The Brothers Johnson's version of his composition "Strawberry Letter 23" reached #1 in the Billboard rhythm and blues chart and #5 in the Billboard pop chart in 1977.
Shuggie's albums include: "Here Comes Shuggie Otis", "Freedom Flight" and "Inspiration Information".
In 2001 David Byrne rereleased the album "Inspiration Information" on Luaka Bop.
(2) Guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis may not be a household name, but his "Strawberry Letter 23" is in the record collections of millions of households. The Brothers Johnson's cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" has sold over a million copies, peaking at number one R&B and number five pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1977. It was on their LP Right on Time, which went platinum, selling over a million copies, holding the number one R&B spot for three weeks and making it to number 13 pop in spring 1977. Otis wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" for his girlfriend, who used strawberry scented paper for her letters to him. Another Otis favorite, "Inspiration Information," received substantial airplay in Chicago and other markets, charting #56 R&B in early 1975.
Born Johnny Otis, Jr. on November 30, 1953, in Los Angeles, CA, Otis' formidable musical talents appeared at an early age. He began his professional career around 1965. He played a guitar solo on his bandleader, father Johnny Otis' 1969 number 29 R&B hit, "Country Girl," issued by Kent Records. His guitar skills were so adept that during his teen years, he would have to wear dark glasses and strategically apply black ink between his nose and mouth to appear old enough to perform in clubs with his father.
Signing with CBS Records, Otis began recording virtuoso guitar-laced R&B/West Coast blues sides. His first LP was Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis on CBS. Johnny Otis produced 1970's Here Comes Shuggie Otis, which was issued on the CBS imprint, Epic Records. Otis' Freedom Flight was issued September 1971 and included the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23," the heart-tugging "Someone's Always Singing," "Ice Cold Daydream," and the bluesy "Me and My Woman," co-written by Otis and Gene Barge (known best for his association with Chess Records, Chuck Willis, and Natalie Cole).
His LP Inspiration Information was issued in October 1974, with Otis playing all of the instruments on jazzy and Latin-tinged R&B numbers. The LP was one of the first releases to showcase the electronic rhythm box then found usually on organs. Besides "Inspiration Information," the LP included the sly "Sparkle City," the sweet ballad "Outtamihead," and the lush, strings-laden "Island Letter," which was the B-side of "Inspiration Information."
George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' cousins who gave Johnson a copy of Freedom Flight. Immediately, he liked "Ice Cold Daydream" and "Strawberry Letter 23." The latter song was played at his brother Louis Johnson's wedding during the wedding march. Louis suggested the song to their producer Quincy Jones for an album track. The track's complex guitar solo was played by Lee Ritenour. The Brothers Johnson version is quite close to Otis' original version.
Later on in the '90s, Otis played with his own band around northern California and toured extensively. His son, Lucky Otis, played bass with Johnny Otis' band. Shuggie Otis is featured in the book Alligator Records Presents West Coast Blues, issued in August 1998 by Milwaukee, WI, publisher Hal Leonard. ~ Ed Hogan, Rovi
Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
Shuggie Otis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickity-clack
And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack
And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac
So, take me right back to the track, Jack!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Take me right back to the track, Jack!
You reach your destination, but alas and alack!
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You take your morning paper from the top of the stack
And read the situation from the front to the back
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
So put it right back in the rack, Jack!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Take me right back to the track, Jack!
Gonna settle down by the railroad track
Live the life of Riley in the beaten-down shack
So when I hear a whistle I can peek through the crack
And watch the train a-rolling when it's balling the jack
I just love the rhythm of the clickity clack
So, take me right back to the track, Jack!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
Take me right back to the track, Jack!
Take me right back to the track, Jack!
The lyrics to Shuggie Otis's song Choo Choo Ch'Boogie are all about the singer's love for the railroad and the feeling of freedom that comes with it. The song paints a picture of a man who is tired of the mundane transportation he has been using, and he wants to go back to the train. He loves the rhythm of the clickety-clack and the lonesome whistle that signals the train's arrival. The singer wants to be around democratic fellows named Mac, and that's where he feels the most alive. The song's actual content is a lot more complex than just wanting to take a train ride; it's about the search for simplicity in life and how the railroad symbolizes that.
Line by Line Meaning
Heading for the station with a pack on my back
I am going to the station with a backpack as I am tired of commuting in taxis.
I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack
I am tired of traveling in taxis and want to ride a train instead.
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickity-clack
I love the sound of train tracks as the train moves along them.
And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack
I love to listen to the sound of the train whistle and watch the steam from the train's smokestack.
And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac
I enjoy the company of people who are easy to get along with, like people whose name is Mac.
So, take me right back to the track, Jack!
I want to go back to the train tracks, so take me there, Jack.
You reach your destination, but alas and alack!
You may have reached your destination, but unfortunately, it may not have been what you expected.
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You need some sort of compensation or reward to get back to where you were.
You take your morning paper from the top of the stack
You take your newspaper from the top of the pile each morning.
And read the situation from the front to the back
You read the whole newspaper to keep up with current events.
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
The only available job requires someone with a skill or talent to do it properly.
So put it right back in the rack, Jack!
Since you don't have the required skill set, put the job aside and move on, Jack.
Gonna settle down by the railroad track
I plan to live close to the train tracks.
Live the life of Riley in the beaten-down shack
I plan to live a simple and carefree life in a run-down shelter.
So when I hear a whistle I can peek through the crack
When I hear the train whistle, I can look through the crack and watch the train go by.
And watch the train a-rolling when it's balling the jack
And watch the train move quickly down the tracks when it's going as fast as possible.
I just love the rhythm of the clickity clack
I love the sound of the train tracks as the train moves along them.
So, take me right back to the track, Jack!
I want to go back to the train tracks, so take me there, Jack.
Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!
This is a refrain that is exciting and contributes to the rhythm of the song.
Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!
This is another refrain that is exciting and contributes to the rhythm of the song.
Take me right back to the track, Jack!
This is a recurring line indicating that the singer wants to go back to the train tracks.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENVER DARLING, MILTON GABLER, VAUGHN HORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind