The Brothers Johnson – Look Out For #1 – Inner sleeve
Introduction
In 1976, The Brothers Johnson debuted with their first album Look Out For #1. It was the first of four consecutive platinum-certified albums filled with funk, soul, disco and jazz. A short story about super talents, top music and a lightning-fast career.
The Brothers Johnson
Louis “Thunder Thumbs” (bass) and George “Lightnin’ Licks” (guitar) Johnson started playing music at an early age. They quickly built an impressive reputation and began earning their living as musicians. They were frequently asked to appear together for various assignments, including work for Bobby Womack, The Supremes, and Billy Preston. It did not take long before Quincy Jones had them on his radar. He asked them to play on his 1975 album Mellow Madness, on which they co-wrote no fewer than four songs.
After touring assignments and session work, Quincy Jones decided to prepare them to continue on their own (and under their own name). He helped them secure a record deal with A&M, the label to which Jones himself was also signed.
The Brothers Johnson – Look Out For #1
Look Out For #1
Building on their work on Jones’ Mellow Madness, the Johnson brothers entered the studio and emerged as the act The Brothers Johnson. Their debut album was produced by Quincy Jones (who also co-wrote one of the songs).
The collection of funk, soul and ballads was released at just the right moment. The album was a success and produced two (modest) hits, laying the foundation for a shorter but successful run of albums and singles.
Liner notes
The album contained liner notes that introduced the audience to the world and music of The Brothers Johnson. These are included below.
In February of 1975 I was in Japan handling pre-tour chores for Quincy Jones and his eighteen-piece band, when I received a call at six o’clock in the morning. In the clutterd transatlantic distance I heard an ecstatic Quincy telling me about two brothers he had found for the band named George and Louis Johnson. As “Q” put it, “these are the two baddest cats I have ever heard.” Quincy had just begun to record his hit album “Mellow Madness,” when the Johnsons arrived on the scene, an arrival that proved to be a welcome one, for they co-wrote four of the album’s ten songs.
Quincy: “When they walked into the studio and started to play I could not believe my ears. Louis, the younger of the two is 20. He picked up the bass and started playing and in a matter of ten seconds the entire studio was silent, with all eyes on him. His virtuosity is incredible. Then George, 22, picked up his guitar and fell in, rocking the walls of The Rceord Plant with intensity. They told me that they also had some songs for me to hear. Four of those songs, ‘Is It Love That We’re Missin’,’ ‘Listen (What It Is)’, ‘Tryin To Find Out About You,’ and ‘Just A Little Taste Of Me’, appear on ‘Mellow Madness.'”
Prior to joining Quincy’s musical family the Brothers toured the States for a year as sidemen with Billy Preston, leaving to pursue their own musical directions. With Quincy the Brothers toured the U.S. and Japan exciting audiences with their own brand of “futuristic funk.” Louis has rapidly become one of the most sought-after bass players in the country, and in a matter of seven months he has appeared on albums by Grover Washington, Jr. “Feel So Good,” Herbie Hancock “Man-Child,” (he co-authored “The Traitor” on that album), Bill Withers “Making Music,” Bobby Womack “Safety Zone,” as well as sessions for Bob James, George Duke, Gabor Szabo. Louis’s unqiue style of playing had earned him the nickname “Thunder Thumbs,” while George’s speedy guitar style had led him to be dubbed “Lightnin’ Licks.” Appropriately, one of the songs on this, their first album is titled after their aliases.
“Look Out For #1” is a portrait of two incredibly talented young musicians/composers/vocalists whose burning proficiency knows no boundaries, and whose lilting mellowness can soothe the inner sanctums of your soul. The tunes range from the churning funk of “Free And Single,” “The Devil,” “Thunder Tumbs And Lightnin’ Licks,” and “Get The Funk Out Ma Face,” to the mesmerizing mellownes of “Tomorrow,” “Land Of Ladies” and “I’ll Be Good To You.” Their re-working the classic Beatles tune “Come Together” is a welcome and pleasant surprise highlighted by a screaming guitar solo by George.
