This is a cover of the original by Shuggie Otis that was on his debut album in 1971. Shuggie's father was the famous bandleader, Johnny Otis, whose most famous song was "Willie and the hand Jive."
The Brothers Johnson were one of the best of that time period. I still have a 12 inch long-play mix of this song in strawberry colored vinyl. I've had it for more than 45 years. Stomp ! and I'll Be Good To You are two their other great hits.
These two brothers used to have everybody jamming back in the day...They have outstanding songs and music...Their nicknames were " Thunder Thumbs " and " Lightning Licks ".
... the song is about a couple exchanging love letters in music form. The singer is creating his letter, "Strawberry Letter 23" in response to the last letter he received, which was "Strawberry Letter 22", which he mentioned in the song.
Listened to this song in 1972 Chevy Caprice on 8 track tape then cassette, jogged to it on a Walkman in the 80s, had it on CD in 90s, had it on IPOD and now on my IPhone playlist! Never gets old!
While Deployed overseas during the 70's we had the entire album in constant rotation in our barracks!! Ahhh the memories, sippin & groovin!! Shout out to the ole 86th Tactical Fighter Wing & Ktown!! 🇺🇲hooah!!👌
I'm pretty certain that those series of 8 repeating notes which sound like bells were generated on a polyphonic synthesizer, and if you listen carefully it also sounds like a calliope is softly playing underneath it at the very beginning of the song. This tune brings back fun teen memories (I graduated high school in '77 just as it was released), and is wonderfully produced by Quincy Jones, with guitar solo by the legendary Lee Ritenour. Great reaction Asia & BJ, I wish you had a time machine so you could experience all of that great '70s music and craziness in person!
OMG! This is a flashback for me! I used to work with their mother. She and I worked in a Pacific Bell phone center store in Sacramento, CA back in the early '80s. She always made sure to have their album added in with one of the phone displays. They both came in to visit one day. This is such nostalgia. It's so cool to see you do a reaction!
I always wondered why it's called "Strawberry Letter 23" and all through the song they're singing about Strawberry Letter 22!? This song has been sampled a lot
Lol... I never knew either but he had received the 22nd love letter sprayed with strawberry perfume and was waiting on the next one which was 23❤❤❤ Peace 😊 I just found that out lol
New sub here! The bassman is Louis Johnson (R.I.P.). He's all over MJ's Off The Wall & Thrillier albums. Check out "Get On The Floor", from MJ's Off The Wall and he'll slay the funkosaurus again!
This was the jam back in college. There's a CZcams video of this song performed on Soul Train. Amazing to see him effortlessly playing that bass track.
Quentin Tarantino loves this song so much, he's used it in two movies - in PULP FICTION, you briefly hear it playing from one of the apartments as Jules and Vincent come to seize the briefcase, and it shows up again more prominently in JACKIE BROWN.
In 1977 I was a junior in HS. That year our varsity football team played our preseason scrimmage in a town 120 miles away. The drive took about 2 1\2 hours each way since it was county and state roads all the way. No interstates. One of our wide receivers brought along a boom box and played this album continuously on the way there and on the way back. The scrimmage started at 7pm and took about 2 hours. After showering and the drive back, we didn't pull into our school until after midnight. We had left the school at about 3:30 that afternoon. A nine hour adventure with 5 hours riding on the bus. Upon the bus stopping next to our gym and locker rooms our head coach stood up and said one sentence: "Music is banned on the team bus from now on.". Good song but not the whole album for 5 freaking hours.
You could have heard it this music very easily because it's been sampled in 99 songs, mostly rap songs. These two guys were studio musicians for Quincy Jones, and he produced this album for them along with Rod Temperton who wrote or co-wrote a lot of the songs. He's the same guy that wrote some of Michael Jackson's hits from "Off the Wall" and "Thriller". The "tinkling" sound you hear is supposed to sound like a music box. i'm sure it was sampled on a keyboard.
This reminds me of my childhood during the summers in NYC. I play this song regularly since the 70s. The Brothers Johnson are legends. You should definitely check out their other music, like Stomp and I’ll Be Good To You.
