Saturday Night Music, April 24: The Brothers Johnson, George and Louis, “Get The Funk Out Ma Face,” 1976
Back to the Seventies again. Another group that Quincy Jones made famous for a hot minute. Look Out for Number One came out the year I graduated from college. I must have worn out this album and George Benson’s Breezin’ that summer.
Everyone’s pretty much acquainted with “I’ll be Good to You” and “Thunder Thumbs and Lightning Licks,” which came from their debut album, Look Out for Number One, but not necessarily “Get the Funk Out Ma Face.” Co-written by the brothers and Quincy Jones, it’s a short, funky little ditty with a great beat that sounds too much like the other word at first hearing, but isn’t. It’s mainly a challenge to enjoy their music–with an underlying request to loosen up that thing. Check out the lyrics:
Get the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma faceYou don’t like my music
You don’t have to use it
Funkin’ is a thing that all of us release
You don’t have to get it
All you do is let it
Then you’ll know exactly how to grooveYou don’t like my music
You don’t have to use it
Funkin’ is a thing that all of us releaseYou don’t have to play it
You don’t have to say it
You don’t even have to try to sing itGet the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma face
Get the funk out ma faceYou don’t like my music
You don’t have to use it
Funkin’ is a thing that all of us releaseYou don’t have to get it
All you do is let it
Then tell us our funk did you some good
What are The Brothers Johnson doing now? After a split in 1982, they’ve occasionally gone on reunion tours and done albums, this last with varying success. Going solo yielded uneven results. Louis’ solo efforts include playing bass on Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and recording gospel. He currently offers clinics and workshops on playing bass; you can register online. George’s solo efforts include an unreleased album from Quincy Jones’ QWest label and a couple of singles. He’s done guitar work for Steve Arrington and Jeff Lorber.
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My favorite was Strawberry Letter 23, I didn’t know what a strawberry letter was, but, I loved this song, I also liked Get The Funk Outta Ma Face as well.
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