Their popular album Light Up the Night was released in March 1980 and got as high as number 5 on the Billboard 200. It was number 46 on the "Top 100 LP's of 1980" list in Rolling Stone Magazine. The subsequent album, Winners, was self-produced by the brothers and released in July 1981, but was less successful, going only as high as number 48 on the Billboard 200.
Among their most popular songs are "I'll Be Good to You" (Hot 100 #3 in 1976), "Strawberry Letter 23" (Hot 100 # 5 in 1977), "Ain't We Funkin' Now" (1978), and "Stomp!" (Hot 100 #7 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1 in 1980). Their styles include funk, disco, and R&B ballads. The duo split up in 1982.
Guitarist/vocalist George Johnson and bassist/vocalist Louis Johnson formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir while attending school in Los Angeles. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973. In 1976, The Brothers covered the Beatles song, "Hey, Jude", for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World War II.
Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me." Jones took them on a Japanese tour, then produced their début LP, Look Out for Number 1, after they signed with A&M, which was also his label at the time (1976). They scored a number-one R&B and number-three pop hit with "I'll Be Good to You," and enjoyed R&B chart toppers in 1977 and 1980 respectively with "Strawberry Letter 23" and "Stomp!," while sustaining a consistent hit presence via such songs as "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" and "Runnin' for Your Lovin." Jones remade "I'll Be Good to You" in 1989 with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan on his Back on the Block release.
The Brothers earned platinum records for Look Out for Number 1 and Right on Time. Jones produced both of these, along with their third and fourth LPs, Blam and Light Up the Night. The group produced its single "The Real Thing" in 1981. It reached number 11 on the R&B charts, and the Brothers had another hit with "Welcome to the Club" in 1982. They started doing separate ventures; Louis Johnson played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller LP and recorded a gospel album, while George Johnson worked with Steve Arrington. Leon Sylvers produced their mid-'80s return LP Out of Control; it didn't equal their past success, but got them another R&B hit with "You Keep Coming Back" in 1984. They recorded Kickin' in 1988, and co-wrote "Tomorrow" with Siedah Garrett for Jones' Back on the Block in 1989.
The Real Thing
Brothers Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
I've longed to have this chance
With you, I feel romance
It?s all for love and I want it bad
Seeing you is just a turn on
And loving you, I want to hold on
There's a feeling in my heart
That just won't let you go
I?ll hold on, I?ll keep on
(I?m holdin? on)
I?ll keep on, I?ll hold on
(I?m holdin? on)
I?ll hold on, I?ll keep on
I?ll hold on to your love
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
Seeing you is just a turn on
Loving you, I want to hold on
There's a feeling in my heart
That just won't let you go
I?ll hold on, I?ll keep on
(I?m holdin? on)
I?ll keep on, I?ll hold on
(I?m holdin? on)
I?ll hold on, I?ll keep on
I?ll hold on to your love
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
So glad we've got a good thing
You know you make my heart sing
You are the real thing
You know you make my heart sing
So glad we've got a good thing
The Brothers Johnson's song "The Real Thing" is a love song about the joy of finally finding love that is genuine, real and true. The lyrics express gratitude for having a good thing, and the singer acknowledges that their partner brings happiness to their life and makes their heart sing. The phrase "the real thing" refers to the authenticity and genuineness of the love they share. The singer cherishes the opportunity to be with their loved one and feels swept away by the romance of the moment.
The second verse emphasizes the strong feelings of attraction and commitment that the singer has for their partner. They express how seeing their partner turns them on, and they want to hold onto that feeling tightly. They feel a deep sense of love in their heart and are determined to hold on to it no matter what. The repetition of "I'll hold on, I'll keep on" emphasizes the singer's determination to hold on to their love and never let it go.
Overall, "The Real Thing" is a simple but heartfelt love song that celebrates the joy of finding someone who is genuine, true, and who makes one's heart sing.
Line by Line Meaning
So glad we've got a good thing
I am extremely grateful that we have a strong, positive connection
You know you make my heart sing
Your presence brings me joy and happiness
You are the real thing
You are authentic and genuine in everything you do
I've longed to have this chance
I have desired this opportunity for a long time
With you, I feel romance
Being with you makes me feel passionate and affectionate
It's all for love and I want it bad
My motivations are purely based on love and I desire it strongly
Seeing you is just a turn on
Seeing you excites me and turns me on
And loving you, I want to hold on
I want to hold onto the love I have for you and not let go
There's a feeling in my heart
I am experiencing intense emotions
That just won't let you go
Those emotions are so strong that they prevent me from letting go of you
I'll hold on, I'll keep on
I will continue to hold onto our connection and not let go
(I'm holdin' on)
I am committed and persistent in maintaining our relationship
I'll hold on to your love
I will cherish and maintain our love
Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICKY HANLEY, ROBERT DERBYSHIRE, DEBBIE SMITH JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sheila Gandy
The Brothers Johnson always brought it!!!! Always!!!!
Jeffrey Worthen
I swear that the saxophone is the sexiest musical instrument ever created. The sax part in this song jams up this underrated song.
Daniel Dominguez
Listening in 2019. First time hearing this song and it's a jam.
chapmancalvin
Awesome sound quality worthy of this Brothers J groove!
RBsound Holland
RBsound Holland, always in HQsound
Thanks chapmacalvin. Enjoy
luis allendes leyton
Fenomenal sonido, muchas gracias
A. Toniboy Smith
I have not heard this song in years. The good old days.
Almir Almir
Amo essa musica faz parte da minha vida
Lady Luck
Love this song!!!!--2021 still listening
Brian Johnson_The 1 Hitta Quitta
Listen to George’s rhythm chops on this track! Top notch!