I consider myself, like so many other's here mention in their comments, blessed to have grown up having this music as a part of my childhood! This was a magical time for music as they just don't make 'em like this anymore. These guys, and Louis Johnson on bass (reference the song STOMP) - nothing like it! I played drums in marching band back in the day, quadratoms when they first came on the scene and we played some of these hit songs at halftime - awesome for high school band! In regard to the 'Xylophone', one we could not play, and one I haven't heard another reaction channel do yet is kind of a one hit wonder, but even as good as the song was, when the xylophone solo comes up, WOW! - the group was Starbuck, the song: "MOONLIGHT, FEELS RIGHT".
70's, late 70's helped us transition forward, mix of disco and soul, and land in the 80's. I love every period of music... well, not really happy with music in the last 30 years --what happened??? You are appreciated Asia and BJ
I have always loved this song, but I hadn't heard it for years, and then I was watching Jackie Brown, and it was on that; now I listen to it all the time, along with Street Life-Randy Crawford, which was also in Jackie Brown.
Brothers Johnson (international) breaktrough was Blam these guys made an AMAZING new style in music starting in 1975. Absolutely great pieces of art, so glad and pleased to have their CD's. Do they have more? Oh yes, was Quincy involved yes he was.
BJ you’re right on with the description of the way we dressed. Everything had to coordinate. Down to the gradual fade sunglasses. I graduated class of 76! 😎This song was produced by Quincy Jones. And yes Louis Johnson was known as Thunder Thumbs!😎
One of my favorite all-time songs. But they never actually say Strawberry Letter "23"! And give some credit to the production, mix and engineering as well. It sounded so good on my Sears AM/FM cassette player and Jenson speakers! Man, I'm old!
Yes! These guys are my soundtrack for the years 2000-2002. I heard Stomp! once and was hooked. Their cousin Alex Weir is the rhythm guitar player and was in the movie Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense.
I wish you would have featured the video 📷📸 of this song! It is pure 🚒🔥 fire! You can see both 😅😜 brothers and some very talented and entertaining ☺️😊 dancers of both 😅 genders! This gem was produced by none other than Quincy Jones! Later 🐈😺 cats! Oh yeah, the video was filmed in a 🐠🍹 tropical setting! It was 😃👍 groovy, far out and bitching all at the same time! See 🙈 ya!
Those are charm bells instrument, they are vertical long charm cylinder like you see hanging down from doors probably 12 of them, played with a drum like stick with a soft ball tip, officially called tubular bell set
I like both the original and this one. One of them was dating Shuggie Otis' sister and asked him if they could use the song. I think they made thiscover their own. This song came out in a Nike commercial in the 90s and also in "Jackie Brown" when Samuel L. Jackson puts Chris Tucker in the trunk of his car just to drive him out to an empty lot and shhot him. One of the greatest songs. Can you guys react to "I Had A Choice" by Sun?
*_'A present, from you - Strawberry letter 22'_* one of the most beautiful poetic lines ever. I love how the title of the song is inferred from this line, but never used in the song
Haha, ye ah, BJ I would have loved to see you and Asia back in the day wearing your bell-bottoms and huge afros and the colorful polyester shirts/blouses. It WAS a vibe. Those days wer so so fun. If only we had cell phones to record our antics and the club scenes. It was a GREAT GREAT TIME to be alive!
When this 45 came out, the envelope the record came in was scented with strawberries! You should see these two guys on live video. "Stomp" is another gr8 one of theirs and also "I'll be Good to You". Both of them excellent guitar players. RIP Louis. x
Shout out to Quincy Jones for discovering the Johnson Brothers after hearing them work as teenage session players in Los Angeles. He produced their first four albums and had them play on Michael Jackson's " Off the wall and Thriller albums".
Love me some Brothers Johnson. Smoothe. Funky. Just always a groove. Nice song to dance to. 4 No Blondes - What's Up. Edgar Winter - Frankenstein - Live video. Crazy talent. Sinatra - That's Life - Fun song. Steely Dan - Peg, Babylon Sisters, Kid Charlemagne, Aja, FM (No Static), I got the News, Show Biz Kids, Fire in the Whole.
