Album: Tighten Up (1967)
Charted: 1
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  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: ARCHIE BELL, BILLY BUTTIER
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Comments: 6

  • Camille from Toronto, OhI would love to have Tighten Up as a ringtone. I was just a skinny little ten year old white girl when this song was popular and even then I loved it; still do. It was one of the first songs I added to my ipod in 2005. (The instrumental song K-Jee, from Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, sounds suspiciously similar, I love that song, too.) This song was listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the only #1 song by an active Vietnam soldier. It is ranked #265 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is one of the earliest funk hits in music history.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScRegarding the fact about James Brown: Did they mean to write that this is one of the few songs that he performed that he didn't write? Did write does not make sense in this context. I know this question is silly; I just wanted to make sure I'm reading correctly.
  • Jerry Jenkins from Houston , TxHi I'am Jerry Jenkins:
    I start off that way because it good to see that Tighten-Up is still being played.Now to set the record straight Iam th original Bassist on the 1968 mega-hit as well as a memeber of the real hit makers behind Archie Bell's success that group is called the T.S.U.TORONADOS and we too were on ATLANTIC RECORDS and STAX RECORDS. We to have cd. out with all our rare recordings as well as the only Live cd of all the original memebers
    before the gutiar player died.Just some truth songfacts that most people in the music business
    know about.Most of the music world think that Archie Bell played the music but that is not truth..."THAT IS THE REST OF THE STORY"

    Fill free to contact me at my e-mail

    jrjnk7@aol.com

    Respectfully
    Jerry Jenkins
  • Shaun from Baker, FlI was recently in a mall in Florida and I heard "Tighten Up" being played and it was a lady's rington for her cell; and she wasn't of the Black Ethnic Race; that was so enlightning for me; to know that other people enjoy our music from back in the day to the point of using it as their rington. I have always loved that song and recently have tried to find the ringtone for my cell; I found this site just today and will definitely use it for my rington; indefinitely! There's nothing like Old SChool Songs that move your inner soul to feel like everything is still "Right On" in 2008.
  • Raymond from Chicago, Il, IlI heard Archie Bell and the Drells song the Tighten Up the other day. I told someone that "that song is over 40 years old". I know because I am am (45)years old and I remember my sister who was (17) years old and my brother (15) years old playing the Tighten Up while I was 5 years old. The Tighten Up will always be one of my favorite songs ! Great Song !!!!!

    Raymond, Chicago, IL
  • Hugh from Kansas City, MoMy wife loves this song. It was used in a Simpson's episode when Homer is recalling a stint in his youth as a one man band. Just doesn't seem quite as hip when he is singing this on a street corner, covered with instruments.
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