Holy moly it is absolutely great to be in the comment section that is full of information and knowledge and not crazy talk. Thank you, previous generations.
It's 2023 I'm 61 years old and went through high school listening to The Brothers Johnson and never knew Strawberry 23 was a remake of this guy until 2 days ago.......Wow, amazing. His version original version sounds really good too, but I love the production of Brothers Johnson, so funky.
Same here. The lyrics and music on both take me to a different universe. Sorry if that sounds a bit hippy dippy but it does still. I was 17 years old when I heard The Bros Johnson and it did then and Shugie singing it takes me even more. A true classic.
I absolutely love both versions for their own uniqueness. Shuggie's gives that psychedelic feel and Brothers Johnson is the funk I need. I listen to both back to back
I’m 56 years old and Brothers Johnson’s version has been one of my all time favorite songs. How on God’s green earth have I never heard this original masterpiece?? 🤯
I just turned 54 and I can say the same thing. I must admit though, the bass line by Louis Johnson is playing in my head while I listen to this version. This is very nice, but it doesn't hit the same without the funky bass!
All you unknown artist out there who have wrote songs that have become iconic hits for more popular artists, I salute you. Without your contribution, there are a lot beautiful songs we wouldn't have.
After he walked away from Quincy the bootybandit . there was no way the masons were going to promote the more talented song writer Shugie , it was easier to copy the song and push Shugie to the side , but hopefully he got his royalties
You live and you learn! I never heard of this man! I remember when The Brothers Johnson came out with this song and I fell in love with it! But I didn’t know someone else had written/sang it first🤷🏽♀️ And all of these years I thought it said “Hello my love… I (heard a kiss) from you“ 😆 I think it’s pretty cool when you hear someone else sing a song and understand lyrics that you got wrong all those years🤣💐
The song's chorus says "Strawberry Letter 22" instead of the actual title of the song. This is because the premise of the song is that a couple is exchanging love letters in musical form. ❤
We are always students, at least the brightest people are 😁 however much we grow in years, if the heart is curious, we have so many new things to discover around the corner
I worked at Virgin Mega Store on Sunset back in 2001 ans they re-release this gem back then mh first time hearing about the original song and Otis. It was ine of the top selling albums for Virgin rhat year. It was amazing 😊
I am 46 years and I have heard this song by the brothers Johnson a hundred times but this original I've heard for the first time tonite and it's magical man and I love it. Special stuff. 🌃
I’m sitting in Panera Bread right now and this came on the speakers. I’ve known about the Brothers Johnson version for years but I never heard this one. I looked it up and discovered this is the original. My mind has been blown. Great song.
I was wstching, "Our flag means death," and this song played over a scene, and I had to look up who was singing this version, I've never heard it before. Shuggie is great!
@@grahamsmith6210 I know, its amazing. This was a letter to his high school girlfriend, responding to her letter which he is referring to as Strawberry Letter 22 in the song. His response, this song, is Strawberry Letter 23 😇
🎂Happy Birthday SHUGGIE OTIS! *November 30* Strawberry Letter 23 is an extremely Important work of art in the Universe. Thank You for Your Magical Musical Gifts. 🏆
How the F**k I spent my whole life without ever hearing this man's name? The more I find out, the more perplex I am with the Radios, Media in general and all others for not treating this guy like they do Clapton, Hendrix, etc... This dude is the one. Thank God I found him by accident!
I think maybe his record label did a poor job of promoting him. I always thought the Brothers Johnson were the first to record this song. I found out today by looking at a Facebook post that I was wrong.
I think that The Brothers Johnson really did justice to this song! Their version is what made it a hit! I had never heard of this guy before. I thank him for writing a classic song! Peace.
WOW! How on Earth have I never heard THIS Original version?! I'm 58yo and I grew up with the Brothers Johnson's version which I love. But THIS is so beautiful! Well, I now have learned the origin of this song! 🤘🤩👍
A friend of mine turned me onto this in the early 70s. Since I heard this first was never that impressed by the Brothers Johnson remake. Yes he was 18 when he wrote and performed this song. His father is Johnny Otis who wrote and performed "Willie and the Hand Jive"
shuggie was a friend of mine back in the day... i must have heard a hundred different versions of this song... he was always playing around with it.... btw he played every instrument on this album... shuggie was a genius that just wouldn't let the record companies dictate to him...