Writer Shuggie Otis mentioned this song was about love letters being mailed to that special person...each letter was written on Strawberry smelling paper. The 23rd letter was a marriage proposal.
This song came out in March of 1977 and I was 11 and I remember this song was huge with the stoners. I can’t hear this song without smelling people smoking weed.
Seen these guys in cleveland ohio sitting right up front me and my wife 1980 but was made in the 70s what a great band but there was so much great music and it was so much new stuff in a week it was hard to keep up don't forget rock and roll
I recognized this one from the radio, nice classic. I think some artists and bands covered/renditioned it at some point. I think they sampled it as well.
You got the tone and feel exact BJ. Yup, that was me. Long hair, huge bell-bottom pants, polyester, print shirt with wide lapels and platform shoes. A pint of Jack in my back pocket - nickel bag in my shirt pocket, and I was good to go! Thanks for the memory! 😁😁😁😁 Oh, shout out to the original artist - Shuggie Otis!
This song is featured in Jackie Brown- right after Ordell puts Beaumont in the trunk… y’all need to do a movie reaction to Jackie Brown if you have not yet!!! ✌️❤
I couldn't remember the name of the song until I watch Jackie Brown remake with Samuel Jackson. Every time i hear this I think of Beaumont Chris Tucker role
The 70's will never be matched for musical quality across all genres.
No other decade had that much quality. It's unmatched. I'm just glad I'm old enough to have experienced it.
EVAH!!!!
Louis Johnson was one of the greatest slap bassist ever. Stomp and Get The Funk Outta My Face highlight that talent.
Both of those songs were staples for me when I was dee'jaying way back then.
Only one, of two of the best slappers back in the day. Of course the other being Larry Graham!
@@justjack0715 oh yeah!
Love get the funk outta my face!
"THUNDER THUMBS!!!🎸
Imagine hearing this on the AM radio when it first came out. Wow so smooth.
YES! But you have to explain to these youngins AM radio😊
I did!
AM radio??????? Never heard on AM radio, heard it on the FM all the time when it 1st came out
Asia & BJ, you'll love their "I'll Be Good to You"!!
Definitely one of my all-time faves!
I definitely second that emotion, it was one of the most underrated songs of its time.
"Stomp" is another great bass line jam of theirs!
You've probably heard parts of this song in a lot of todays music. And yes, the 70's were a great time to be alive 😊
It was in the movie 'Jackie Brown' too.
The same with the 80's were a great time as well 😊
Louis Johnson on Bass is LEGENDARY
This is a cover of the original by Shuggie Otis that was on his debut album in 1971. Shuggie's father was the famous bandleader, Johnny Otis, whose most famous song was "Willie and the hand Jive."
The Brothers Johnson were one of the best of that time period. I still have a 12 inch long-play mix of this song in strawberry colored vinyl. I've had it for more than 45 years. Stomp ! and I'll Be Good To You are two their other great hits.
So glad to hear someone else has this Strawberry vinyl!!! Having it too it is one of my most treasured records!!!!!
These two brothers used to have everybody jamming back in the day...They have outstanding songs and music...Their nicknames were " Thunder Thumbs " and " Lightning Licks ".
One of my absolute favorite songs of that era! It’s been sampled 100 times.
... the song is about a couple exchanging love letters in music form. The singer is creating his letter, "Strawberry Letter 23" in response to the last letter he received, which was "Strawberry Letter 22", which he mentioned in the song.
Listened to this song in 1972 Chevy Caprice on 8 track tape then cassette, jogged to it on a Walkman in the 80s, had it on CD in 90s, had it on IPOD and now on my IPhone playlist! Never gets old!
This was used in Jackie Brown.
Here's a wild side thing- Dorothy Hamill skated to that exact song in the Ice Capades 1977! she won a gold medal 1976 olympics
I got my license in1977 - this was on the radio the first time I drove by myself . funny the the things we think of
While Deployed overseas during the 70's we had the entire album in constant rotation in our barracks!! Ahhh the memories, sippin & groovin!! Shout out to the ole 86th Tactical Fighter Wing & Ktown!! 🇺🇲hooah!!👌
Oh man, love this track! Makes me pumped for your Jackie Brown reaction!
