Category: Brothers Johnson

The Brothers Johnson – Blam! (1978)

posted by record facts

Blam! is the third album by the Los Angeles-based duo Brothers Johnson. Released in 1978, the album topped the Billboard R&B albums chart and reached number seven on the pop albums chart.

Another group that epitomized sophisti-funk was the Brothers Johnson, whose third album, Blam!!, demonstrates that funk can be sleek and gritty at the same time. This 1978 classic is full of definitive examples of sophisti-funk; if you’re a lover of that style, tracks like “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now” (a major hit), “Mista’ Cool,” “Ride-O-Rocket,” and the title song are required listening. Equally strong are the mellow ballad “It’s You, Girl” and the pop-jazz instrumental “Streetwave,” both of which were well-received by quiet storm enthusiasts. The person the Brothers Johnson can thank for this album being so consistent is producer Quincy Jones, who really knew how to bring out the best in the group. A former jazz musician who shifted his focus to R&B/pop in the 1970s, Jones can be a real perfectionist. It was Jones who, in 1982, produced the best selling album of all time (Michael Jackson‘s Thriller), and he rarely let the Brothers Johnson settle for second best. As a result, Blam!! is excellent from start to finish.

Track listing

  1. “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now” (Alex Weir, Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler, Valerie Johnson) – 5:36
  2. “So Won’t You Stay” (David Foster, Harvey Mason) – 3:20
  3. “Blam!” (Alex Weir, David Foster, George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler) – 4:55
  4. “Rocket Countdown / Blastoff” (William Reichenbach, Jerry Hey) – 0:51
  5. “Ride-O-Rocket” (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 4:43
  6. “Mista’ Cool” (Ed Eckstine, Larry Williams, Louis Johnson) – 3:27
  7. “It’s You Girl” (George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones) – 3:32
  8. “Streetwave” (Alex Weir, Jerry Hey, Louis Johnson, Wayne Vaughn) – 5:09

Personnel

  • George Johnson – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Louis Johnson – bass, guitar, piano, synthesizer, lead and backing vocals
  • Alex Weir – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “It’s You Girl”
  • David Foster – synthesizer, electric piano
  • Larry Carlton – guitar
  • Steve Khan – guitar
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Steve Schaeffer – drums
  • Wayne Vaughn – electric piano, backing vocals
  • Richard Tee – electric piano, acoustic piano
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizer
  • Lawrence Williams – synthesizer, saxophone, flute, alto flute, clarinet
  • Kim Hutchcroft – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, alto flute
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, French horn
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn, slide trumpet, piccolo trumpet
  • William Reichenbach – bass alto trombone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Foreman – timpani
  • Babi Floyd – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rodriquez – backing vocals
  • Frank Floyd – backing vocals
  • Gwen Guthrie – backing vocals
  • Kenny Pickens – backing vocals
  • Patti Austin – backing vocals
  • Raymond Simpson – backing vocals
  • Richard Heath – backing vocals
  • Tom Bahler – backing vocals
  • Yollanda McCullough – backing vocals
  • Vivian Cherry – backing vocals
  • William Eaton – backing vocals
  • Zachary Sanders – backing vocals

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes
Released: 1978
Recordedat: Studio Cherokee Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles; A & R Recording, New York City
Genre: Soul, funk, disco
Length: 31:33

Label – A&M Records