I've heard the Bros Johnson version so many times over my lifetime, I remember when it was new/current on the radio. Much later I learned it was a Shuggie Otis song. Today I listen to it and think, Shuggie must have been born with music in his mind and heart. Musically it's a complex song and to put it together at 18, amazing really. I had HS friends who were good musicians but they weren't composing anything like this, not by many many miles. The Bros Johnson song is a great version, a great tribute that they make their own in small ways. A little better production, more range between the lows & highs and more prominent lows. It shows what a great song Shuggie Otis wrote at such a young age.
@@seanoneil277 as i said i must have heard a hundred versions of this song as shuggie played around with it... But despite my loyalty to shuggie... I must admit that the brothers johnson version is by far the best version of it... The funk transformed it...
Full circle of an amazing song. First heard the Bros. Johnson in 1977 when I was ten and loved it so. Now, at 55 I learn about the creator of this song and , wow, Shuggie!
Landed up on here after hearing this song from the series called Sex Education. This song ran in a scene of both Otis and Meave laying down on a bed. ❤
Wow, never heard this original version until now. When it came up in my recommended videos, I assumed it was one of these young modern artists doing a 70s throwback thing like Chicano Batman. Beautiful classic song, I now love both versions.
alex higuera The Stones, who were beginning to suck at that point, wouldn’t have wanted to be upstaged. Their choice of Ron Wood, who blended lifelessly into their woodwork, confirms that.
*_'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
Proceeding out of the Navy at treasure island in Oakland first this song tell you what pop pop quiz quizz my boys and me was jammn with this song and now right this evening I ran across this young man and never knew he was the originator much respect to him but real talk brothers Johnson .....oooowweeee they did that
Having born in 1988, i am so glad that i found this beautiful music on CZcams. Thank to the movie jackie brown. Both this original one and the brothers johnson version are beautiful. Loads of love to the never ending beauty of timeless music ❤️ Cheers :)
Love this original version so much too. It’s just something about a Blk man’s point of view about this world we live in. And when they express their feelings or experiences musically on the right type of frequency. It makes you feel so warm, wonderful and safe. Clearly his attentions while writing & creating the music to this particular masterpiece was a really cool sweet one. Well Done Brah!
This young man should have become A SUPERSTAR!!! The whole package, people. WRITER, MUSICIAN, PERFORMER. Unfortunately, VERY, VERY UNDERRATED. Not to mention the fact that his DAD, JOHNNY OTIS, was a master @ his craft. Many MYSIC FESTIVAL'S to his credit. Let's not forget the unforgettable SHUGGIE'S BOOGIE & the other MONSTER songs this young man wrote, played virtually every instrument on, & arranged if I am not mistaken. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. PEACE & HAPPINESS TO EVERYONE
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
Hes still alive as of March 2024.
Yayyyyyy
😮❤❤❤❤
Let’s give him his flowers
Hi Shuggie...I LOVE YOUR MUSIC! LOVE LOVE LOVE X
Holy moly it is absolutely great to be in the comment section that is full of information and knowledge and not crazy talk. Thank you, previous generations.
Holy moly is right my friend.
All this time I thought The Brothers Johnson originated this song! This brother is highly underrated
Me too...💯
They brought the Black to it.
So did I
Glad you learned something today ♥️
Same here - but the truth is , LSD or shrooms really created this song
1971.
Wrote the song.
Played all the instruments.
Produced it as well.
At 18.
*1971.*
Let that all sink in.
He was a real maestro. But I do think that though he has that nice, gentle touch, his voice can be a bit weak and lacking.
amazing. 5 years Later The Brothers Johnson would come along with this cut and dramatically shape who I am as a human. Mad love to Otis.
Mindblowing. What a talent
Sounds like he was prince before prince
He released this album in September and he was born In November so he was actually 17 when he made this!
How am I now just learning of Shuggie Otis and his being the original performer of this song? I am blown away!
So am I
Same here if it was not for reelblack I would have never knew.
It really is the year of truth...
This album was unreleased for 25 years if I remember correctly.
He played bass on Zappa's 'Peaches en Regalia'. Pretty cool dude!
1971 Wrote and played all the instruments, The first prince
Nowhere near it. Stop
@@83wasagoodyear people are ignorant. even prince wasn't the first prince.
Stevie Wonder did all this (except horns), earlier, and was blind.
@@83wasagoodyear hero
in more ways than one......
Well I be damn I’m 2024 years old when I received this information wow. I like it too
It's 2023 I'm 61 years old and went through high school listening to The Brothers Johnson and never knew Strawberry 23 was a remake of this guy until 2 days ago.......Wow, amazing. His version original version sounds really good too, but I love the production of Brothers Johnson, so funky.
Same here. The lyrics and music on both take me to a different universe. Sorry if that sounds a bit hippy dippy but it does still. I was 17 years old when I heard The Bros Johnson and it did then and Shugie singing it takes me even more. A true classic.
Same here... exactly same age too... I still have the 45..
I absolutely love both versions for their own uniqueness. Shuggie's gives that psychedelic feel and Brothers Johnson is the funk I need. I listen to both back to back
I’m 56 years old and Brothers Johnson’s version has been one of my all time favorite songs. How on God’s green earth have I never heard this original masterpiece?? 🤯
I've only heard the Brothers Johnston's version too, which I absolutely love.
Netflix ("Sex Education") sent me today.
Same here and I'm almost 53
I just turned 54 and I can say the same thing. I must admit though, the bass line by Louis Johnson is playing in my head while I listen to this version. This is very nice, but it doesn't hit the same without the funky bass!
Right
After listening to both I Like this original version way better than the more popular remake.
This is one of my all time favorite songs. Going to play it at my wedding in a couple weeks
Which version? Congrats on your marriage.
u better play this version. this is wedding material fa reel.
Fook yea :-) congrats !!!
Congratulations to you both ❤
Spectacular Song 🥂
Just listened to this reading the lyrics. This man was higher than a kite when he wrote this.
When I saw "Otis" in his name, I just knew this would be golden.
❤
😂❤
"All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind" hits different.
All you unknown artist out there who have wrote songs that have become iconic hits for more popular artists, I salute you. Without your contribution, there are a lot beautiful songs we wouldn't have.
Fleetwood Mac made “black magic woman” not Santana
@@Drunkenmallsanta Didn't know that!!!🤔
Real Spill 💯
After he walked away from Quincy the bootybandit . there was no way the masons were going to promote the more talented song writer Shugie , it was easier to copy the song and push Shugie to the side , but hopefully he got his royalties
But Santana elevated it to the great classic hit that it is.
This song is a perfect example that you're never too old to learn something!
I’ve known, about Shuggie, since I was 19, and I’m 68 , now. No one compares with ‘Him’. 🇲🇱
He is Him.
🧢
Jah!
Is he Latino?
@@daendiznighHe's Black
You live and you learn! I never heard of this man! I remember when The Brothers Johnson came out with this song and I fell in love with it! But I didn’t know someone else had written/sang it first🤷🏽♀️ And all of these years I thought it said “Hello my love… I (heard a kiss) from you“ 😆 I think it’s pretty cool when you hear someone else sing a song and understand lyrics that you got wrong all those years🤣💐
A timeless classic..And probably the coolest name in music!
Bday tomorrow I’ll be 27 I learned something new today😮
Me to my nigga
I hope you had a really Happy Birthday 🎂 make the most of every day.
That is a beautiful age 🎉
The song's chorus says "Strawberry Letter 22" instead of the actual title of the song. This is because the premise of the song is that a couple is exchanging love letters in musical form. ❤
Why am I 48 and just finding g out about this master of music?❤
We are always students, at least the brightest people are 😁 however much we grow in years, if the heart is curious, we have so many new things to discover around the corner
I’m 49 and I’m today’s years old in knowing this.
