Inspiration Information

Wow. This album is so tasty. Every groove is in the pocket, every note sung is perfect, the mixing and production are smooth as hell and yet retain enough energy to stay super interesting. There some really dated, Casio-level synth drums on here that would usually lose an album a star but this was 1974, so this was cutting-edge stuff at the time. No penalty. Full marks.

Album generally is a tease. Makes you think it's going somewhere and it's got something or it's developing something, but ultimately just waddles about like a lost penguin. The highlight of the album is the latter 1/3 of "Sparkle City", the rest is sleepy, boring, slop of someone too stoned to have put in the effort to be as good as they could be.

I feel like it overpromises and then underdelivers on the grooves.

Shuggie is a recent discovery for me. A music podcast that came out during the early days of the COVID pandemic was discussing albums of 1974 and Inspiration Information was one of the albums that was talked about. I immediately fell in love with it and also discovered that I knew the title track as well as Shuggie's famous Strawberry Letter 23. What I didn't know was that he played bass on Zappa's "Peaches en Regalia" and that he was only 16 when he did. In fact this album came out when he was only 21. Everything written by him. The album is a soulful and psychedelic musical journey that deserves to be better known than it is. This is an easy 5 stars!

underrated gem. I don't know anyone who even knows who Shuggie is. The file clerk at Flagstar used to hook me up with albums all the time. This was one of his best recommendations.

A curiously funky album. Easy to listen to.

A little soul, and R&B, with a nice '70s vibe. But there wasn't really anything about the song writing, or the singing that put this over the edge for me.

After much deliberation and a continully enjoyable few listens i’m giving this one a 4, I’d have welcomed a little more psych in the mix but i find the whole thing very nice to listen to. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Groovy I like

Chilled-out soul.

Groovy strange experimental

Incredible performance, underrated masterpiece. One of the best.

Funky boppy mellow voice

Another great album. Listened through this a few a times a couple of years ago. Three tracks (Inspitation Information, Aht Uh Me Hed, Strawberry Letter 23) on the album remained in constant rotation for most of the year afterwards. I Remember this as being psychedelic and colourful while remaining grounded. Look forward to a revisit. Inspiration Information Extremely cool and funky. Great bass playing. The switchup for the chorus is delightful. I really like the back and forth between the sharper and smoother vocals. The guitar adds great rhythm. Great summer song. Underrated guitar solo. I do think the song is mixed really well. Fantastic. 5/5 Island Letter Deep and crunchy bass. Soothing psychedelia. Colourful and bright. The vocals never overshadow the instrumentation. Final instrumental part spanning the final 2 minutes of the song lifts it to a level above. All the instruments sound great individually as well as in tandem. Fantastic. 5/5 Sparkle City Great buildup into the instrumental. Amazing bass tone. Solid rhythm. Rich and powerful, takes its time. Lyrics paint a detailed picture of a late night cityscape. Great use of brass instruments. His voice isn't mindblowing, but I still think it works well for the style of music. The bass is just stunning. 5/5 Aht Uh Me Hed A moodier track. Instrumentally super catchy. Rhythm is great. The additional instrumentation is lush and beautiful. The switchup is super catchy. The keyboard line is just so catchy. Psychedellic. Scratches that itch perfectly. Amazing. 5/5. Happy House Tight. Sounds effortless. The keys are magical. Lushly produced. It being too short is my only complaint. 4.5/5 Rainy Day Jazzy. Very fitting name, sounds like a rainy day. Incredibly soulful guitar. A little psychedelic disruption adds an extra element to the song. Great. 4.5/5 XL-30 An early use of electronics. It's an interesting experiment. I enjoy the background licks and keyboard lines. Sounds a bit dated. Found it interesting. 4/5 Pling! The effect on the keys give it an almost ambient feel. While the drum-machine's mechanical rhythm give the ears something to catch onto. And while subtle the bass sound is the real star. Calming, meditative. An ocean of sound. The subtle saxophone adds a lot with just a few notes. Ahead of its time. 5/5 Not Available Back at it with a combination of a fantastically catchy duo of bass and guitar. Interesting structure. The addition of disco elements make for an interesting closer. Solid ending. 4.5/5 Bonus tracks. All of them are exerpts from Shuggie's previous album 'Freedom Flight' which is also a great listening experience in its own right. I'll rank them below, though their rating won't affect the album's final rating, even if I'm pretty sure it won't matter much. Strawberry Letter 23. Classic. While the cover is probably more well known I still maintain this as the superior track. I think it's produced immaculately, and extremely catchy. Fantastic verse structure. Lush and soulful chorus. Explodes into great psychedelia, with an almost hypnotic instrumental passage. Fantastic. 5/5 Sweet Thang Just effortlessly cool. Bold, psychedelic weird. All the instruments are doing something interesting at any time. The additon of the vocals ground the chaos. Experimental in a way. Well performed. Evokes a warm summer evening. Fantastic. 5/5 Ice Cold Day Dream Fun tempo. Marvelous bass performance. The organ is also a highlight. The vocals on the chorus are a bit weak. The panning effect sounds a bit dated, but in a charming way. I think it's structured well around the guitar. Great. 4/5 Freedom Flight Soulful, I enjoy the sparseness it starts of with. Slowly adding new sounds and building on the what I can only imagine is a mostly improvised guitar track. The psychedellic jazz elements create a vivid sonic landscape further enhanced by how the track is mixed. I find the way it grows and builds upon itself very stimulating. The bass towards the end is just enchanting. The length does not bother me one bit. Fantastic track. 5/5 Hilariously underrated artist. There's just so much talent there. From the songwriting to the mastery of several instruments, to the use of electronics. Absolutely fantastic record with loads of highlights throughout. I think everything here works to create an approachable but deep and stimulating record full of colour and life. Really close to being a perfect record for me. Will remain in my rotation for a while. Just a pure vibe through and through. Fave track. Aht Uh Me Hed Least fave track. XL-30

