Loosen Up
by Nazz

Album: Nazz III (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is a parody of the 1968 soul classic "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells, remade in the image of the Nazz. In "Tighten Up," Archie Bell does this intro:

    Hi everybody, I'm Archie Bell of the Drells, from Houston, Texas
    We don't only sing
    But we dance just as good as we walk


    The Nazz make it:

    Hi everybody, we're the Nazz from Philadelphia
    Home of tuna fish hoagie


    From there, instead of "tightening up" each instrument, they "loosen up," resulting in a sloppy musical mess.
  • "Loosen Up" is an outtake from around 1968 that was released on the album Nazz III in 1971 after the band broke up. The group was led by Todd Rundgren, who released an album with his band Runt in 1970 and broke out as a solo artist in 1972 with the hits "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw The Light."
  • This goofy song is what the band's record company, SGC, was looking for when they signed the Nazz in 1967. SGC's parent label had The Monkees on their roster, and they were hoping the Nazz could be a similar group. Todd Rundgren had other ideas, which put them at odds with the label and led to their demise. Rundgren was more into blues rock like Cream and the Yardbirds (their name came from a Yardbirds song called "The Nazz Are Blue").

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?

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.