For the past 3… Read Full Bio ↴Taken from their web-pages (www.fabulousthunderbirds.com)
For the past 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group's distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up". Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.
"We started as a straight blues band", vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. "We now incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We're an American music band and we're much higher energy than we were before."
In addition to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Kirk Fletcher and Nick Curran on guitar, Jimi Bott on drums, Ronnie James Weber on bass and Gene Taylor on keyboards.
"To be in the T-Birds, you need to understand the different styles of music and different ways of playing," Wilson comments. "You have to be willing to adopt a more contemporary style. The guys we have now are able to do that."
The band will tour extensively. The plan is to record a new studio album followed by a live CD. Wilson is currently writing songs on his own, with band members and other writers.
"I've primarily been a solo songwriter, but I'm looking forward to experimenting with the guys in the band," Wilson says.
The thread throughout the T-Birds career has been the respect the group commanded for its peerless musicianship and devotion to the sounds of blues, R & B and rock 'n roll. In fact, Muddy Waters called Wilson his favorite harmonica player and vocalist. "Muddy Waters was very good to me," Wilson says. "He almost adopted me. I'll never forget him."
For Kim Wilson, the musical journey started in Goleta, California. At 17 he began playing the harmonica. His influences included Little Walter, George "Harmonica" Smith, Lazy Lester and James Cotton. At the same time, Wilson began singing and was deeply impacted by Bobby "Blue" Bland, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rodgers and Muddy Waters. In search of other musicians who shared his love of the blues, Wilson headed to Minneapolis. He stayed there for a year and a half, playing locally, before moving to the burgeoning music scene of Austin, Texas. It was there that he met Jimmie Vaughan and they founded the T-Birds in 1974. The band developed a reputation as a compelling live act and subsequently signed a record deal with CBS/Epic Records.
In 1979, The Fabulous Thunderbirds released their first self-titled album. Primarily blues influenced, it became a cult classic. "Things were wide open back then," Wilson recalls. "There were hundreds of stages where bands could show what they had."
In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock 'n roll and soul influences. The album "T-Bird Rhythm" marked a creative turning point for the group as it collaborated with noted producer Nick Lowe. In 1986, The Fabulous Thunderbirds reached a commercial peak with the album, "Tuff Enuff". The single of the same title as well as the singles "Wrap It Up" and "Look At That", all went top 40. The song, "Tuff Enuff" was featured in the film "Gung Ho" starring Michael Keaton.
For the remainder of the '80s, the band continued to record and tour, and released the album, "Powerful Stuff". Jimmie Vaughn left in 1989 but Wilson kept the group going, incorporating keyboards into the guitar-driven sound. Kim moved back to California in 1996, continuing to cultivate the T-Birds music.
"The thing about the T-Birds is that we can play both blues festival and rock venues," Wilson comments. "We're a diversified band now and everybody's on the same page."
As a side project Wilson formed Kim Wilson's Blues Revue, a traditional blues band. He also owns a blues label, Blue Collar Music, that has released three albums - one by Kim, one by "Big Al" Blake and one by Fred Kaplan. Wilson has also recorded and written with noted session guitarist Danny Kortchmar and drummer Steve Jordan and may tour with them at some point. However his current focus remains The Fabulous Thunderbirds. "This is a great time for this band," he says. "We're looking forward to the future."
Wrap It Up
Fabulous Thunderbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just love your sexy ways now baby
You know our love will never stop now baby
Just put your lovin' in my box now baby
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
I know I got the best thing in town now baby
I've seen all I want to see now baby
Bring your lovin' straight to me now baby
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Well I'm gonna treat you like the queen you are
Bring you sweet things from my candy jar
You've got tricks you ain't never used
Give it, give it to me, it won't be abused
I've been watchin' you for days now baby
I just love your sexy ways now baby
You know our love will never stop now baby
Just put your lovin' in my box now baby
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap wrap
Wrap wrap
Wrap
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it up I'll take it
The lyrics to Fabulous/Arabia's "It" are a declaration of love and desire for someone that the singer has been observing for some time. The opening lines reveal the singer's admiration for the person's sexy ways and express a desire for their love to continue uninterrupted. The repeated phrase "wrap it up, I'll take it" serves as an insistence on the singer's desire for the person's love and implies a sense of ownership over it.
The second verse reveals the singer's sense of satisfaction in having found the person they desire, as they declare that they will no longer "shop around" and that they have found the best thing in town. The third verse takes a somewhat more romantic turn, with the singer promising to treat the object of their desire like a queen and bring them sweet things from their candy jar. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, with the singer once again insisting on their desire for the person's love.
Overall, "It" is a lighthearted and playful song that celebrates the joy and excitement of falling in love. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and desire, and the repetitive chorus emphasizes the singer's persistence in pursuing the object of their affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been watchin' you for days now baby
I have been observing you for quite some time now my dear
I just love your sexy ways now baby
I am enamored with your alluring demeanor, my sweet
You know our love will never stop now baby
Our affection shall endure indefinitely, you know it well
Just put your lovin' in my box now baby
Gift me your tenderness by granting it to me
Wrap it up I'll take it
Please package it, I shall accept it gladly
Well no more will I shop around now baby
I shall no longer seek for better elsewhere, my dear
I know I got the best thing in town now baby
I am aware that I possess the finest in the city, sweetheart
I've seen all I want to see now baby
I have witnessed all that I need, my darling
Bring your lovin' straight to me now baby
Please bring me all of your affection directly
Well I'm gonna treat you like the queen you are
I shall treat you like royalty, as you deserve
Bring you sweet things from my candy jar
I shall give you delightful presents from my personal collection
You've got tricks you ain't never used
You possess abilities that you have never displayed
Give it, give it to me, it won't be abused
Please demonstrate them to me, I shall not misuse them
Wrap wrap
Wrap it up repeatedly
Wrap
Wrap it neatly and securely
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it well and offer it, I shall receive it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it nicely and present it, I shall accept it
Wrap it up I'll take it
Wrap it carefully and submit it, I shall take it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PORTER, ISAAC HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pink torpedo
Tough enough is an awesome song...but why doesn’t this song get the due respect? This is my favorite thunderbirds song. Definitely underrated! Who is with me?!?!?
Philip R.
Absolutely love it!
briantravelman
I agree. This one rocks WAY harder
slapitty wapitty
Yeah, THIS is THEE T-birds song. That other one just got used in a movie is all ;-)
Jason Haliwell
This was a Fabulous Thunderbird song for sure!!
mmowoa
This is a (really nice, btw) Sam & Dave cover. Tuff Enuff is an original song by Kim Wilson. Royalities issues, i think
Josh Conn
I never get tired of this song. They just nailed it with this one.
Ken Landon
They sure did!
t spez
I could never understand why this song wasn't a bigger hit.
Spider Reed
Because its too repetitious, same words basically over and over, that's why its not even 3 minutes long.good tune though.