My fave Tarantino, Pam Grier, Sam Jackson film! Please react!
Great film! One of my faves from Tarentino.
“Who is this?”Oh that’s Beaumont “
This song was used to great effect in Tarantino’s film masterpiece Jackie Brown.
I'm pretty certain that those series of 8 repeating notes which sound like bells were generated on a polyphonic synthesizer, and if you listen carefully it also sounds like a calliope is softly playing underneath it at the very beginning of the song. This tune brings back fun teen memories (I graduated high school in '77 just as it was released), and is wonderfully produced by Quincy Jones, with guitar solo by the legendary Lee Ritenour. Great reaction Asia & BJ, I wish you had a time machine so you could experience all of that great '70s music and craziness in person!
lee ritenour on the guitar solo
I did not know that thanks. I like Ritenour a lot.
OMG! This is a flashback for me! I used to work with their mother. She and I worked in a Pacific Bell phone center store in Sacramento, CA back in the early '80s. She always made sure to have their album added in with one of the phone displays. They both came in to visit one day. This is such nostalgia. It's so cool to see you do a reaction!
I always wondered why it's called "Strawberry Letter 23" and all through the song they're singing about Strawberry Letter 22!? This song has been sampled a lot
Lol... I never knew either but he had received the 22nd love letter sprayed with strawberry perfume and was waiting on the next one which was 23❤❤❤ Peace 😊 I just found that out lol
I haven’t heard this since the 70’s. Thanks guys!
Love get the funk outta my face!
So proud to have lived in the disco era( grateful to have avoided the serial killers haunting them).
Thunder Thumbs and Lightning Licks. RIP Louis
New sub here! The bassman is Louis Johnson (R.I.P.). He's all over MJ's Off The Wall & Thrillier albums. Check out "Get On The Floor", from MJ's Off The Wall and he'll slay the funkosaurus again!
Just so chill. That I'm cruising someplace awesome windows down music turned up
This was the jam back in college. There's a CZcams video of this song performed on Soul Train. Amazing to see him effortlessly playing that bass track.
Wife Speaking..One of my favorite R&B jams ever!!!.. This is just AWESOME!!!..The voice, instrumentation, imagery just beautiful!!❤
Quentin Tarantino loves this song so much, he's used it in two movies - in PULP FICTION, you briefly hear it playing from one of the apartments as Jules and Vincent come to seize the briefcase, and it shows up again more prominently in JACKIE BROWN.
In 1977 I was a junior in HS. That year our varsity football team played our preseason scrimmage in a town 120 miles away. The drive took about 2 1\2 hours each way since it was county and state roads all the way. No interstates. One of our wide receivers brought along a boom box and played this album continuously on the way there and on the way back. The scrimmage started at 7pm and took about 2 hours. After showering and the drive back, we didn't pull into our school until after midnight. We had left the school at about 3:30 that afternoon. A nine hour adventure with 5 hours riding on the bus. Upon the bus stopping next to our gym and locker rooms our head coach stood up and said one sentence: "Music is banned on the team bus from now on.". Good song but not the whole album for 5 freaking hours.
Doesn't get any better than this.
It's sooo easy to vibe to these guys... 🎶❤️🔥🎶
You could have heard it this music very easily because it's been sampled in 99 songs, mostly rap songs. These two guys were studio musicians for Quincy Jones, and he produced this album for them along with Rod Temperton who wrote or co-wrote a lot of the songs. He's the same guy that wrote some of Michael Jackson's hits from "Off the Wall" and "Thriller". The "tinkling" sound you hear is supposed to sound like a music box. i'm sure it was sampled on a keyboard.
Definitely gotta hear, "I'll be Good to You" by these guys. They were uniquely talented and huge in the day. 👍😊
Yes! Love that song!
This reminds me of my childhood during the summers in NYC. I play this song regularly since the 70s. The Brothers Johnson are legends. You should definitely check out their other music, like Stomp and I’ll Be Good To You.
