Strawberry Letter 23

"Strawberry Letter 23"
Song by Shuggie Otis
from the album Freedom Flight
Released1971
Genre
LabelEpic
SongwriterShuggie Otis
ProducerJohnny Otis
"Strawberry Letter 23"
Single by the Brothers Johnson
from the album Right on Time
B-side"Dancin' and Prancin'"
ReleasedJune 1977[3]
Recorded1977
Genre
Length3:39 (single edit)
4:59 (album version)
5:04 (12" single version)
LabelA&M
SongwriterShuggie Otis
ProducerQuincy Jones
The Brothers Johnson singles chronology
"Runnin' for Your Lovin'"
(1977) 		"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1977) 		"Ain't We Funkin' Now"
(1978)

"Strawberry Letter 23" is a song written and composed by Shuggie Otis from his 1971 album Freedom Flight. It is also widely known by the 1977 cover version recorded by the Brothers Johnson and produced by Quincy Jones.

Lyrics

The song's chorus says "Strawberry Letter 22" instead of the actual title of the song.[4] This is because the premise of the song is that a couple is exchanging love letters in musical form.[5][6] The singer is creating "Strawberry Letter 23" as a reply to the song he has received from his lover, and he refers to her previous message as "Strawberry Letter 22" when replying.[5][6]

The Brothers Johnson version

George Johnson, of the Brothers Johnson, was dating one of Otis's cousins when he came across the 1971 album Freedom Flight. The group then recorded "Strawberry Letter 23" for their 1977 album Right on Time, which was produced by Quincy Jones, and the album went platinum. Their rendition hit the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number five and reached number one on Soul Singles.[7] Studio guitarist Lee Ritenour recreated Otis's original guitar solo for the Brothers Johnson cover. The 12" single was pressed on red strawberry-scented vinyl.[8]

Chart performance

Legacy

Pitchfork chose the Brothers Johnson version as the 134th best song of the 1970s.[19]

Tevin Campbell version

"Strawberry Letter 23"
Single by Tevin Campbell
from the album T.E.V.I.N.
ReleasedMay 14, 1992
Recorded1991
GenreR&B, new jack swing
Length4:07
LabelQwest/Warner Bros.
SongwriterShuggie Otis
ProducerQuincy Jones
Tevin Campbell singles chronology
"Goodbye"
(1992) 		"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1992) 		"Alone with You"
(1992)

"Strawberry Letter 23" is the fifth single from R&B singer Tevin Campbell's 1992 debut studio album T.E.V.I.N.. It peaked at #53 on the Hot 100 and #40 on the R&B charts.[20] The Tevin Campbell version is more up-tempo, with a new jack swing beat, and includes a rap that mentions "the letter 23."

Track listings

US Promo CD

  1. Strawberry Letter 23 (Album Edit w/o Rap) 3:48
  2. Strawberry Letter 23 (Album Version) 4:07
  3. Strawberry Letter 23 (Single Remix w/Rap) 4:15
  4. Strawberry Letter 23 (Single Remix w/o Rap) 3:35

US Maxi-CD

  1. Strawberry Letter 23 (QDIII Mix Without Rap) 3:45
  2. Strawberry Letter 23 (QDIII Mix With Rap) 4:12
  3. Strawberry Letter 23 (QDIII Fat Choice Mix) 4:48
  4. Strawberry Letter 23 (Album Edit Without Rap) 3:24
  5. Strawberry Letter 23 (Soul Mix With Rap) 4:15
  6. Strawberry Letter 23 (T.C.'s Choice) 4:04
  7. Strawberry Letter 23 (Soul Mix Without Rap) 3:35
  8. Strawberry Letter 23 (Club Mix) 6:28
  9. Strawberry Letter 23 (Club Dub) 5:58
  10. Strawberry Letter 23 (Naughty Beats) 4:42

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 53
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 40

References

  1. ^ Sacher, Andrew (2 March 2017). "30 essential psychedelic soul songs". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Bradley, Larry (November 4, 2014). "The 1970s: Shuggie Otis: "Strawberry Letter 23". The Alternative Jukebox. Cassell. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-84403-789-6.
  3. ^ "The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23 / Dancin' And Prancin' - A&M - USA - 1949-S". 45cat. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  4. ^ Otis, Shuggie. "Strawberry Letter 23". Genius. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Klausing, Jessica (February 14, 2017). "SONG RECAP: The Brothers Johnson - "Strawberry Letter 23"". ontheflipsidemusic.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Strawberry Letter 23 History". phish.net. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 80.
  8. ^ Rieber, John (August 20, 2016). "The Brothers Johnson! Secrets Of "Strawberry Letter 23" Revealed! Great '70's Funk! Tarantino's "Strawberry" Love!". johnrieber.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Australian Chart Books". Australianchartbooks.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 5408a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-10-01. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  12. ^ "The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter %2323" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter %2323". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 16/7/1977 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Strawberry Letter 23 (song by The Brothers Johnson)". MusicVF.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  17. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  19. ^ "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s - Page 4". Pitchfork.com. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  20. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 99.
  21. ^ "Tevin Campbell – Strawberry Letter 23". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
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