Lowdown by Boz Scaggs

Album: Silk Degrees (1976)

Charted: 28 3

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

Scaggs wrote this song with the keyboard player David Paich, who would later form the band Toto and write many of their hits. "Lowdown" was the first song that Scaggs and Paich wrote together; it was Silk Degrees producer Joe Wissert who put them together.

In a Songfacts interview with Boz Scaggs, he explained: "We took off for a weekend to this getaway outside of LA where there was a piano and stayed up all night banging around ideas. We hit on 'Lowdown,' and then we brought it back to the band and recorded it. We were just thrilled with that one. That was the first song that we attempted, and it had a magic to it."
This was the second single released from Silk Degrees. The first was "It's Over," which charted at a modest #38 in May 1976. Scaggs had little name recognition at the time, and sales were stagnant for the album until an R&B radio station in Cleveland started playing "Lowdown." Other stations followed suit, and it quickly became clear that the song had crossover appeal and hit potential. Scaggs' label, CBS, released it as a single and it climbed to #3 on the Hot 100 in October, spurring sales of the album along the way.
The song is about a girl who doesn't appreciate what her man gives her. The "dirty lowdown" is the honest truth - what Scaggs is encouraging this poor sap to face.

The word "Lowdown" was popular slang meaning a summary of what's going on for real. The first Hot 100 entry with the term in the title came in 1969 with the instrumental "Lowdown Popcorn" by James Brown (#41, 1969). Next came Chicago's song "Lowdown" (#35, 1971).
Along with keyboard player David Paich, two other future Toto members also played on this track: drummer Jeff Porcaro and bass player David Hungate. The Silk Degrees marked the first time that Scaggs used these studio pros, and it was also his first album produced by Joe Wissert, who was a staff producer at Columbia Records who had previously worked with Earth, Wind & Fire.

The crew for the album found just the right sound, a disco-blend that could play in dance clubs and pool halls. Scaggs credits Wissert for giving him and the other musicians plenty of freedom in the studio, resulting in one of the most successful albums of the '70s - Silk Degrees went on to sell over five million copies.
This won the Grammy for Best R&B Song of 1976, making Scaggs the first white artist to win the award (Leo Sayer was the second, taking the trophy the next year for "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.")
The producers of Saturday Night Fever asked to use this in their movie, but Scaggs' manager turned them down and instead used it in the movie Looking For Mr. Goodbar. Not a good move - Saturday Night Fever became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.
When the actor Rob Lowe started a podcast in 2020, he wanted to call it Lowe Down and use this song as the theme, but getting the rights proved too expensive. He went with Literally! for the title, a reference to something his Parks And Recreation character, Chris Traeger, often said.

Comments: 23

Bill from NorcalThis line is wrong
"Come on back down, little son"
It should be "Come on back down to Earth, son."
Eddie from NjIt’s the low down, I heard it on the radio today. I immediately stopped what I was doing to listen. I’ve heard it a million times, never gets old!
Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenI read elsewhere that Skaggs’s (or his management’s) refusal to allow this song on the SNF soundtrack cost him more than $5 million in royalties. Imagine stayin’ alive with that realization.
Lindap from AzStill a great song. A great artist - dudes music still gets people singing along, clapping their hands and moving their bodies.
Kai Earle from Vallejo, CalifBoz was born beautiful.
This he will always be.
Know this Boz. Hang on,
please. Believe.
Philip from Atlanta Yes, if you listen carefully both the drums and bass are double tracked.
Anthonyo from Los Angeles, CaIn the facts comments, it reads: "Along with keyboard player David Paich, two other future Toto members also played on this track, drummer Jeff Porcaro and bass player David Hungate."

A couple other items it DID NOT mention, was that producer Joe Wissert had Porcaro "double-track" his drum's hi-hat parts. In the final version, Wissert had Porcaro's full kit mixed down into stereo onto both channels, BUT ONLY his 8th notes playing the hi-hats were panned hard over to the RIGHT channel exclusively. Then in an over dub session, Wissert had Porcaro ONLY play his hi-hats, in 16th notes, without the rest of the drum kit being used. Those 16th notes, in constant succession, were hard panned over to the LEFT channel exclusively, during the final mix. LISTEN CLOSELY WITH A CRITICAL EAR, and one can clearly hear this clever hi-hat technique, which adds greatly to the drum groove of the song.

Also the comment stating: "The producers of Saturday Night Fever (ie, executive producer Robert Stigwood & music supervisor David Shire) asked to use "Lowdown" in their movie, but Scaggs' manager turned them down...etc." That is a "1/2" observation. In an interview decades later, with key actor John Travolta, he said that during the production of Saturday Night Fever, the Bee Gees had yet to finish writing and recording the 5 songs that would subsequently be used in the film. Travolta stated that while he & actress Karen Lynn Gorney were dancing their highly choreographed scenes on the sound stage floor, being played over the P.A. system was INDEED Boz Scagg's "Lowdown" and other assorted hits from that era; from Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, etc...", but rights were not secured ahead of time to actually keep these songs on the film's soundstrip, hence The Bee Gees music was later "mixed-in" and Scaggs & etc, were taken out. Barry Gibb had made mention to this fact, in his own quotes, as well.

