Wesley was born in Mobile, Alabama, the son of a high school teacher and big band leader. During the 1960s and 1970s he was a pivotal member of James Brown's bands, playing on many hit recordings including "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud", "Mother Popcorn" and co-writing tunes such as "Hot Pants". His slippery riffs and pungent, precise solos, complementing those of saxophonist Maceo Parker, gave Brown's R&B, soul, and funk tunes their instrumental punch. In the 1970s he also served as band leader and musical director of Brown's band the J.B.'s and did much of the composing and arranging for the group. He left Brown's band in 1975 and spent several years playing with George Clinton's various Parliament/Funkadelic projects, even recording a couple of albums as the leader of a spin-off group, The Horny Horns.
Wesley became a force in jazz in 1978 when he joined the Count Basie Orchestra. He released his first jazz album as a leader, To Someone in 1988. It was followed by New Friends in 1990, Comme Ci Comme Ca in 1991, the live album Swing and Be Funky, and Amalgamation in 1994.
In the early nineties Wesley toured with his colleagues from the James Brown band, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker, as the JB Horns. With the departure of Ellis the band became The Maceo Parker Band. Wesley was featured trombonist with Parker until 1996 when he formed his own band, The Fred Wesley Group.
Wesley's 35-year career includes playing with and arranging for a wide variety of other artist such as Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Randy Crawford, Vanessa Williams, The SOS Band, Cameo and rappers De La Soul, to name a few. Many other artists have sampled his work.
In 2002 Wesley wrote Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman (ISBN 0-8223-2909-3), an autobiography about his life as a sideman. Also in 2002 he recorded an album entitled Cuda Wuda Shuda with a group of jazz musicians calling themselves the Fred Wesley Band.
Among his other projects, Wesley currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Jazz Studies department of the School of Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
House Party
Fred Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like to make the disco but I haven't got a thing to wear
I'm gonna get my stereo and call up everyone
Come on over to my house and let's have some fun
We gonna have a house party...
We gonna have a house party-y-y
We gonna have a house party...
Bring your own bottle or whatever turns you on
You can bring your lady or your other number one
I got all the ladies jammed and a great beat bass to dance
We might disturb the neighbors but I'll take that chance
We gonna have a house party...
We gonna have a house party-y-y
We gonna have a house party...
We gonna have a house party-y-y
Everybody say paaaaarty... (say what/come on) paaarty ... party... party ... party-party... party-party It's not the weekend and I can't stay up too late
I hate to stop the party but I gotta be to work at 8
All of a sudden the house is full of all these pretty chicks
Maybe I'll get lucky, I'll just call in sick
We gonna have a house party...
We gonna have a house party-y-y
We gonna have a house party...
We gonna have a house party-y-y
Party, party it don't stop
Party till your body gets hot
The lyrics to Fred Wesley's song House Party describe a situation familiar to many people who are short on funds but still want to have a good time. The singer of the song is unable to go to the movies or the disco because of lack of money or something to wear. Instead, he decides to invite his friends over to his house for a party, requesting that they bring their own drinks and anything that puts them in the party mood.
The song is an invitation to everyone to come together and enjoy a good time, dancing to a beat that is sure to get everyone moving. Despite the knowledge that they might get into trouble with the neighbors, the singer and his friends continue to dance and have a good time, enjoying the moment despite the knowledge that it can't last forever.
Overall, the lyrics of House Party emphasize the idea of enjoying life while you can, even if it means being a little bit reckless and doing things that might contribute to your responsibilities the next day. It's a celebration of friendship, fun, and the power of music to bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't go to the movies, I ain't got the fare
I don't have enough money to go to the movies.
I like to make the disco but I haven't got a thing to wear
I want to go to the disco, but I don't have any clothes to wear.
I'm gonna get my stereo and call up everyone
I plan to bring out my stereo and invite everyone I know.
Come on over to my house and let's have some fun
Let's have fun together in my house.
We gonna have a house party...
We're going to have a party at my house!
We gonna have a house party-y-y
We're going to have a party at my house!
Bring your own bottle or whatever turns you on
Bring your own drinks or anything else that pleases you.
You can bring your lady or your other number one
You can bring your girlfriend or anyone else you're seeing.
I got all the ladies jammed and a great beat bass to dance
I have many women dancing and a great bass beat to enjoy.
We might disturb the neighbors but I'll take that chance
We might make too much noise and upset the neighbors, but I'm willing to risk it.
Everybody say paaaaarty... (say what/come on) paaarty ... party... party ... party-party... party-party
Let's all say 'party' and keep the party going!
It's not the weekend and I can't stay up too late
It's not the weekend, and I need to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
I hate to stop the party but I gotta be to work at 8
I don't want to end the party, but I have to go to work at 8am.
All of a sudden the house is full of all these pretty chicks
There are suddenly many attractive women in the house.
Maybe I'll get lucky, I'll just call in sick
Perhaps I'll have a chance with one of these women, and I'll take off work.
Party, party it don't stop
Let's keep the party going!
Party till your body gets hot
Dance and party until you get physically tired.
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cglryildirim
A bravo to the recording guy! What a sound! 👌
@Ragnemalm
Agreed. The mixing is perfect!
@jarrodsplaceformusic3973
no one ever thinks of the sound guy but they can make or break a performance. and YES.. this guy nailed it.
@jerryalaniz9040
Amen to that Sir
@J040Z1NH0
this is so well played and recorded, perfect mix
@Crossedkiller
I've been grooving to this song for two weeks non-stop. Band so tight, I love it!
@alefunkmusicayfotografia
I love this funky groove song !!!
@SoerenAU
Exactly!!
@danieleaston8443
The way he goes into talking casually and the beat starts kicking again at 4:35. Gave me goosebumps the first time I listened to it. Pure vibes and raw skill.
@schymusic3359
What a show man! That’s just awesome, vielen Dank für diese wundervolle Musik und Arbeit