Producers chair, the "Brothers" Debut, "Look Out For #1" was Released!!!!

This Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel album was the PERFECT mix of "Funk" and "Smooth Soul & R&B"...In fact, along with groups like "Rufus featuring Chaka Khan" (who was also HOT at the time), "The Brothers Johnson" unknowingly ushered in the term, "Sophisticated-Funk"....

With ALLL that said, the album starts with that "Sophisticated-Funk" Vibe in the form of, "I'll Be Good To You"...This was an INSTANT CLASSIC!!!!! "R&B" Radio ATE THIS UP, and the "Rock & POP" stations wasn't SCARED of it either!!!!!! The "Brothers" didn't have the best Vocals, but in those times, if you had a TERRIFIC sound, it DIDN'T MATTER!!!!! Plus, "Q" brought about AS MANY friends to help out in that department!!!!

"Thunder Thumbs And Lightnin' Licks" was just STRAIGHT UP FUNKY!!!!! Between "Louis's" "Thumbs", "George's" Licks, and "Don Lewis" Dancin' Keyboards, you can't help but not have your mind BLOWN!!!! It also had TERRIFIC Horns and Percussions...An "Isaac D. Body Sway" t!!!!!!

The first single, the INSTANT FUNK CLASSIC, "Get The Funk Out Ma Face", IS JUST IT!!!!! This t will just give you that "Funk Stink Face"!!!!! There was nothing "Sophisticated" about this t, IT JUST FUNKED!!!!! In fact, I feel like the "Brothers" wanted to use the "Other F Word", but decided to behave themselves (LOL!!!)!!!!! I also have the almost 6 minute Version to this on 45...Man, I wished it was on HERE!!!!!!

"Tomorrow" though...BOMB!!!!!!

This "Strollin' Down The Street" with a "Whistle" jam was also just IT!!!!! Now, when you talk about "Sophisticated-Funk", this is the PERFECT definition of it....If you are also having a double take, then Yes!!!!!, you are CORRECT!!! "Quincy" Re-Recorded this for his "Back On The Block" album in 1989, Revamping it as, "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)", complete with UPLIFTING Lyrics, and Introduction a young "Tevin Campbell" to the seen....It was also Sampled a GAZILLION times!!!! Most noted in my reflection, was "Far From Yours", from "O.C's" album "Jewelz", that came out in 1997....A total "Isaac D. Body Sway" MASTERPIECE!!!!!

"Free And Single" continued the good "Funky Vibes"....This one makes me LAUGH though, because the "Brothers" sounds VERY SERIOUS about being "Free And Single", even saying, "I Might Change/Rearrange On You"....WOW, just sayin'....

The "Brothers" Version of "The Beatles" Classic, "Come Together" is VERY INTERESTING!!!!! Instead of a "Hard Rock" sound, we have a VERY Subtle Funky t...It also has sort of a "Western" backdrop, thanks to "Toots Thielemans" on Harmonica.....

I have to it that it took 40 years for me to appreciate "Land Of Ladies"....When I first heard it, I thought it was SUPER CORKY!!!!! But getting Older (and growing), I have learned how to appreciate the "Sophisticated-Funk" Fusion t...The "Louis Bass" Backdrop, along with those Mystical keyboards, gives off that Daydream Vibe, making you believe, in your mind, that you are in that very "Land Of Ladies"....The power of '70's Music!!!!!

"Dancin' And Prancin'" kind of puts me in the mind space of a "Sly Stone" t, as if "Q" and the "Brothers" just got through listening to "Sly's", "High On You" album....The Bass/Guitar/Keyboard "Sophisticated-Funk" will have you on the "Disco Dance Floor", just like the People on the Record....

The album ends with the Thought Provoking, "The Devil"....This "Evil Funk" Groove, may make you Sway, but the "Brothers" Warning Lyrics will also make you think as well!!!!!

Well..."The Brothers Johnson" has ARRIVED!!!!

"Quincy Jones" KNEW this would happen too!!!!! His Golden Ear NEVER FAILED!!!!

This album BLEW the ROOF OFF for the "Brothers"....Going Platinum the 1st go round (ESPECIALLY back then) was RARE!!!! But having "Q" helping the "Brothers" shape their sound was EVERYTHING to them!!!! This album had a PERMANATE place in EVERY House I visited, and it was PLAYED a LOT too!!!!!

Well, with that said, "The Brothers Johnson", "Look Out For #1" started something SPECIAL for us as Music Fans...And it was going to GET BETTER!!!!!!

Great stuff, theres funk, jazz, a well balanced album. Plus a really good cover of a Beatles song.

"Land of Ladies is such a sexy and underrated song.... man!

Lee Ritenour also plays A1. Muted riffs, played with mutron biphase, are his play.

Without doubt, one of the best funk albums about. Guided by Quincy Jones, and not trying to be the next P-Funk on the block, this sophisticated album creates a unique atmosphere, from its grooves like "Get The Funk Out Ma Face", "I'll Be Good To You" and "Free And Single", to its atmospheric enigmas like "Thunder Thumbs And Lightnin' Licks", "Tomorrow" and "Land Of Ladies".

I would say this album is my favourite album of all time. An amazing and inspiring listen.