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Strawberry Letter 23

"Strawberry Letter 23"
Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson.jpg
Single by The Brothers Johnson
from the album Right on Time
B-side "Dancin' and Prancin'"
Released July 12, 1977
Format 7", 12"
Genre Psychedelic soul, funk
Length 3:39 (single edit)
4:59 (album version)
5:04 (12" single version)
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Shuggie Otis
Producer(s) Quincy Jones
The Brothers Johnson singles chronology
"Runnin' for Your Lovin'"
(1977)
"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1977)
"Ain't We Funkin' Now"
(1978)
"Runnin' for Your Lovin'"
(1977)
"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1977)
"Ain't We Funkin' Now"
(1978)
"Strawberry Letter 23"
Strawberry Letter 23.jpg
Single by Tevin Campbell
from the album T.E.V.I.N.
Released May 14, 1992
Format CD single, Cassette single
Recorded 1991
Genre R&B, new jack swing
Length 4:07
Label Qwest/Warner Bros.
Producer(s) Quincy Jones
Tevin Campbell singles chronology
"Goodbye"
(1992)
"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1992)
"Alone with You"
(1992)
"Goodbye"
(1992)
"Strawberry Letter 23"
(1992)
"Alone with You"
(1992)

"Strawberry Letter 23" is a song written and composed by Shuggie Otis, and best known by the version recorded by The Brothers Johnson, which Quincy Jones produced. Otis recorded it for his 1971 album Freedom Flight.

George Johnson, of the Brothers Johnson, was dating one of Otis's cousins when he came across the album Freedom Flight. The group recorded "Strawberry Letter 23" for their 1977 album Right on Time, which was produced by Quincy Jones, and the album went platinum. They recorded the song in a funkier, more dance-oriented vein than the original Otis version. Their rendition hit the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number five and reached number one on the Soul Singles chart in 1977. Studio guitar player Lee Ritenour recreated Otis's original guitar solo for the Brothers Johnson cover. The 12" single was pressed on red strawberry-scented vinyl.

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

The track, specifically its main melody, has been used many times in music sampling.

Parts of the song, especially the distinctive, rhythmic melody of the song's verse, have also been imitated or interpolated in other songs:

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

US Promo CD

US Maxi-CD


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Wikipedia

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