Forgotten oddball psychedelic soul/elevator funk from virtuoso son of Johnny Otis. I bought the Luaka Bop re-issue of this way back in 2001 on a whim. I remember not being all that impressed initially, but these days it’s a firm favourite that rewards repeated listening. The secret is in its intricate arrangements and experimental nature, utilizing primitive analog synths and drum machines, giving the music a beautiful warm sound. Understated and underrated, ‘Inspiration Information’ is cult classic that deserves to be heard and is a worthy entry to the 1001 albums list.

So groovy and fun. I forgot how much I enjoyed Shuggie's music. This is the first record I've listened to of his in its entirety and I was not disappointed. The soul and rhythm that's conveyed by Shuggie and his band is so capturing. Really enjoyed this record.

Really good stuff, sometimes funky sometimes laid-back, always tasteful. 4

Sweet, pleasant but really just background music

Good easy listening

Enjoyed this. Sorry for the lack of reviews - I’m trying to catch up!

Once upon a time, a man used a drum machine for his soul album and pretty much everyone was hyped about it

Started well, but then became a bit too much elevator music for me. A couple of decent tracks towards the end but I don’t reckon I’ll ever think about this album again.

Most definitely NOT my thing!!

Urgh... This is my first 1 star album. It's soooo boring and long and I just didn't like it. Not one song is memorable.

I was kind of expecting this to be another funk album based on the youtube comments but honestly this album was so much better than that. It was so calming and soothing to the soul. His voice and the background music was so peaceful. This is the best way I can think of to describe it. I really enjoyed it and could see myself buying this on vinyl and playing in my kitchen while cooking or kissing to.

Some incredible beauty mixed in with some stanky funk. Great ride.

Oh Shuggie, where have you been all my life?

I had listened to his earlier album Freedom Flight a couple of times and didn't expect to like this one as much but liked this one more overall. Even cooler that he's 21 playing everything. Rating: 4.6

Nice to hear a funk album where the bass guitar can shine like some of my favorite bassists like Marcus Miller and Michael League. In fact, this has a lot of flavors like what I love in Snarky Puppy, so it's an easy like for me. My favorite was probably Not Available. It's not even really a full song, but I just really enjoy the groove and vibe.

It’s so clear that Shuggie had a massive influence on Prince. This record is brilliant. Shuggie is a natural talent.

I felt this one in my soul, I think this has to be one of my favourite genres

Richtig geil Funky, instrumentals, toll

Really good

That's a smooth jam

never heard this artist before, not bad

This is that good shit, funky psychedelic soul. Every song hits just right and peaks with "Strawberry Letter 23". I've been vibing this for the last 25 years after, of all places, hearing a cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" by Zero 7 at one of their concerts where it was sung by Sia Furler (Pre Sia Sia) and Sophie Barker... Good times.