I consider myself, like so many other's here mention in their comments, blessed to have grown up having this music as a part of my childhood! This was a magical time for music as they just don't make 'em like this anymore. These guys, and Louis Johnson on bass (reference the song STOMP) - nothing like it! I played drums in marching band back in the day, quadratoms when they first came on the scene and we played some of these hit songs at halftime - awesome for high school band! In regard to the 'Xylophone', one we could not play, and one I haven't heard another reaction channel do yet is kind of a one hit wonder, but even as good as the song was, when the xylophone solo comes up, WOW! - the group was Starbuck, the song: "MOONLIGHT, FEELS RIGHT".
BJ, there's that era again=The 70's (1977)...... The greatest decade of music EVER!
70's, late 70's helped us transition forward, mix of disco and soul, and land in the 80's. I love every period of music... well, not really happy with music in the last 30 years --what happened??? You are appreciated Asia and BJ
known affectionately as Thunder Thumbs & Lightning Licks the Brothers were a stable of my youth growing up in Toronto!!
Grew up on Brother Johnson one of my uncle's fav group... The era when music had substance
In my personal top ten favorites ever!!!
I have always loved this song, but I hadn't heard it for years, and then I was watching Jackie Brown, and it was on that; now I listen to it all the time, along with Street Life-Randy Crawford, which was also in Jackie Brown.
If you’ve seen the amazing flick Jackie Brown, this song is on that soundtrack
I love Streetlife from that movie!
This song is pure poetry!!! DEEP
Their song Stomp is 🔥
You are a beautiful couple. I love the music you play. I am 73 and so much of the music is when I was growing up. Bless you.
What a classic, one of the best Funk songs of the 70s. It’s actually a cover, the original is great too, but Brothers Johnson take the prize!
Brothers Johnson (international) breaktrough was Blam these guys made an AMAZING new style in music starting in 1975. Absolutely great pieces of art, so glad and pleased to have their CD's. Do they have more? Oh yes, was Quincy involved yes he was.
A most underrated duo/group back in the day. The Brothers performed/recorded for Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, etc.
They truly had the beat!! Thank you!!
BJ you’re right on with the description of the way we dressed. Everything had to coordinate. Down to the gradual fade sunglasses. I graduated class of 76! 😎This song was produced by Quincy Jones. And yes Louis Johnson was known as Thunder Thumbs!😎
I have always thought that this was a beautiful song !
I grew up with this song then many, many years later heard the Shuggie Otis original version. Both are great.
One of my favorite all-time songs. But they never actually say Strawberry Letter "23"! And give some credit to the production, mix and engineering as well. It sounded so good on my Sears AM/FM cassette player and Jenson speakers! Man, I'm old!
Takes me back!!! Fantastic!!! Ty for going back in time ❤️
AMAZING song! I’ve loved it since forever! Brothers Johnson ❤ I loved Stomp too! We were dancing every weekend in the clubs.
This song always puts me in a mood too. Classic!
I had this album on 8-track. One of my favorite groups.
Yes! These guys are my soundtrack for the years 2000-2002. I heard Stomp! once and was hooked.
Their cousin Alex Weir is the rhythm guitar player and was in the movie Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense.
Complete with the awesome guitar solo by Lee Ritenour
I wish you would have featured the video 📷📸 of this song! It is pure 🚒🔥 fire! You can see both 😅😜 brothers and some very talented and entertaining ☺️😊 dancers of both 😅 genders! This gem was produced by none other than Quincy Jones! Later 🐈😺 cats!
Oh yeah, the video was filmed in a 🐠🍹 tropical setting! It was 😃👍 groovy, far out and bitching all at the same time! See 🙈 ya!
this song was used by Tarantino in the film 'Jackie Brown' (best film ever)
Those are charm bells instrument, they are vertical long charm cylinder like you see hanging down from doors probably 12 of them, played with a drum like stick with a soft ball tip, officially called tubular bell set
So glad you found this I have loved this for ever
Louis Johnson on Bass was LEGENDARY
Shuggie Otis original is still my favorite but this Brothers Johnson cover is very good.