Genius at what ever age.
Let’s not gloss over the fact that Shuggie Otis was only 18 years old when he wrote and recorded this.
did not know this. Two words - IMPRESSIVE
DiscoR53 Lol! This is the original version. Brothers Johnson version is the cover version.
Michael Brickley
Oh snap! I stand corrected. My bad.
DiscoR53 😊 It’s all good.
guys like Shuggie and Todd Rundren don't exist anymore
He was Prince before Prince was Prince!
Im 55 and NEVER heard of this guy..you live and you learn!
I worked at Virgin Mega Store on Sunset back in 2001 ans they re-release this gem back then mh first time hearing about the original song and Otis. It was ine of the top selling albums for Virgin rhat year. It was amazing 😊
I am 46 years and I have heard this song by the brothers Johnson a hundred times but this original I've heard for the first time tonite and it's magical man and I love it. Special stuff. 🌃
My mom played the brothers Johnson version growing up a lot and I still enjoy that song as an adult now but am just discovering this gem as well!
This is an interesting listen, but I do prefer the Brothers Johnson version, the backing harmony vocals in particular just give me chills.
Really ???
Q
Try Simon and Garfunkel
We need to start a campaign to get Shuggie to do a boutique tour of North America and please come to San Francisco
I AM HERE FOR THIS
I’m sitting in Panera Bread right now and this came on the speakers. I’ve known about the Brothers Johnson version for years but I never heard this one. I looked it up and discovered this is the original. My mind has been blown. Great song.
Tune. Thanks Shuggie Otis and Team.
I'm am amazed that so many people didn't know about this original.
The guitar duo and bells towards the last third of the song sound like the soundtrack to the journey to heaven.
that is why i would love to play that piece at my funeral, truly love that song ❤
Thank you random CZcams recommendations. I too did not know this was the original. Masterpiece
I’m 56 & this is the first time I ever heard the original version. Of course I love the Brothers Johnson version more but this is nice !
What a beautiful sparkly song and brilliant artist!
Shuggie’s father was Johnny Otis, a pioneer and legend in the R&B music genre.
I was wstching, "Our flag means death," and this song played over a scene, and I had to look up who was singing this version, I've never heard it before. Shuggie is great!
I'm surprised at how closely the Brothers Johnson followed Shuggie Otis on their rendition of his song. I love both versions.
Great song young man still a favorite ❤❤❤❤
Shuggie is criminally underrated. This song is amazing and SO ahead of its time, unreal.
M, WE Blues lover know Shuggie was never underrated as a player & performer just like his famous dad.
Its definitely not "sexy" like the B.J.'s version is, but Thank God it exists!
He was also only 17 when this came out
@@grahamsmith6210 I know, its amazing. This was a letter to his high school girlfriend, responding to her letter which he is referring to as Strawberry Letter 22 in the song. His response, this song, is Strawberry Letter 23 😇
Brothers Johnson... 🕊️
Intro sounds like an acid trip 🤤
Great Song 🎶🌟!
Teenagers were different back in the day.
Shuggie's original Strawberry Letter 23 makes the hair on my arms stand on end! 🔥❤️
Perfection in a song. This art is so perfect that it demands your attention. Plain and simple a perfect love song.
Sounds like a song Hendrix might do.
Every fk'n time bro ✌🏽
Made his hair stand up too!
The 70s and 80s were the best years of all music
🎂Happy Birthday SHUGGIE OTIS! *November 30* Strawberry Letter 23 is an extremely Important work of art in the Universe. Thank You for Your Magical Musical Gifts. 🏆
Brilliant song, wonderful classic.
How the F**k I spent my whole life without ever hearing this man's name? The more I find out, the more perplex I am with the Radios, Media in general and all others for not treating this guy like they do Clapton, Hendrix, etc...
This dude is the one.
Thank God I found him by accident!
Same
It’s unbelievable isn’t??? 🤦🏾♀️😡
I think maybe his record label did a poor job of promoting him. I always thought the Brothers Johnson were the first to record this song. I found out today by looking at a Facebook post that I was wrong.
I second that..