Love me some Shuggie. Wish it was Saturday morning and I was stoned.

Equal parts funky, eclectic, and peaceful, and enjoyable throughout.

Inspiration Information finds Shuggie Otis in prime form, oozing confidence and brilliance through his fingertips in a way that would look pathetic in the hands of lesser musicians. This kind of coolness on display here, in all honesty, has been the backbone of what has come from the soul genre these last few years and the lineage can be traced to Shuggie. All killer, no filler.

I’d never heard of this artist. What a trip! It’s a pure mood album and a great listen.

Damn. I mean, funk yeah, this album hits the unexpected bullseye. Wildly fantastic and I hope that others like it.

I went in not expecting too much and came out feeling like I experienced something.

This day I learned about a legend

Great low-key funk with some excellent guitar work! I’ll definitely be coming back to this!

What is this soulful sorcery and where has it been all my life?

Snuggie Otis sir, you are a magician. This album is so smooth man. The perfect joint for a relaxing Sunday afternoon or even doing stuff around the house. I love this!

WOW. Had no knowledge of Shuggie, but loved this brief masterpiece. His rhythms kept part of my body in continual movement and his clear, sweet voice was pleasing on the non instrumental songs. I’ll listen to more Shuggie. Glad for the intro.

My favorate album in this list so far. When funk music gets groovy, catchy yet relaxing to listen to, this is how it feels like.

I will return to this album. It was enjoyable from start to finish and I especially liked how there were both fast and slow songs but nothing felt out of place. It was also fun to listen to the music because I could clear hear each individual instrument being played.

Shuggie's addictive confection of funk and psychedelic soul is even sweeter than his namesake.

Soulful and excellent

Despite a slight lean into instrumentation in the third quarter, this album is spectacular. Smooth funk, where the Standouts are Inspiration Information, Island Letter, Aht Uh Mi Hed, Strawberry Letter 23, and Freedom Flight.

Absolutely loved this. Have already listened to the album a few times through. Also loved the related music Spotify played after it finished. 5 stars all round.

This album is fire! Great sound - funky, clean, pure. 5/5

i have literally never heard of this album and its honestly criminal that i hadnt.. hidden gem on god 4.6/5

Like

Awesome. Unreal guitar. Sounds like Miguel

Nog meer prettige date-bij-kaarslicht-muziek, al dwaalt het af en toe af richting echte funk. Vijftig jaar na dato nog steeds vette shit. Weet je wat, ik ben in een goede bui vandaag. Maar dat komt ook weer door dit soort muziek.

Beautiful album. The type of album to chill out after a long day of work.

A very chill, feel-good synth funk record that I could absolutely see myself putting on while working or chilling out. The warm, early 70s analog synth and drum machine sounds are so cozy and well-done. Nothing earth-shattering, but very good music. 4.5 leaning 5.

Das gefällt mir: langsam, schnell, Funk, Rock, Jazz

Super! Chilli vibes!

Nice walking jams, need to think about properly sitting down to listen to these as I’m sure it became background gumpf to just mulling over the day’s plans

Shuggie is The Best

What a great find!! So much talent

it's so beautiful, 70s aesthetic, didn't get bored with it. heck if this is "elevator music" for most people then it's great "elevator music". i had so much fun and will probably listen to it again.

70s lofi. Great stuff

This is everything you want from a soul album and more! Amazing!

Shuggie Otis I never really heard this record but I love it. I could hear its influence on some of my favorite music. Such a cool voice and vibe. Also really great guitar playing. Also cool how he plays all the parts except for horns and strings. Old drum machine sounds are cool too especially on the instrumental tunes xl-30 and pling Groove on “not available” is so cool. I didn’t remember hearing the original strawberry 23- so different . I love the outro Ice cold daydream feels so good Freedom flight reminds me of “in a silent way” George Duke is so great I realized after that the last few songs were from other albums that they tagged on to the rerelease. Great album and will definitely need to listen more. 5

Love this record! This was one of my faves in high school/college but haven’t listened in a while. Its grant and cohesive all the way through. All the grooves and sounds are so cool, love the guitar playing. All the songs are really great and the instrumentals are really cool too. Sharon Jones does a great cover of inspiration information

Thought I had never heard of him before, then along comes Strawberry Letter 23, and whoa, mind blown. Oh! Album is awesome. Another buried treasure unearthed.

