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
Mood Indigo
Shuggie Otis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
I always get that mood indigo,
Since my baby said goodbye.
I'm so lonely I could cry.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood indigo,
I could lay me down and die.
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
Shuggie Otis's song "Mood Indigo" is a poignant conversation about the emotional depths of sadness and heartbreak. The lyrics communicate how heart-wrenching it is to experience the feeling of “mood indigo," a state of hopelessness and misery that one can only reach when going through a breakup. The opening line sets the tone for the song, saying that it's impossible to understand the intensity of this feeling unless you've experienced it yourself. The repetition of "no, no, no" emphasizes the depth of the feeling, conveying the message that it is not something to be taken lightly.
As the song continues, the singer's sadness becomes clearer. He talks about how the blues “steals down to his shoes,” and how he feels utterly alone, and no one cares about him. There is a sense of despair and hopelessness in his tone, he is so lonely that he could cry, and his only company is the blues. The line, “I’m just a poor fool that’s bluer than blue can be.” emphasizes the hopelessness the singer feels. The final line, “When I get that mood indigo, I could lay me down and die,” illustrates the narrative's desperation as he feels that he cannot survive the sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness of the feeling.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mood Indigo" serve as a reminder of the power of heartbreak to take us to places of deep despair. The song’s lyrics highlight the importance of people in our lives, reminding us of how necessary it is to have supportive friends and family members when we experience hard times.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You have never truly experienced sadness or despair before.
You ain't never been blue,
You have never felt a deep sense of sorrow in your life.
Till you've had that mood indigo.
Until you feel the specific type of blues referred to as 'mood indigo'.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
The sadness feels like it seeps down to my toes, affecting my whole body.
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
I am so overcome by the blues that all I can do is sit and sigh in resignation, almost conversing with the blues themselves.
I always get that mood indigo,
I am often stricken with this particular brand of sadness.
Since my baby said goodbye.
Ever since my loved one left me, I have been unable to shake this feeling of despair and loneliness.
And in the evenin' when the lights are low,
Especially at night, when everything is dark and still, I am haunted by this mood indigo.
I'm so lonely I could cry.
The isolation and sadness are so overwhelming that I feel like breaking down in tears.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
I am completely alone, with no one to turn to for comfort or support.
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
I am a hopeless case, as sad and lonely as it is possible to be.
When I get that mood indigo,
Whenever that specific type of sadness comes over me,
I could lay me down and die.
I feel so hopeless and worn down that part of me wishes for release from the pain, even if that means death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Barney Bigard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marclynch314
How have I only heard this now???!! Wt absolute f?
@MYOKOMVault
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