If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up

Album: Betty Davis (1973)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the early '70s, after a stint of modeling in the UK, Betty Davis landed in Los Angeles with music on her mind. Ditching plans to record with Santana, she assembled a Bay Area dream team featuring Sly Stone's drummer Greg Errico as producer alongside Neal Schon (of Santana), Larry Graham, and several other members of Graham Central Station. This crew laid down an eclectic funk-soul album between 1972 and 1973, reflecting the richness of its players. This song is the LP's opening track.
  • The songs, all written by Davis herself, are mostly built around funk grooves, driving percussion and heavy guitars. "She really had a clear image in her mind of what she wanted," Errico told Uncut magazine. "She wanted some of that Sly influence of what we were doing back then."
  • "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" is an unfettered vocal attack and a bare-backed blend of funk, rock and R&B. "I thought 'If I'm In Luck' was stinkingly funky!" said Errico. "We would go through it once, maybe a couple of times, then cut it. It was effortless. You put the right rhythm section in the right chemistry and stuff just flies. We didn't wear the tracks out going over them."
  • "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" reflects Davis' bold and liberated persona. The lyrics are suggestive and risqué, expressing themes of sexual empowerment and independence. She's taking control, not just waiting for a Prince Charming.

    According to friend and collaborator Danielle Maggio, Davis wrote "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" based on her surroundings. "She was living in the Bay Area, and she was observing her friends, herself and also the women in her community, using their desire," Maggio told Uncut. "There would be pressure to do things like make money, move their careers forward, and just enjoy life and have a good time. So the song is really for freedom of desire for pleasure, but also bodily and sexual autonomy."
  • Released as the lead single from the Betty Davis album, "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" peaked at #66 on the Billboard R&B chart. It was the biggest hit of Davis' career.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.