I like both the original and this one. One of them was dating Shuggie Otis' sister and asked him if they could use the song. I think they made thiscover their own. This song came out in a Nike commercial in the 90s and also in "Jackie Brown" when Samuel L. Jackson puts Chris Tucker in the trunk of his car just to drive him out to an empty lot and shhot him. One of the greatest songs. Can you guys react to "I Had A Choice" by Sun?
My all-time favorite love song!!
Love this song, great reaction. If you've seen Jackie brown, its played in a scene. May have been where you've heard it from.
I remember jammin' to this in the summer of '76. Great jam. Thanks for the reaction much love y'all
*_'A present, from you - Strawberry letter 22'_*
one of the most beautiful poetic lines ever. I love how the title of the song is inferred from this line, but never used in the song
What a trip listening to this. Memories of shock as I had joined the Air Force that year and listened to this song all the time. LOL!
Prince also produced a version of this for Tevin Campbell
Thhankks guys!!
Weird they sung 22 but the title is 23. This was a huge hit back in the late 70's.
This song gets better every year
I love this song, so 70s vibe. The video to this is awesome.
Love The Brothers Johnson. Stomp and I’ll Be Good to You rock
Beautiful tune great reaction
Haha, ye ah, BJ I would have loved to see you and Asia back in the day wearing your bell-bottoms and huge afros and the colorful polyester shirts/blouses. It WAS a vibe. Those days wer so so fun. If only we had cell phones to record our antics and the club scenes. It was a GREAT GREAT TIME to be alive!
When this 45 came out, the envelope the record came in was scented with strawberries! You should see these two guys on live video. "Stomp" is another gr8 one of theirs and also "I'll be Good to You". Both of them excellent guitar players. RIP Louis. x
Incredible Talent!! One of my favorite songs! The bell or synthesizer sound is actually the amazing lead guitar. One of the Brothers passed🙏
Wow. This song is a cover too!
I have this CD, love every song. My husband plays bass in a bamd. He said its really hard to play like Louis
Shout out to Quincy Jones for discovering the Johnson Brothers after hearing them work as teenage session players in Los Angeles. He produced their first four albums and had them play on Michael Jackson's " Off the wall and Thriller albums".
ooo..this feels good..
Love me some Brothers Johnson. Smoothe. Funky. Just always a groove. Nice song to dance to.
4 No Blondes - What's Up.
Edgar Winter - Frankenstein - Live video. Crazy talent.
Sinatra - That's Life - Fun song.
Steely Dan - Peg, Babylon Sisters, Kid Charlemagne, Aja, FM (No Static), I got the News, Show Biz Kids, Fire in the Whole.
Writer Shuggie Otis mentioned this song was about love letters being mailed to that special person...each letter was written on Strawberry smelling paper. The 23rd letter was a marriage proposal.
This song came out in March of 1977 and I was 11 and I remember this song was huge with the stoners. I can’t hear this song without smelling people smoking weed.
Great song, it’s been on my playlist for years and years.
This keyboard riff is so iconic. I know this song has been used in commercials.
Seen these guys in cleveland ohio sitting right up front me and my wife 1980 but was made in the 70s what a great band but there was so much great music and it was so much new stuff in a week it was hard to keep up don't forget rock and roll
I recognized this one from the radio, nice classic. I think some artists and bands covered/renditioned it at some point. I think they sampled it as well.
Back in the day😊! This lil white 10 yr old was dancing and skating to this tune❣❣❣❣
Classic
You got the tone and feel exact BJ. Yup, that was me. Long hair, huge bell-bottom pants, polyester, print shirt with wide lapels and platform shoes. A pint of Jack in my back pocket - nickel bag in my shirt pocket, and I was good to go! Thanks for the memory! 😁😁😁😁 Oh, shout out to the original artist - Shuggie Otis!
Brothers Johnson I'll be good to you. 1976 Midnight Special is a great example of how good they were live
This song is featured in Jackie Brown- right after Ordell puts Beaumont in the trunk… y’all need to do a movie reaction to Jackie Brown if you have not yet!!! ✌️❤
I couldn't remember the name of the song until I watch Jackie Brown remake with Samuel Jackson.
Every time i hear this I think of Beaumont Chris Tucker role