It's been a long time since this app has turned me, head over heels, into a fan of an artist I had barely heard of before. And it had to happen with Shuggie Otis. I only knew that Shuggie was the son of impresario, songwriter and musician Johnny Otis, of "Hound Dog" fame, but I didn't expect to immediately fall in love with this very, very special album. "Inspiration Information" is indeed a one-of-a-kind mix between progressive soul, enticing jazz dirges, psychedelic flourishes and proto-acid jazz instrumentals with cheap electronic rhythm patterns, all of this in 1974! "Aht Uh Mi Hed" is a ballad for the ages, which sees Shuggie using the hypnotic early drum machines once used in *There's A Riot Going On* so as to here create something smoother and far more delicate than what Sly Stone had created on his side. Those strings in the bridge section sent shudders down my spine right away. It's a shame this gem is not as well-known as it should be. The second side mostly comprising instrumental cuts is quite hypnotic as well. I would even dare to say that through this second side, Otis crafted the sort of timeless experimental split album that Bowie released not so long after. Under that light, *Inspiration Information* would be like a soul/funk version of *Low* or *"Heroes"* somehow--it's just that here the template is African American music instead of Glam Rock/Krautrock. At 30 minutes, this album is very short, but if you buy the 2001 reissue, you have four extra tracks from Otis' previous LP *Freedom Flight*, and they are gems as well--especially the 12-minute jazz odyssey that its title track was. But even without those four extra tracks, chances are that *Inspiration Information* is well worth your time if you're at least a little interested in progressive soul. Adding this great, great album to my list of essential keepers. And buying it right away. Number of albums left to review: 393 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 272 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 144 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 193

Funky

Absolute gem from someone I've never heard of, nice one 1001.

Faaaark yes, really enjoyed this album. Going to try and find it on vinyl.

Toimii.. voi jopa harkita uudelleenkuuntelua..

Fantastic Soul album, really one you can sit down and enjoy on a Sunday evening

Sonzao, instrumental top

A warm hug of an album, with hints & echoes of a bunch of artists from Clapton to Prince, Funkadelic to Donovan. An artist I had never heard of, but really enjoyed and look forward to listening to again

Sweeeeeet

A very very strong five stars for this one. Never heard of him but obviously incredibly influential on a lot of people. Listened to it five or six times now and loved it more every time.

I’m not sure if I believe in divine inspiration, but this album is making me believe in extraterrestrial inspiration. This album stands out with no clear predecessors or successors. Funky!

this is so sick! funky but also weirdly shoegazey? for an album from the early 70s it sounds shockingly modern but also extremely old. really really great

Really enjoyed this. Funky and relaxing.

Lekker een beetje pielen op een orgeltje, een funky baslijntje, drums omdat het moet, her en der een subtiel koperen blazertje en af en toe een keer een stukje zingen. De nummers met zang zijn voor mij niet de favorieten, maar het breekt het album wel lekker een beetje. Een prima album om de dag mee te beginnen. Omdat ik positief verrast deel ik een 5 sterren wildcard uit. Geen legendarisch album vol iconische nummers, maar wel een top album-ervaring.

Funky as hell, i love this one!

Exactly my kind of music. Chill, funky and dreamlike.

Otis was a good guitar player before and after the sessions documented here but this recording captures a very special moment, one where everything clicked. A true classic.

Great soul / funk album. I always thought the production could be a bit less lo-fi, but it does not matter.

Rad

Wasn't expecting to like this but instantly did and head nodded all the way through - in a word 'funky' 4.6

So good

What a gorgeous album and what a find?!? So pleased to be introduced to Shuggie Otis too, I will certainly be listening to his other albums now! Really enjoying the jazz r&b blues and other great sounds of this. Also love the ideas behind the lyrics. Highlights included inspiration information with its squelchy bouncy beats and lush guitar parts. Such a top fee good track. And also Strawberry Letter 23, really cool idea for a song.

lovely vibe

This album is ultra-smooth. I especially love ‘Strawberry Letter 23’, and, while a very unique thought, ‘Rainy Day’ would maybe be a good basis for a mellow electronic song.

I really really enjoyed this, it was very chill and groovy

Now THIS is some easy listening funk and soul! Perfect album to just chill out to.

Very dope.

it felt so good listening to this

liked it. music to play if you own a studio apartment in ny and want to impress your date.