Word. I came across dude when jay z mentioned him in an interview.
He must have been high AF to write lyrics this beautiful.
Everyone was on acid in those days....
Right
Hehe… yeah a trippy fever dream
Just the lyrics? No. The whole song.
I think that The Brothers Johnson really did justice to this song! Their version is what made it a hit! I had never heard of this guy before. I thank him for writing a classic song! Peace.
This song is older than I thought.
Prince before Prince.....Classic!!!
😅❤ True
🤔 interesting...good to know about
Hell no
@1stthink236 Same thing I thought 😊
prince sucks ass
The bridge / outro of this song actually induces an out of body experience for me. Mind blowing.
WOW! How on Earth have I never heard THIS Original version?!
I'm 58yo and I grew up with the Brothers Johnson's version which I love. But THIS is so beautiful!
Well, I now have learned the origin of this song! 🤘🤩👍
A friend of mine turned me onto this in the early 70s. Since I heard this first was never that impressed by the Brothers Johnson remake. Yes he was 18 when he wrote and performed this song. His father is Johnny Otis who wrote and performed "Willie and the Hand Jive"
This song was also played on Sex Education. The main character is named Otis too :)
Otis and Maeve
Fr im sad that theres no happy ending for otis and maeve
Tuis song just reminds me of them and depresses me
@@underratedchips8137 i know :(
🎉❤
Wow. Amazing. He’s the most famous musician you’ve never heard of. That just great
I was today years old when I stumbled across this! 🔥
Man I’m glad Brothers Johnson remixed it!!!😂
One of my favorite songs of the time.... Now I get to hear it from the writer... amazing
Best version. The intro is worth its weight in gold alone
This song is a fantasyland alternative universe love letter. A phenomenal writer.
I never know about this guy until Google just set me right. Learn something new everyday.
The Brothers Johnson version is magnificent. Shuggie’s is transcendent.
shuggie was a friend of mine back in the day... i must have heard a hundred different versions of this song... he was always playing around with it.... btw he played every instrument on this album... shuggie was a genius that just wouldn't let the record companies dictate to him...
I've heard the Bros Johnson version so many times over my lifetime, I remember when it was new/current on the radio. Much later I learned it was a Shuggie Otis song. Today I listen to it and think, Shuggie must have been born with music in his mind and heart. Musically it's a complex song and to put it together at 18, amazing really. I had HS friends who were good musicians but they weren't composing anything like this, not by many many miles.
The Bros Johnson song is a great version, a great tribute that they make their own in small ways. A little better production, more range between the lows & highs and more prominent lows. It shows what a great song Shuggie Otis wrote at such a young age.
@@seanoneil277 as i said i must have heard a hundred versions of this song as shuggie played around with it... But despite my loyalty to shuggie... I must admit that the brothers johnson version is by far the best version of it... The funk transformed it...
Totally agree
@jaye501 absolutely wonderful
The last 20 seconds is what joy sounds like🔥
that's the part i wish i could edit out haha
I remember hearing this for the first time blasting out of a Low Rider in Los Angeles.
Full circle of an amazing song. First heard the Bros. Johnson in 1977 when I was ten and loved it so. Now, at 55 I learn about the creator of this song and , wow, Shuggie!
Otis is one of the most underrated musicians of all time. Its criminal
Yo my name is Otis & I've never heard of this dude. So who did it 1st, him or the brothers Johnson?
@@nohatersallowd5709 Shuggie did it first
@@nohatersallowd5709, Shuggie wrote it too.
I agree but sadly his addictions derailed his career....
Buggar :(
talk about stood the test of time. He recorded this at 18 years old in 1971. It is still to this day the hardest arpeggio to hit and hit right
Amen! I got the arpeggio right one time and I’ve only seen three people that can hit it
I'm 50...and don't know what neither is still singing about
I remember when this came out.
Landed up on here after hearing this song from the series called Sex Education. This song ran in a scene of both Otis and Meave laying down on a bed. ❤
I loved catching Shuggie live in Oak Cliff, Texas a few years back. He still had that mojo working and had a great band backing him. Legend!