We learn something new everyday boys & girls...about "things" that happened, but very few know about, almost 45 years ago.
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThey passed on Saturday Night Fever? I bet they got plenty of exercise kicking themselves as they watched that album go multi-platinum.
Markantney from BiloxeAug 2020,
Tina, early-on I agreed with you but have changed my mind as I've gotten older. And because the song wasn't part of SNF I believe adds to it's legend status. Put it this way, as HUGEEEE as the SNF Movie and Soundtrack was/are,...have any of those great songs lasted better than LowDown?? But yes the song would've been great in the movie.
Tina from ArizonaThis is one of my all time favorite songs. I was 14 when this song came out and I LOVED it! The drums are genius in the song. Never get tired of this song, the whole Silk Degrees album for that matter. I wish they would have agreed to use it in Saturday Night Fever. It was perfect for that movie.
Melinda from AustraliaIt doesn’t get any better than this song. In fact the whole Silk Degrees album is outstanding. Just hearing the intro to this song takes me back. Way back.
I didn’t understand a lot of the lyrics back then. We didn’t have access to lyrics as they do today. It’s wonderful to learn what a lot of Boz Scaggs songs were about.
And when Silk Degrees album came out. He had to be the coolest guy in his 30’s for his time.
The songwriting was just so modern. About relationships. And it had that 70’s vibe. Where being cool about sex and relationships was was considered hip. No crazy drama.
A hangover from the 1960’s I guess.
Cause who was buying this album Silk Degrees?
1960’s people who had just grown up.
But really, the album Silk Degrees had broad appeal. Literally everybody loved the songs off that album.
No. Boz Scaggs nailed it all. That moment in time. Quite an achievement.
Zabo from Pugh, Pa.September 11, 2018

First off you just gotta Love this Bass line. we’ve all been in a lowdown situation at one time or another. This song is essential Boz Scaggs party dance song. Remember to look out for that dirty lowdown!
Ray Bigs from Whidbey Island, WaDoes anyone know the name of Boz Scaggs' Manager at the time of ...Lowdown & Silk Degrees? ...from Seattle but cannot remember his name. Thank You.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 25th 1976, Boz Scaggs performed "Lowdown" on NBC-TV program 'Saturday Night Live'...
At the time the song was in its first of two weeks at #5 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on October 3rd it would peak at #3 for two weeks...
{See 3rd post below}.
Chele from Philly, PaGreat song... have always loved it! I remember when it first came out around the time I graduated from high school. I played flute (still do), so you KNOW I love that flute and piccolo!
Markantney from BiloxeAug 2014,

Odd they didn't know they had a Hit on their hands and some DJ discovered it later. Shows how sometimes you never know?
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 28th 1976, "Lowdown" by Boz Scaggs entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #82; and October 3rd, 1976 it peaked at #3 (for 2 weeks) and spent 22 weeks on the Top 100...
Was track one of side two on his seventh studio album, 'Silk Degrees', and the album peaked at #2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and spent 115 weeks on the chart...
Three other tracks from the album also made the Top 100 chart; "It's Over" (#38), "What Can I Say" (#42), and "Lido Shuffle" (#11)...
Boz, born William Royce Scaggs, celebrated his 70th birthday twenty days ago on June 8th, 2014.
Markantney from Biloxi, MsApr 2014, Ditto Mike in Alabama. He's got tons of cuts I like: slow, smooth, uptempo. I own a ton of his 70s, 80s, 90s catalog. He did a Jazzy type CD back in 2001 called "Dig"; it's one of his best but it came out around 9/11 so it didn't get it's due props. He's RRHOF level to me.
Laurent from Manama, BahrainThere is a very good instrumental version of this great song on David Garfield's "Tribute To Jeff". Garfield also recorded a version with the great Alex Ligertwood on vocals (ex- Santana) on his "Tribute to Jeff - Revisited". Check them out at www.creatchy.com
John from Fort Worth, TxI have loved the sound of this song since the day the album was promoted on TV ("Boz!") I'm just now learning the (to me) surprising and memorable lyrics. Now it all makes sense. I love this song. John 46
Mike from Hueytown , AlJust a cool song. Boz Scagg's music does not get enough recognition
Chase from Pasadena, CaNice... when I first heard it, I thought it was more of a mellow disco. Good summer song.
Ken from Leicester, NcJeff Porcaro on drums on this one as on all of "silk degree's"

see more comments

More Songfacts:

How Dry I AmIrving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote "How Dry I Am" in anticipation of Prohibition, envisioning a bleak future without alcohol.

What's Up4 Non Blondes

"What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes has endured as one of the most popular songs of the '90s, but it wasn't a huge hit at the time and the band split after one album. Frontwoman Linda Perry went on to write hits for Pink and Christina Aguilera.

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)Jay-Z

Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is based on the song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie.

Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)Will Glahe

In 1939, a polka craze swept America thanks to "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)."

Santa Claus Is Coming To TownEddie Cantor

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" was first recorded in 1934 by Eddie Cantor, but in 1962 it was one of the first hits for The Four Seasons, who became one of the most popular groups of that decade.

Pinball WizardThe Who

Pete Townshend wrote The Who's "Pinball Wizard" to coax a good review for the Tommy album out of a rock critic who loved pinball. It worked.