Strawberry Letter 23

Album: Right On Time (1977)
Charted: 35 5
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Songfacts®:

  • Guitar prodigy Shuggie Otis (real name: Johnny Otis Jr.) wrote this song at the age of 17. Otis wrote it for his girlfriend describing the feelings evoked by "Strawberry Letter 22," the title indicating the hopes of another letter.

    It is commonly believed that she wrote to him on strawberry-scented paper but Otis told Spinner in a 2013 interview that the song has nothing to do with the smell of strawberries. "What I pictured when I was writing that song, was a girl handing a guy a pink envelope," he explained. "A love letter. The guy and the girl had written each other 22 letters so far. And the 23rd one he writes is a song. But no scents."

    He added: "The Brothers Johnson put out a single [of the song] and it was colored red and smelled like strawberries. Did you know that? It had a scent to it. I think that's how the whole thing got started."
  • Shuggie Otis originally recorded this on his 1971 album Freedom Flight. He was friends with the Brothers Johnson (older brother/guitarist George and younger brother/bass player Louis), so they were familiar with the song. When Brothers Johnson went to work on their second album, Right On Time, they played the song for their producer, Quincy Jones, who loved it. It was the only cover song on the album, but the one with the most crossover potential, so they released it as the first single from the set in 1977. It was a big hit, going to #1 on the R&B chart and #5 on the Hot 100.
  • "Strawberry Letter 23" kept the momentum going for The Brothers Johnson, who first teamed up with Quincy Jones to perform on Jones' 1975 album Mellow Madness. Jones produced their debut album, Look Out For #1, which went Platinum and contained the hit "I'll Be Good To You." The album earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, but they lost to Starland Vocal Band, the group that gave us "Afternoon Delight."

    The Right On Time album also went Platinum, as did their next two. The group broke up in 1982, but Quincy Jones kept using them on sessions for other artists; Louis played bass on the Thriller tracks "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."
  • Even the Brothers Johnson had a hard time making sense of the lyric. Louis told Blues & Soul: "You could call it a Star Wars love song - it could really be whatever you want it to be - about a guy on the road, who's missing his lady and wants to be back with her but knows he's got to go on doing what he's doing. Then again, you can say that it's on everyone to put their own interpretation on it."
  • Tevin Campbell recorded a version of this in 1991 on his album Tevin, which was also produced by Quincy Jones and went to #53 in the US. He was 13 at the time and had a hit called "Round And Round."
  • Besides Quincy Jones, there's another "Q" connection here: Quentin Tarantino used it in two of his movies: Pulp Fiction (1994) and Jackie Brown (1997). The song also appears in the 2007 movie Pride and in the 2007 Entourage episode, "The Resurrection."
  • In 2002, this was used in a commercial for Kellogg's Special K Red Berries. The version in the commercial is a remixed version performed by local artists. If you re-record a song, you don't have to pay performance rights to the original artist, which is why most songs used in commercials are soundalikes.
  • The Senegalese-American artist Akon covered the song for the Quincy Jones tribute album, Q: Soul Bossa Nostra. Jones told MTV News: "Timbaland brought the idea. Three or four years ago, we talked about [it]. Then he said everybody should be involved in this. And one by one, in various ways, it started to be what God wanted it to be. I ran into this brother [Akon] and he picked the song I wanted him to do anyway."

    Akon told MTV News regarding his cover: "The song, it's more about feeling to me 'Cause as far as the lyrical content, that's way beyond my generation. I'm still trying to understand everything it meant."

    Jones agreed: "It's imagery - abstract imagery. It was abstract back then."
  • In 2001, Shuggie Otis included his version on the re-release of his 1974 album Inspiration Information.

Comments: 23

  • AnonymousWhere's Sonora Sam's writing credit for this song.
  • Moosehead from Schahaha. always loved this song. apparently never knew one word!!!
  • Vinny from ArlingtonListen to "I want to sex you up" by Color Me Badd and "Ms. Jackson" by Outkast and you will hear two different melodies lifted from this song.
  • Jeffrey from SeattleThe best pop guitar solo ever played.
  • First from Right HereIt is called "Strawberry Letter 23" because the >SONG< is the 23rd letter.


    Proof:
    1) The opening lyrics are a greeting to his love interest: "Hello, my love"


    2) "A present from you - Strawberry letter 22"
    This means he has received her latest letter, number 22 and he is singing about the letter he is going to write back to her, letter number 23.