This will always be one of the best songs to ever exist! 🍓💌❤
Wow, never heard this original version until now. When it came up in my recommended videos, I assumed it was one of these young modern artists doing a 70s throwback thing like Chicano Batman. Beautiful classic song, I now love both versions.
I heard Jay Z mention him in an interview. This is a lovely tune. Perfect.
Thats why im here
That’s what brought me here too!
Me too
Likewise
Yooooo!! I watched the same interview hahaha Jay’s hair look electrocuted in that interview lol
Thank you netflix 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I heard that Shuggie's original was played at Louis Johnson's wedding, and that's what inspired the Brothers Johnson to cover it.
One of the best, Witten song's,of all times.
If the pink cherry gelato had a sound this would be it . . This guy was way ahead of his time
Now why would you take a song called Strawberry and go talking about cherry? That ain't right...
"Objection." 🏴☠️
This my baby and I’s song 💛
And remember boys and girls: Shuggie was the one person who said NO to playing with the rolling stones.
Fuck man. Thw Stones would've went to a whole nother eclipse had he joined forces. Wow.
Wow
alex higuera The Stones, who were beginning to suck at that point, wouldn’t have wanted to be upstaged. Their choice of Ron Wood, who blended lifelessly into their woodwork, confirms that.
And remember, that on the Brothers Johnson version of this song, that arpeggio laden solo (with a capo placed at fret #2) was played by Lee Ritenour.
Really?
*_'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
This song is his response to that present, truly poetic
I love how that just randomly pops into my head from time to time
Fully Agree.Only it's used in Both S L 22 tracks!
What does strawberry letter 22 mean?
22 straberry scented letters (assumed to be with the womans perfume), 23 is the reply from him back - continuing the title even without the perfume.
Shuggie giving us all that side eye for not knowing he was the OG of this song.
Proceeding out of the Navy at treasure island in Oakland first this song tell you what pop pop quiz quizz my boys and me was jammn with this song and now right this evening I ran across this young man and never knew he was the originator much respect to him but real talk brothers Johnson .....oooowweeee they did that
Came here from Otis and Maeve... IYKYK
Having born in 1988, i am so glad that i found this beautiful music on CZcams. Thank to the movie jackie brown. Both this original one and the brothers johnson version are beautiful. Loads of love to the never ending beauty of timeless music ❤️ Cheers :)
This reminds me of The Beatles or 60s rock music in general.
TRANSCENDENTAL PSYCHEDELIC SOUL
Love this original version so much too. It’s just something about a Blk man’s point of view about this world we live in. And when they express their feelings or experiences musically on the right type of frequency. It makes you feel so warm, wonderful and safe. Clearly his attentions while writing & creating the music to this particular masterpiece was a really cool sweet one.
Well Done Brah!
Those 103 people who disliked this video do not know what they are talking about. So good!!!
this was a GORGEOUS needle drop in our flag means death. so glad that beautiful show introduced me to this beautiful song
I just heard it on Stingray Classic R&B & Soul. Never heard this version before.
Growing up in the 70s! This was my jam.
Probably the more famous cover by the Brothers Johnson, though, right?
@@dantean of course.
I can’t stop hitting repeat.
THE TRANSITION from singing groups to musicians taking center stage...the 70's
This young man should have become A SUPERSTAR!!! The whole package, people. WRITER, MUSICIAN, PERFORMER. Unfortunately, VERY, VERY UNDERRATED. Not to mention the fact that his DAD, JOHNNY OTIS, was a master @ his craft. Many MYSIC FESTIVAL'S to his credit. Let's not forget the unforgettable SHUGGIE'S BOOGIE & the other MONSTER songs this young man wrote, played virtually every instrument on, & arranged if I am not mistaken. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. PEACE & HAPPINESS TO EVERYONE
WHERE IS THIS MAN/MASTER AT NOW???? NOT QUITE STEVE WINWOOD BUTT CLOSE.
the record companies tried to turn shuggie into an imitation sly stone... he rebelled... and the industry labeled him "difficult"...
I first heard of him in 1981 in Germany! Love the Phase Shifter in this recording:)