Ably assisted by the production and arranging expertise of Quincy Jones, The Brothers Johnson first album will indeed “Get The Funk Out Your Face” and put it in your dancin’ shoes, your sleazy soul, and your loose booty. As The Brothers Johnson so aptly put it: “Thunder Thumbs And Lightnin’ Licks gonna get to your soul in ’76!!!” Beware…
Liner notes Look Out For #1, Edward Eckstine
The Brothers Johnson – Look Out For #1 – Reclame
The American pressing of the debut single I’ll Be Good To You contains two additional quotes.
These two brothers are the ‘Dynamic Duo of 1976.’ Louis plays some of the baddest, funkiest bass I have ever heard and George’s picking and singing cooks too. Check them out!!!
Herbie HancockGeorge and Louis Johnson are the real thing. Incredible musicians, composers, vocalists, and two of my best friends. If you aren’t hip to them, you really ought to “Look Out For #1.”
Bill WithersLiner notes I’ll Be Good To You single
Review
A great album that serves as a perfect introduction to The Brothers Johnson, who fit perfectly within the music of the second half of the 1970s. Funk, soul, disco and a touch of jazz, played by virtuoso musicians. Quincy Jones’ production is, like all “Q” productions, flawless, though also somewhat safe and predictable. Fortunately, the music of The Brothers Johnson provides enough excitement.
The Brothers Johnson – Look Out For #1 – Singles
Songs
All songs written by George and Louis Johnson, unless stated otherwise.
- I’ll Be Good To You (George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Sonora Sam)
- Thunder Thumbs And Lightnin’ Licks (Dave Grusin, George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Paul Riser)
- Get the Funk Out Ma Face (George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones)
- Tomorrow
- Free And Single
- Come Together (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
- Land Of Ladies
- Dancin’ And Prancin’
- The Devil
The Brothers Johnson – Look Out For #1 – Back cover photo
Musicians
- George Johnson – guitar, vocals, backing vocals
- Louis Johnson – bass, guitar, vocals, backing vocals
- Dave Grusin – piano, synthesizer
- Don Lewis – keyboards
- Harvey Mason – drums, percussion
- Ian Underwood – synthesizer
- Toots Thielemans – harmonica
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion
- Billy Cobham – timbales
- Ernie Watts, Sahib Shihab, Terry Harrington – saxophone, flute
- Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley – trumpet
- Glenn Ferris – trombone
- Jesse Kirkland, Jim Gilstrap, Pepper Swinson, Syreeta Wright – backing vocals
- Lee Ritenour – guitar on Land Of Ladies
The Brothers Johnson – Right On Time, Blam!! & Light Up The Night
After Look Out For #1
The combination of The Brothers Johnson and Quincy Jones remained intact for the next three albums:
- Right On Time (May 10, 1977)
- Blam!! (August 4, 1978)
- Light Up The Night (April 4, 1980)
The albums were all successful and, like the debut, were certified platinum in the US. The albums contained modest to major hits such as Strawberry Letter 23, Ain’t We Funkin’ Now and especially Stomp!. Stomp!, essentially a pure disco single, helped The Brothers Johnson break through outside the US as well.
After this, The Brothers Johnson ended their working relationship with Quincy Jones and produced the follow-up Winners themselves. It was not a success, after which they disbanded in 1982. By that time, the brothers were working more on other projects than on their own music. Louis Johnson in particular became a highly sought-after session musician and played on a number of major albums, including Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, Thriller and Dangerous. He also contributed to albums by artists such as Stanley Clarke, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Björk, Donna Summer, The Jacksons, Karen Carpenter, Natalie Cole, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Rufus, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder and many others. A very impressive list.
The Brothers Johnson – 1976 promo
The Brothers Johnson briefly reunited in 1984 and released the unsuccessful Out Of Control. They repeated this in 1988 with Kickin’, which was even less successful. After solo albums and occasional one-off concerts, the brothers reunited again in 2002 for an extensive tour across the US. On May 21, 2015, Louis Johnson passed away at the age of 60.
In closing
What do you think of The Brothers Johnson and of Look Out For #1 in particular? Let us know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: The Brothers Johnson. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
