The group was part of the "Brooklyn sound" of the early 1970s, formed from three players of the group King Davis House Rockers. The House Rockers were a local dance band who had released a couple of obscure singles (1967's "We All Make Mistakes Sometimes" on Verve Records, 1972's "Rum Punch") The three players (guitarist Richard Thompson, tenor sax player Bill Risbrook, and alto sax player Carlos Ward) formed Madison Street Express along with bassist Louis Risbrook (later Muslim-monickered Jamal Rasool), percussionist Dennis Rowe, drummer Terrell Wood, and vocalist Barbara Wood. They along with producer Jeff Lane signed with production company Roadshow Records to record writer Billy Nichols "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)." The record was shopped around to major labels until it was accepted at Scepter Records. Scepter suggested the group change its name from Madison Street Express, hence the Brooklyn Transit Express. The single was released in August 1974, and reached the top 10. Lane took the group back into the studios at that point to record a second single and pitch a full album to the label. Scepter agreed to the LP and to Roadshow Records having its own label within Scepter Records.
The first two singles were hits, both number 1 R&B releases and both Top 5 pop singles in the US. The album hit number 1 on the R&B album chart and number 5 on the Pop album chart of the US. These recordings were also hits in the spreading disco culture, "Do It" peaking on club playlists before Billboard started a separate disco chart, but the follow-up single sat for five weeks at number 1. They were certified gold releases.
BT Express released an album per year through 1978. With the third album, Leslie Ming was brought in as drummer and keyboardist Michael Jones was added as keyboardist. Jamal, who had converted to the Muslim faith, gave Jones the name Kashif Saleem, which he used after departing the group, in 1979, to pursue producing ("Mighty M Productions" with Morrie Brown and Paul Laurence Jones) and solo recording ventures. That year songwriter Billy Nichols and drummer Leslie Ming also departed the group. In 1976 Scepter records was experiencing business difficulties that soon ended the company, and BT Express was given a distribution deal with Columbia Records, which, though it gave them greater exposure, resulted in less attention being paid to their production, since they had so many acts to concentrate on. The group did not achieve the level of radio or sales success on Columbia that they had on the more nurturing but by-then defunct Scepter. They stayed with Columbia for five years, with Lane producing through 1978, then Nichols producing their fifth album before he departed for solo work, and Morrie Brown producing the sixth LP and several follow-up tracks. The group switched labels to Coast To Coast Records for the 1982 LP, to Earthtone Records for a later 1982 single, and to manager King Davis' own label in 1985.
Funky Music
B.T. Express Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, hey
Hey, Once I was a boogie singer playin' in a Rock and Roll Band
I never had no problems, yeah
Burnin' down one night stands
And everything around me, yeah
Got to stop to feelin' so low And I decided quickly (Yes I did)
To disco down and check out the show
Yeah, they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die
Oh ya, ya
I tried to understand this
I thought that they were out of their minds
How could I be so foolish (How could I)
To not see I was the one behind
So still I kept on fighting
Well, losing every step of the way
I said, I must go back there (I got to go back)
And check to see if things still the same
Yeah they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die, ya
Till you die
(Gonna play that electified funky music, yeah)
(Hey, wait a minute)
Now first it wasn't easy
Changin' Rock and Roll and minds and things were getting shaky
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
But now it's so much better (it's so much better)
I'm funking out in every way
But I'll never lose that feelin' (no I won't)
Of how I learned my lesson that day
When they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die
Oh' till you die
They shouted play that funky music
(Play that funky music)
Play that funky music
(You Gotta keep on playin' funky music)
Play that funky music
(Play that funky music)
Play that funky music
(Come and take you higher, ya)
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right, ya
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
The lyrics to B.T. Express's song "Funky Music" tell the story of a singer in a rock and roll band who is encouraged to play funky music by a crowd of dancing and singing fans. The singer initially resists the change, thinking that the crowd is out of their minds, but eventually gives in and discovers the joy of playing funk music. The lyrics describe the process of change, how difficult it was at first to adapt to a new style of music, but how ultimately it led to a greater sense of freedom and joy.