    3) He is thinking and feeling sweet, loving emotions about her:
    a. Thoughts - "Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind"
    b. Hearing - "Pretty music I hear - so happy"
    c. Feeling - "Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue"
    d. Seeing - "In the garden - I see west, purple shower, bells & tea, orange birds & river cousins dressed in green"

    Letter "23" is not mentioned by name, because he is in the act of composing the 23rd letter in his head (which we hear as the song).
    He has yet to write it; it is still in his mind.

    This is why the lyrics are so free flowing with vivid imagery and fanciful word play, e.g. "Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue" and "...purple shower, bells & tea, orange birds & river cousins dressed in green."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
    Louis Johnson, bass player and one-half of the Brothers Johnson (with his sibling George), died Thursday (May 21st, 2015) at the age of 60...
    In addition to the group's hits like "I'll Be Good to You" (#3-1976), "Strawberry Letter 23" (#5-1977) and "Stomp!" (#7-1980), Louis also played bass on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Off The Wall" albums, Herb Alpert's "Rise" and George Benson's "Give Me the Night"...
    The Los Angeles native started out in the Johnson Three Plus One (with George, their brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir). George and Louis played in Billy Preston's band before creating their duo...
    Their nicknames, Thunder Thumbs (Louis) and Lightnin' Licks (George), became the title of a song they wrote for the movie, "Mother, Jugs & Speed"...
    The brothers split up in 1982 and Louis later formed a bass academy…
    The did reunite for a tour in 2002...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 17th 1977, the Brothers Johnson performed "Strawberry Letter #23" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #7 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the very next day it peaked at #5 {for 2 weeks}...
    {See the next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 26th 1977, "Strawberry Letter 23" by the Brothers Johnson entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #71; and on September 18th, 1977 it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on July 31st, 1977 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1976 and 1988 the 'brothers' had seventeen records on the R&B Singles chart; four made the Top 10 with three of them reaching #1, the other two #1s were "I'll Be Good To You" (1976) and "Stomp!" (1980).
  • Meocyber from Alma, CoJust killer free form lyrics. The lead vocals fit the song perfectly. Ofcourse the the harmonizuing is just too sweeeet. I definitely agree the guit fiddle solo is too nice. Just a real nice feel to it.
  • Harry from Leeds, United KingdomThere Is An Extented Version (12" Inch Single 5:08 Long ) Of This Song , BBC 1 England Currently ( August 2011) Using This Has A backing Tune For A Program Advert For The Code Science Program . :D
  • D from Redhook Ny, NyFor me the most memorable use of this song was the very last episode of Six Feet Under. It was sooooo cool yet hauntingly familiar.

    Good stuff!
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United States"Blue flowers echo from a cherry cloud" probably had to do with the design of the stationery she was writing on.
  • Jet from Tucson, AzI heard Sugar Otis wrote the guitar leed, agreed as one of the all time great guitar leads, but the song was written by another not ever mentioned. This is possibly why it is thought of as such a unique and yes, fabulous song.
  • Al from New York, NyI can honestly say i've never heard another song like this. i also recommend getting the original shuggie otis version. The Brothers Johnson...man.
  • Rick from Providence, RiI always figured that he was singing ABOUT Strawberry Letter #22, and that the song ITSELF was Strawberry Letter #23.
  • Sean from Lake Charles, LaThis song jams ! My sisters played this constantly on Saturday mornings as we got our day started. In my opinion, it is still a great hit !
  • Zoloft from Milton, WvOne of the greatest guitar solos in the history of music.
  • Ronald from Houston, TxWhat a great song! But it drove me bananas as
    to why the title of the song is "Strawberry
    Letter 23" but the lyrics say "22"!

    Your explanation....the guy is expecting
    ANOTHER letter....Now I can breathe easy...
  • Wally Lindsay from Auckland, New Zealanda truly great piece of music buy two very talented muso's.form beginning to end,this track is absolutely brilliant.a must for every playlist despite your musical tastes
  • Raquel from Miami, FlNo one can fight jammin' to this. My husband wants this as his ringtone. I love it!
  • Kc from Grapevine, TxThis song--the hook or the instrumental bridge, either one--would make a FABULOUS ringtone for your celly! Plus, it's just a great representation of seventies soul. Today's rappers don't have the musical talent of Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, The Commodores, etc. That's why this music still gets MAJOR play!
  • Charles from Auburn, AlI thought this was about a guy being shot with a 22 by his girlfriend. "blue flowers echo from a cherry cloud"? When Samuel L. Jackson starts playing this song, you know he's going to shoot the guy in the trunk of the car.
  • Kevin from Tokyo, JapanThis tune DEFINES 'funky'. Biggest shame is that the playing time is a little too short ! Is it cool?... Damn straight!
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