ALBUM: Right on Time (1976)
MVC Rating: 3.5/$$$
The Beatles did Strawberry Fields Forever.
Prince changed fruits when he went for Raspberry Beret. But that song along with the Beatles song have connection in mood and sound, if not fruit, with one of my 70s favorites: Strawberry Letter 23 by Brothers Johnson.
Coulda been a Beatles or Prince song.
There’s a lot of stuff on the interwebs about what this song was about: a letter, the 23rd in a pink envelope with strawberry scent. Hmm OK let’s delve into the lyrics to see where that leads:
In the garden, I see
West purple shower bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins
Dressed in green
Uh huh. Now I get it. But forget the fact that I don’t get it.
It sounds good. I love the opening organ fade-out/fade back in, the thumping, running bass line, the funky guitar. And the organ/guitar interlude that is either appropriated from the Who, Yes, or vice versa.
Oh and I really like the vocals even though the words are as obscurely nonsensical as Strawberry Field, flowing on a funk groove as easy as Raspberry Beret.
Put it on to dance because that, in this case, is what it is all about.
TRIVIA: Brothers Johnson won a Grammy for best R&B instrumental for ‘Q’ off of this album.
Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.