The lyrics use the language of rebellion and resistance, with the singer claiming to have "never had no problems" in his rock and roll band, but feeling "so low" that he decides to "disco down" and "check out the show" of the funky music playing nearby. The lyrics also play with racial stereotypes, with the crowd shouting "play that funky music white boy", implying that white musicians shouldn't be able to play funk music, and the singer embracing this label as a way to break free from his past.
Overall, the lyrics to "Funky Music" tell a story of change and transformation, of breaking free from old habits and discovering new joys. The language of rebellion and resistance gives the story a sense of urgency and excitement, while the exploration of racial stereotypes adds a layer of depth and complexity to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, do it now
An energetic call to take action and do something exciting
Hey, Once I was a boogie singer playin' in a Rock and Roll Band
Recalling a past life as a performer who sang and played rock and roll music
I never had no problems, yeah
Claiming a life without worries or troubles until now
Burnin' down one night stands
Describing a lifestyle of playing lots of gigs and being on the road
And everything around me, yeah
Feeling a sense of emptiness or disillusionment with the world
Got to stop to feelin' so low And I decided quickly (Yes I did)
Acknowledging a need to change and make a quick decision
To disco down and check out the show
Deciding to try something new and check out a disco scene
Yeah, they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
Observing people dancing and singing in a lively, funky way
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Being surprised by someone shouting something unexpected
Play that funky music white boy
Being challenged to perform in a new, funky way
Play that funky music right
Emphasizing the importance of playing the music correctly to get the desired effect
Play that funky music white boy
Being reminded of the challenge to play funky music despite not being from that culture originally
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die
Being urged to keep playing funky music with all their energy and passion until they can no longer do so
Till you die
Reiterating the urgency and importance of giving it their all
I tried to understand this
Reflecting on their initial confusion and lack of understanding
I thought that they were out of their minds
Assuming that the people dancing and enjoying the funky music were crazy or irrational
How could I be so foolish (How could I)
Realizing their own mistake and lack of insight
To not see I was the one behind
Discovering their own role in the situation and their own shortcomings
So still I kept on fighting
Persisting in their attempt to understand and learn
Well, losing every step of the way
Admitting that they were struggling and not making much progress
I said, I must go back there (I got to go back)
Recognizing the need to return to the disco scene and try again
And check to see if things still the same
Wanting to confirm that the people and music are the same as before
Yeah they was dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
Observing that the people and the music are still lively and funky
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Remembering the moment when someone shouted the challenge to play funky music
Gonna play that electified funky music, yeah
Announcing their plan to play an electrified version of funky music
(Hey, wait a minute)
Introducing a pause or an interruption in the story
Now first it wasn't easy
Admitting that the transition to funky music was difficult at first
Changin' Rock and Roll and minds and things were getting shaky
Describing the challenge of changing their music style and adapting to a new culture
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
Believing that they had to abandon their rock and roll roots to embrace funky music
But now it's so much better (it's so much better)
Acknowledging that the change was for the better and inspired creativity
I'm funking out in every way
Reveling in the new experience and finding joy and satisfaction in it
But I'll never lose that feelin' (no I won't)
Acknowledging that the feeling of learning and growing will never go away
Of how I learned my lesson that day
Reflecting on the experience of being challenged to play funky music and how it changed their life
They shouted play that funky music
Recalling the challenge that started the journey
(You Gotta keep on playin' funky music)
Encouraging others to keep playing funky music despite the challenges
Come and take you higher, ya
Promising that playing funky music will elevate the listener and performer alike
Play that funky music white boy
Repeating the original challenge as a reminder of its significance
Play that funky music right, ya
Emphasizing the importance of playing the music correctly to achieve the desired effect
Play that funky music white boy
Encouraging the listener to take on the challenge themselves
Play that funky music right
Reminding the listener that the challenge is not only to play funky music, but to play it well
Play that funky music white boy
Final challenge to keep playing funky music despite any obstacles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert W. Parissi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind