Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Solid mix of styles and moods
A genre-defying album that's very easy to listen to, but with lots of variety to hold the interest. I like it a lot and will add it to my Tidal library.
That was a fun listen. I had heard of Shuggie Otis before, but hadn't listened to any of his music. Glad I finally did. Plus one half-star for his bass performance on one of the very few Zappa songs that I like, "Peaches en Regalia."
Seems like the last 4 tracks are bonus tracks that weren't on the original album This would be a 2 if not for Strawberry Letter.
It is brilliant.
This was fairly nice and chill, sounded fine. I just didn’t think it was anything too special and I kind of zoned out of it after a while.
I don't really care for Shuggie Otis' music. It should be something I really like on paper, being an excellent blend of all sorts of genres I enjoy. The playing is smooth and well performed. I just don't really care for it. It's a bit too philly Soul at times and it's a bit light on hooks or other earworms. Wish I liked it more but alas. My favorite moments were Freedom Flight and Sweet Thang, but either one wasn't part of the original album itself.
Never heard of this artist but really enjoyed the slightly Jamiroquai like first side. Then all the instrumentals let the album down.
Eh
Almost like he was creating his own genre of lower key r&b some beautiful music.
A largely forgotten soul/funk record from the 1970s that remarkably isn't mentioned among the finest records of the genre. I've never heard of Shuggie Otis, and considering 'Inspiration Information' is just as pleasing to the ear as any work by Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Sly and the Family Stone, it seems rather incredulous that this album isn't more highly regarded. A set of great soul/funk tunes with psychedelic and progressive hints, 'Inspiration Information' deserves a lot more love, and the fact that Shuggie Otis pretty much played all the instruments himself makes this album an even greater achievement. No doubt a young Minnesotan lad by the name of Prince Rogers Nelson was taking notes. I don't really have much else to say about 'Inspiration Information', other than that its a criminally underrated and undervalued record and you should really check it out if you like your funk and soul! Best songs: Inspiration Information, Island Letter, Aht Uh Mi Hed
A good album, I liked Island Letter and Happy House the most.
Kannte ich vorher nicht. Guter Tipp
Funky!
Was a good record.
Funky. I enjoyed this as background but can't say it really grabbed me.
3/5. A groovy and funky album that feels like a step into funk and disco. Clearly has roots in R&B band rock but falls into Stevie Wonder's ball house more than anything. It's a culmination of albums that came before, short and sweet while really giving a complete wrap up of funkiness, smooth and subtle. As far as something I'm listening to on repeat, most likely not but it's not bad. Best Song: Inspiration Information, Aht Uh Mi Hed, Not Available
not my cup of tea
Not my thing. But I listened
first listen pretty groovy
Rock based R&B. Shuggie’s voice reminds me of Daryl Hall - high, smooth, emotive. Musically this has a Hall and Oates vibe too - same genre. Enjoyable listen. Notable tracks include Inspiration Information, Island Letter, Sparkle City, Aht Uh Mi Hed, Rainy Day, Pling!
Possibly smooth to a fault, this is a deceptively excellent record.
A pleasant trip from relaxing and chill, and energetic groove.
Not sure
With a name like Shuggie Otis, I expected this album to be more fun. If nothing else, there were some relaxing moments. Favorite Track: "Inspiration Information".
Its pretty funky and I had a perfectly pleasant time listening, but I did find myself losing interest at times.
Very groovy, pleasant surprise. Never heard of him. Album art 3/5
Shuggie Otis is smooth and soulful. Very enjoyable sounds!
Love me some Shuggie
Fine, basically. I was probably hoping for slightly more than this than I got. It was very soft and mellow, which is nice but not ever going to really grab you, and it was sort of over before it started.
I love the story of a really great-sounding album that is essentially a bedroom recording.
Good
Ah! Poznam Shuggie Otisa, ampak ne ta album. (Kdor je gledal Pulp Fiction, ga pozna - "Strawberry Letter 23", čeprav je v filmu cover komada.) Fajn funky začetek z naslovnim komadom, s sledečo balado, "Island Letter", ki pa se razgiba proti sredini. "Happy House" je samo mal čez minuto dolg, ampak tak, fletn, dinamičen. In potem se začne "Rainy Day", najbl primeren komad za ob dejanskih zvokih dežja, ki trenutno lije zunaj. Chill, instrumentalen, lep. Naslednji je prav tako instrumentalen, ampak hiter, razgiban. Upam, da bo Shuggie še kj pel? Ne kaže dobro. "Pling!" je prav tako instrumentalen, zelo minimalističen komad, z istim ritmom throughout. Sem že pri zadnjem komadu, "Not Available", ki je sicer vsaj bolj zanimiv kot prejšnji, a še vedno le instrumentalen. Na splošno mi je bil fajn album, samo nisem pričakovala, da bo tolikšen del brez vokalov. Od devetih komadov je vokal na petih. (Mogoč kle loh napišem, da se pri poslušanju držim albumov v obliki kot so bili originalno izdani. Ne poslušam remastered ali reissued verzij. Sicer bi bil tu tudi vključen "Strawberry Letter 23" in še trije drugi komadi. Ki pa jih trenutno poslušam, ampak ne bojo vključeni v končno oceno, žal. Ker so far, so upgrade za album, ampak technically so pa vsi s Shuggiejevega prejšnjega albuma, Freedom Flight, iz 1971.) Ful sm kolebala, ampak po ponovnem poslušanju albuma, mi prevaga na 4 zvezdice.
A lovely album. It has a very narrow range, but it is excellent at what it does.
Goede achtergrond muziek
I am One with the Funk. Grooving till the end of time
I liked this album
Strawberry Letter 23
I loveeee
Pretty minimal, it's not that much in tune with my taste but there is something nice and calming in the backgroundy-feeling sound it takes on
I smooth, funky, album. A great one to relax and listen to
This sounds exactly like what I'd expect music by someone named Shuggie Otis would sound like. Smooth, jazzy, elevator grooves. There are far too many albums on this list though, and just because a record had 1 hit on it does not mean the whole album is good.
Short and sweet, but there's nothing particularly "inspirational" about it.
So damn good and exactly what I needed today. We should just have Snuggie Otis days where people fuck off, listen to this music, and dance.
Too slow and smooth for my vibes today
This one really surprised me—in the best way. A lot of the songs sound like they could have been the theme to a 70s TV show, and I mean that as a compliment. The mix of strings, funky bass, and those lo-fi drum machine grooves gives it a warm, cinematic feel that’s both of its time and timeless. Shuggie’s quirky, soulful touch keeps it from sliding into cheese, and instead it just feels smooth and inviting. Not a five-star masterpiece, but a really enjoyable listen that earns a solid four from me.
This is a delight to listen to. Impressive that Shuggie played pretty much every instrument on the album.
I think the term "background music" is generally misunderstood. It's mistaken to be something pejorative, describing music not worthy of your full attention. I absolutely love good background music. I love music that I can put and just creates a wonderful mood and atmosphere without needing to dominate my complete attention. I think it is every bit as important and valuable as any other kind of music. And in terms of good background music, as my friend Jules would say, this some real gourmet shit.
Vibey but can be a little boring. The trio of Strawberry Letter 23, Sweet Thang, and Ice Cream Daydream is definitely the highlight.
A great album. I have a vague memory of having heard of the musician before. I listened to the album for the first time today and really enjoyed it. I'll listen to it again. 5/5
Classic. Strawberry Letter is all time!
Un descubrmiento para mí. Muy agradable y todavía escuchable
Very pleasant background music if you want to concentrate on someone or something else. Not offensive but not memorable either.
Never heard of Shuggie Otis but this was a pleasant surprise. Very enjoyable.
This is a really good rainy day album to chill out and smoke some weed and listen to. Not something I'd listen to a lot, but just for those occasions, sure. 3/5
Pretty impressive that Shuggie played almost every instrument on this album. I'm not really into this type of soul, but I can appreciate the musicianship and songwriting here. Some of these songs take unexpected, sometimes psychedelic turns, which makes for an interesting and enjoyable listen throughout. Overall, very enjoyable soulful album that feels like it's verging on experimental at times.
Cool album. Enjoyed the instrumental portion a bit more than the beginning bit
Enjoying it more and more with consecutive listens. It sounds surprisingly modern, and at points even futuristic. Strawberry Letter 23. Amazing. I will say the tracks I most immediately connected with were the four bonus tracks that I believe were taken from a previous album, so one for me to check out.
Great example of an album I probably would have never found without this list, despite being familiar with 2 of the tunes. It's a cool, relaxing album, but there are times where you wish the songs would go somewhere and they just, kind of, peter out into a tease of nothingness. It's not a bad album, it's actually quite good, just could use a little more of something.
not super memorable but a smooth listen. 3
I knew "Strawberry Letter 23" and I think the title track "Inspiration Information" was familiar. It's a mix of R&B, funk, psychedelic, etc. And most of it is pleasant to listen to. A few tracks get a bit strange (XL-30) or overly jammy (Freedom Flight).
Perhaps a little uneven at times, but I loved this, overall. This is the sort of thing that I was hoping this activity delivered. I knew the name Shuggie Otis, but had never really looked into his music. But so glad to hear this. Also, I usually get grouchy when I realize I'm listening to a later, extended edition. But, totally happy to here. I mean, who is going to complain about having to listen to Strawberry Letter 73? And, if you do, who broke you?
Steve Lacy, Childish Gambino, Curtis Harding - so many amazing artists owe a debt to Shuggie's sound. And that mustache. I can *kiiind* of see why the youth are trying to bring it back.
Kinda cool neo soul.
In my mind, I had slightly conflated this with Arthur Lee's Love; and there are some similarities in mood and overall auteur-ish approach. This is excellent. Crisp, melodic, funky.
not surprising, a little underproducted
This is soulful musicianship for sure, but the vocals are reedy and the lyrics schlocky.
The first half of the album was 100x better than the last half. Some of those instruments were just pointless
This was pretty fun. Easy listening. I realized why the name Shuggie Otis was familiar once I reached "Strawberry Letter 23". It's groovy, and exactly the kind of music I'd expect to hear during a foot/car chase of a 70s innercity cop show.
Album 889 of 1089 Shuggie Otis -Inspiration Information (1974) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I really enjoyed this one. The laid-back vibe carried through the whole record, and I especially loved the guitar work - tasteful, smooth, and always adding something interesting. I wasn’t familiar with Shuggie Otis before this project, but I’m glad I am now. This one’s definitely going on my list of albums to come back to again. A fine listen that blends soul, funk, and groove into something unique and easy to enjoy.
Enjoyed my time with Shuggie, my kind of sound and I'd heard some before. I could also understand if someone said this is boring though.
4.5
Inoffensive and low-key, but ventured into boring way too frequently. Felt like a string of musical ideas that never really evolve or develop, but solid enough on first pass to be palatable
Full of great easy going tuneage
I enjoyed it, just don't see myself coming back to it.
1. Inspiration Information - 6 Lyrically it's completely random but instrumentally it's absolutely brilliant. The guitars and synthesizers give this a very Jimi Hendrix-mixed-with-disco vibe that's surprisingly very enjoyable. Guitar solo in the bridge is simple but fun. 2. Island Letter - 3 Slower track but very stale. The lyrics make it sound like it was a struggle to write something within the rhyming scheme for some of the lines. Instrumentally it's okay but not anything phenomenal and the part without lyrics starting half way through the song is very repetitive and light it could lull you to sleep. 3. Sparkle City - 6 Decent song. Lyrics are fun but that bass guitar is what you come for and it doesn't disappoint. Short bursts of the other instruments help provide a little more character to the track but the bass guitar is what leads it and is the most enjoyable part of the track. The way the vocals slide up and down pitches is really excellent as well. 4. Aht Uh Mi Hed - 8 This is a fun track. Lyrically solid, the sound of the vocals leads the song well but the sound of the intro before those vocals are introduced is awesoem and sets the tone for the entire song. The tone change into the bridge is also very enjoyable as is the introduction of the acoustic guitar at that point. Overall a fun track. 5. Happy House - 5 90s vibe a little bit with this track but it's very quick and the instruments aren't given enough of a freedom to explore the 82 seconds. Lyrically it's okay. Not anything fantastic. 6. Rainy Day - 4 Standard coffee house background music. 7. XL-30 - 3 Mario stage background music at parts, church organ filler at others this is just album filler. Pretty dull track. 8. Pling! - 1 Standard coffee house background music but unlike Rainy Day, not an enjoyable version of it. 9. Not Available - 3 The song builds so well for almost the entire opening minute into what felt like was going to be a fun track with an enjoyable sound. Then it just hard stops and a second later starts with a completely different sound that feels like you've had money snatched out of your hand. Ruined the entire enjoyment in the track practically. Average Rating: 4.33 Adjusted to 5 Point Scale: 2.17 Rounded Down: 2 Stars
Some really strong bits to this. The opening track is a beauty and this feels like a formative record for rnb and soul. I enjoyed the layer part of the album where they gave space and time to the melody to open it up and it gave a jazzier feel. I've read about the special place a male falsetto has in black culture but it wasnt my favourite.
Sweet thang
Fuck yea
This album made me not hate the miserable weather I was driving in! Freedom Flight was gorgeous
Cool vibe
I found this to be an enjoyable, but also frustrating album. Every song has promise to go…somewhere, but he undercut each track with some odd vocal or instrumental part that kept them from being great. I can understand why there were no hits from the record, as nothing on here was going to be radio friendly enough. “Aht Uh Mi Hed” was the closest but still not quite there. A very good album. Almost a great album.
3.
This was fun. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Um álbum excepcionalmente agradável, do começo ao fim. Grooves cintilantes e passagens atemporais. Algumas das canções instrumentais mais se assemelham a trilhas de call center, mas elas são a exceção. Ao todo, o disco mantém uma coesão invejável, com sua instrumentalização simples porém justa, e seus vocais repletos de alma. Não há muito o que reclamar aqui, talvez não seja o disco mais memorável ou desafiador já gravado. Muitas vezes, ele parece tentar jogar seguro. Falta um pouco daquele “edge” que você vê nos grandes clássicos de Jazz. Mas o que ele propõe, ele entrega sem falha. Isto é, uma coleção admirável de grooves suaves e momentos reluzentes. Muita alegria aqui dentro.
Pretty chill album, didn't like the western twang of Sweet Thang, but the rest was nice.
3.33
I really enjoyed this album. It had a really laid-back vibe. Sparkle City and Aht Uh Mi Hed were the standout tracks. The rest were all pretty decent too.
Really dug the first track but the rest of the album was just meh. I liked the R&B/soul/funky/jazzy fusion sounds that were going on, but could have been executed a bit better. Got better towards the ends with the more chill, instrumental tracks, however.
Definitely a funky album. Not sure when I would ever listen to this, everything sounded nice though. I guess it's just not my tempo.
Kultni album kojeg ja baš nisam razumio nikad
Too psychodelic and random for my tastes.
Happy House was excellent, super groovy, but unfortunately everything else fell flat against that track. Enjoyed the instrumental only tracks towards the end more than I did the beginning. Likely won’t revisit.
This is if funk, jazz, and elevator music all had a baby. It’s fun at parts and sometimes leans more towards background music. Middle of the road for me.
It was in interesting listen. Not really my genre but it was fine but probably won’t listen to it again.
Some lite funk jazz stuff with smooth vocals. I like it that it’s content to groove and chill with some tasty bass lines. Some of the synths like on XL30 is pretty dated though.
Funky and worth grovin on. Nice find!
I enjoyed Shuggie Otis' multi-instrumental performances across a huge array of instruments. Seriously, I find this music of his far more interesting than Todd Rundgren's. It is clear that Otis has extremely great chops. Where the problem lies is in the vocal performance and the mixing of the vocals. A stronger vocal performance by either Otis himself, or bringing in a vocal performer that was capable of doing so, could have elevated good songs to great songs. I would have loved this album if there were no vocals, rather than the timid vocals it does possess. I cannot help but wonder if the mixed down vocals were a choice, or a necessity. Also, Prince should have sent royalties to Shuggie Otis as a thank you for laying the foundation for the work that Prince will do in the late 70s and early 80s.
Smoooooth, deep groves and soulful. Nice use of instrumentals for large periods of songs before the sweet vox. Kinda Stevie Wonder with a bit of MJ and a sprinkling of Otis? New sound and artist to me and found it very easy to listen to and feel its reverberations. Reminds me a bit of Bruno Mars and Anderson.paak. Too smooooth! This is a Sunday album. Way ahead of its time. Ahhhh he did Strawberry Letter 23?! Nice mix of packaged songs and experimental jazz/psychedelic
A real find. Had never heard of the album or artist but really enjoyed it.
Ok album. 3 stars.
Interesting and pleasant. 3 *
Two 1978 albums in a row, followed by two 1974 albums in a row. This one is a total escapism vibe with its psychedelic, Californian soul and funk being the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer's day, somewhat in the vein of Roy Ayres. I can also hear his influence on Michael Kiwanuka, whom I love, and you don't have to go far on the internet to confirm that, as Kiwanuka himself has cited it as 'my favourite album to escape to'. An incredibly mature album from a then 21yo Shuggie with a range of tracks from the totally chilled out (_Island Letter_, _Pling!_) to the more expansive (_Sparkle City_, _Aht Uh Mi Head_) , and my..... **Fave track:** Inspiration Information
not a fan
This is easy to sit back and just groove with. I could see this being a great album to put on in the background with friends and a joint.
Didn't enjoy this one.
Good solid album.
quite enjoyed this, XL30 and especially the bass line on Not Available jumped out, not such a fan of the songs with vocals as they did not tend to reach the same levels as some of the instrument work
It was okay
Like this an awful lot, very cool, jazzy and proggy. Was bordering on a 5
Sparkle City was cool but otherwise not really my thing
Funky. Perfect Sunday morning sort of affair
2.7 1x
it was quick but i enjoyed!!!
A breezy, sweet, and very original album. The mix of R&B, funk, and psychedelia feels both very seventies and incredibly timeless. Listening to it, I was reminded of a favorite album of mine, Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel, released in 2012. I wonder if Miguel was inspired by this album at all, or by Shuggie Otis' music in general. This is certainly a gorgeous album, and it feels like one that will reveal more with with each listen. For now, I'm giving it a 4/5, but it might end up being 5/5 after a few more listens.
I would have thought I liked Shuggie Otis more. Maybe I only like the "hits". Or maybe just Sweet Thang? Aht Uh Mi Hed sounds like video game music with lyrics over it. Happy House is worse though. This is not a good album.
Lovely surprise!
Love this album. It was already on my list.
Smooth. There’s a light psych influence here, but it never goes full trippy. It's pretty pleasant from start to finish. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Inspiration Information - Rainy Day - Pling! - Not Available
Good vibes, but mostly forgettable. Impressive that he records this all himself. Will unlikely return to this as it’s not groundbreaking, but good for background mood building
❤️
Dated
J - 2/5 Best Track - "Inspiration Information"
Very pleasant listen, recognised some tunes
Cool new discovery.
Shuggie Otis produced & pretty much played all instruments on Inspiration Information. He was also one of the 1st musicians to use analog drum machines. Pitchfork described the album as "smooth, organ-driven California funk, quasi-new age psychedelia, loungey jazz instrumentals, [and] string interludes—all propelled by the same kind of analog drum machine.” That fits perfectly. It was the last album for a contract with Electra Records, & they dropped Otis after it went nowhere commercially.. You can understand why after listening. The world probably wasn’t ready for Otis’s take on his style of r&b. The album is weird, for what you expect, with the last 4 songs being short instrumentals. The album probably inspired artists to push boundaries using new technology. The first 5 songs are really good with the title track, Island Letter & Sparkle City being my favorites. Not sure the album will enter my rotation, but a few songs will. Must listen for R&B nerds.
The instrumentation, especially on the last track, is great. It's a lovely album to listen to with a cup of coffee. It's not pushing me to say it's a 5, but it's a very solid 4.
Crazy how early this album is on R&B, both the modern catchy kind and the maximalist approach that I've heard between the 70s and 90s
3.4 Cool Album, My initial thought after the first couple of tracks was the songs would fit in well in a movie soundtrack. Then we get to Strawberry letter 23 from Jackie Brown and my favorite use of song (I know its not Shuggies version) in a movie (and my top Tarantino flick). Will check out more of the catalog.
Pretty good, some nice funk to it
It's good but not great
I have utmost respect for artists that can do it all, like Shuggie and Stevie Wonder and Prince. This album is pure chill and funk, but it is not quite perfect. While I think of lot of it was intentional style, I think I would have preferred more "organic" feel on some tracks. In particular, I wasn't completely on board with the drum machine, and it seemed like because Shuggie was overdubbing, some rhythm feels a bit sterile, whereas it would have had more soul with a full band. Still, the songs and there composition are outstanding, and many production choices are interesting and innovative even if they don't completely land. I see myself relistening to this quite a bit.
Not liking this music genre, for me it was too repetitive
Uuu I like. Funky. I love this kind of soul/funky music. Very nice, will definitely save this.
Didn't enjoy this at all really. It starts well but fades into the background quickly
With some albums, you can really dive into all the details and nuances that make them great, and analyse them in excruciating detail to see everything going on under the surface that makes it amazing. But in the case of this album, it's plain and simple, just a solid record. There isn't really a lot to do a deep dive into, it's just good, well perfomed music.
Wow, skikkelig fint! En ny favoritt.
Musique d’ascenseur. Vraiment pas fan. Pour pas dire complètement à chier
Un peu boring mais j'aime bien
This was fine. Nothing special.
The album starts well and funky but then with further progression loses tension for me. (Rated the original release) 2,5
Some good songs. Unfinished
Ihr wollt ein Liebeslied, ihr kriegt ein Liebeslied Ein Lied, das ihr liebt
Nice background music
I could have gone without. It didn't appeal to me whatsoever
A very cool record. I think some of the songs went on a little too long showing off the instrumentation but overall I enjoyed this. Favorite: Inspiration Information Would I listen to it again: Yes
Positive vibes and great funk. I quite enjoyed this one
this is this list at its best, when the music is so worthwhile and original. i thoroughly enjoyed it
Chill, funky album. Kinda wish it was longer
Some solid tracks, the instrumentals not as interesting and could have been cut for better time.
4/10 - it was fine
I was expecting this to suck but tbh it was very nice. Really enjoyed it. Pretty unique compared to rest of list, and some really pleasant stuff on here
Not bad
Psykadeliskt? Fast liksom instrumentalt. (Halvsov genom hälften av albumet)
Huh, for as influential a record as this is not much is hitting for me. It's impressive being a one-man band and all and his virtuosity (instrumental, less so vocally) is admirable but a lot of musicians are admirable. Have to revisit.
Helt ok, men det utgis 1001 album på dette nivået hvert jævla år.
Nice dry 70s production but not many hooks
Good easy listening r&b
A great listen.
A pleasant surprise - smooth, psychedelic, and full of pocket.
3/5
I liked the title track. The rest dragged on a bit.
Cross between instrumental blues rock and smooth jazz, very easy listening
Thankfully, this album was much better than the first one I started my day with. “Inspiration Information” is a dreamy, laid-back soul album that was way ahead of its time. When I first started listening, I thought my Spotify had a glitch and skipped ahead because I didn’t think those production techniques existed in the early 70s. Until today, I had never known about this album, but I’m really glad I discovered it because I’ll definitely listen to it again in the future.
Not my thing. slightly boring in fact
Dont get me wrong, Suggie is cool and this is nice. But of all the millions of albums that have been released since the dawn of recorded music someone decided THIS is one of a thousand you need to hear before you die. Spoiler alert, its not.
Very nice album
It’s not bad but it all sounds the same. Still cool to listen to.
Soooo 70s. Cool funk. Honestly a little boring for me at this point, though.
#627. Acceptable-tier easy listening guitar r&b. 3/5: fine
pretty goood
Great album but it felt like they ran out of material at the end and threw in instrumentals. Yeah it was the same vibe but it felt like it didn't belong
I love 70s soul. I am sorry not to have heard Shuggie before. What a joyful creation. 4/5
10/10 on apple music (and probably other places too) this album was released with a bonus album of unreleased tracks called Wings of Love, and— while I loved Inspiration Information — Wings of Love was just so surprisingly modern! or I guess a better term would be post-retro? most of those songs sound like they would be sampled in some hella fresh vaporwave, and some of them sound like they already have but yeah, all in all, a super enjoyable album :)
Groovy and full of interesting and pleasing sounds. There’s a tinge of sadness throughout that I enjoyed. One of the rare cases of an album having a singular sound and it not being a detriment to itself.
Some funky grooves, for sure, but nothing too memorable.
Enjoyable. Nothing that rocked my world though.
I never heard of Shuggie until now, so looking into him it turns out he is Johnny Otis’ son. Also he wrote Strawberry Letter 23. I listened to the original release which is just 31 minutes. I would describe this music as mellow funk. Nothing offensive here, kind of like good background music.
Never heard of this guy, but he is apparently an R&B nepo baby (not that there's anything wrong with that). Props to him for playing so many instruments. A perfectly serviceable album, but not very interesting to me. A bit sleepy at points. The Wilco of the 70s. The second half instrumentals felt very hold-music-esque (though perhaps the title 'Not Available' influenced that perception).
A fun one to put on. Enjoyed the whole thing but no one song grabbed me.
Like one good song
the funkiest! Great grooves and vibes
Like not love. Good not great. 3.2
Ouvi este disco em fevereiro de 2020 e classifiquei-o com ENFADONHO. Cinco anos depois reafirmo. Um funk meloso e desinteressante, e ainda tem baterias eletrônicas anacrônicas. As faixas mais interessantes, da versão do Spotify (de 10 a 13) pertencem a outro álbum, "Freedom Flight" (1971), que é bem superior.
Bom disco e surpreendentemente variado, com faixas instrumentais de guitarra, tem groove, ótimos vocais e elementos de diferentes estilos, até de country e algo mais psicodélico.
Funky, but also a little dull.
Good vibes, this was just so long.
Funky sometimes. Boring sometimes.
Soundtrack to a Ralph Bakshincartoon porno.
funky
I feel like on the surface level, this album would get like a 3. A lot of the stuff here kind of borders on being generic funk and some of this album feels more like a concept than a finished product. There are a few songs that kind of come and go, like Happy House and XL-30. But there is something about the sound of this album that carries it over. I’ve never heard of Shuggie Otis before this. He seems like a very underrated artist, because it’s criminal that I heard none of this before. This is the chillest funk I’ve heard in a while. It’s so smooth and every song puts you in a state of ease. The real disappointment is that this album is only 30 minutes long. Like out of all the artists that made double albums, why not this stuff? For some people, this might be a lot of nothing, and I would get that. But everything worked so well here, that I’m bumping my rating to a 4. This was a very pleasant surprise. Favorite track: Rainy Day Other hits: Island Letter, XL-30, Pling!, Aht Uh Mi Hed, Sparkle City
Honestly… music to my ears! Hell, it’s probably music to anyone’s ears!
This Shuggie guy is fascinating. Wikipedia says this is his first album as an adult and then doesn't list another solo studio album for 44 years. And it's great!
wow i had never heard this music or really ever heard of this guy... i realllllly liked this! what I like to call 'morning music' music that is just downright pleasant to wake up to
Another never heard of the album or artist…glad to have listened.
7/10
Original, funky, soulful masterpiece.
Strawberry letter so good
Скучно и неинтересно
78% Best: Inspiration Information; Island Letter; Sparkle City; Not Available Must-Hear? The album opens up strongly, flat lines in the middle, and picks back up again for the last two tracks. I would like to give it 4 stars and a must-hear if only the mid-section was better. A maybe is warranted.
I had never heard of this singer. I really liked the more upbeat songs. I was very hopeful after the first song but there was a major dip in the middle of the album.
Cool funky fusion
Never heard of Shuggie, but must say this is a pretty good album. It has a mix of some stronger and some weaker songs. Especially the instrumental ones were a bit of a drag at times. Overall I found it funky and fun to listen to. I think if I gave it more time it could grow on me, but for now it feels like a quite even and good record, that unfortunately didn't really have those highs for me to warrant a higher rating than strong 3.
Highs and lows on this album. Off to an ok start if you are into some soul music. The album then took a nosedive with the more keyboard heavy tracks and instrumental tracks like” XL-30” and “Pling!”. After rain there is sunshine and after nearly giving up on the record, in comes the excellent “Strawberry letter 23”. Not a clue where I’ve heard that track before but, man, is it a good song. Strawberry letter really saved this album, settling for a 3 star.
Pretty smooth and fun!
Feels somewhat unfocused but the tunes are super chill and funky
Like others have said - it's like a ball rolling up the hill, but just doesn't quite make it. Bland when all is said and done.
pretty boring and meandering
The tunes were pretty tasty soul/funk but the sound quality, at least to me, left a lot to be desired.
I am not a kind of guy who can enjoy R&B veering into Prince/Michael Jackson territory. other aspects sometimes kinda cool. something a bit hip hop instrumental about it. rounding up to 3.
Dang this is so good. Stuff like this is such an easy sell for me. Shuggie.
Chouette et bien relax, ça a pas besoin d'être stressant pis énervé à chaque jour - Bon, là Clément, j'me répète, mais je t'ai déjà répondu il y a 16 jours, va lire ma réponse!
This took me to Happy House out in Sparkle City.
3.0 - Ok
Easy casual listening that I enjoyed but wouldn’t go out of my way for.
It was ok playing in the background.
I can't believe this is the Shuggie Otis album that made the list - but nonetheless its excellent. The title track is the highlight here, with some great (in their own right) jazzy pieces closing out. A meandering way to close out the record, especially when the work with sung vocals was very strong.
Альбом сразу тронул. Буд слушать ещё и не раз, это точно.
A nice chill weekend listen, with lots to like. A bit too much of a veer into easy listening at times, and that lightweight disposability is why it isn't getting marked higher. But there's some cool stuff on here too. 3.5☆
This was solid overall, but the quality from song to song varies wildly. One song has an infectious groove and great hook, while the next is a long and boring instrumental.
Mangler lidt mere bid for at komme op på 5, men et lækkert album
Lyder alt sammen virkelig godt men også lidt rodet
Sounds okay, but its pretty boring.
Calm music to wake up to. It promises to swing today
erste song scho seeehr cool. ersch de sohn vom jöhnner ötis jo nepotime aber sehr tasty sehr cooli instrumentierig. island letter chli seeeicht. aber super cutie chords. sparkle city eeewigs biser singt findi aber suuuper geil. lieb die troche gitarre. ok die zwei hälfti isch jo insaaaane langwilig. aso pling bsunders jetz huiii not available au cute aber najaaa? hey sorry es zwei emfall glaub. scho cool am afang und drum machine interessant so früeh aber böh. okay bi chli meh überlegge es enttüschts 3
DAMN WAS FÜRE STIMM alsoo bis jz findis sehr smooth und schön aber s hetmi nanig vill catched OHH aht uh mi hed findi megaa mengisch ischs fast so lo-fi mässig hahahah leideeer ischs chli für mich hindergrundmusig, ABER sehr gueti hindergrundmusig hahahaha freedom flight isch sooo sexy aber uuuhuere guet das isches 4i nöd iwie banger druff oder so aber eifach sehr guete r'n'b/soul/wases au immer genau isch
Wow, what a rollercoaster. Honestly I went from yay to meh so many times listening to this. In terms of sheer quantity of creation, this is impressive, and it makes me feel generous. So I'm going to give Shuggie three stars.
Funk-leaning elevator music grooves
I had never heard of this guy before. His music is so adult contemporary, so light it just floats away into nothingness as if it had never even been there. What it's doing on this list, I'll never know.
Oh, I recognize this album from when I was on hold with any company ever
Surprisingly great...especially the start. Would 100% come back to this one. 4/5
So long as you stop at what is supposed to be the final track, it's a low 4. Lots of imaginative music and arrangements that take you in unexpected directions.
Jazzy soul, a little bit waiting room vibe, but nice, vibes and unexpected sounds. Wish there was more vocals.
I feel like a bit of a villain rating this so lowly, but it doesn’t do much for me. It’s a vibey, smooth listen that’ll go down well with company round your house on a weekend. But it reach out of the speakers and grab me. There isn’t a particular element that I lean into and get obsessed with. It’s just totally fine.
What this project is about for me discovering new music I never would have gave a chance love the groove and the funkiness. Even the instrumental tracks are great my favourite on the list so far
Oh, it's mellow. Very mellow. I feel like i'm in a hot tub listening to this, being strummed to sleep. And I really mean that - it has an almost gloomy vibe, while still remaining bright and happy. Like an apathy of sorts. Not sad, but not particularly happy. A melancholic vibrancy, almost. Just very... mellow, and moody. And funky, of course. Do I like funk now? I think I might. There's so many layers and sounds, and each song changes so much throughout yet still stays recognisable and consistent. I'm a big fan of more ambient (i.e. lyricless) music, and this is a fantastic album for that, about half the songs are pure music. It's an entirely different experience when there aren't any words, to me it's a fundamentally difference category of music. The opening to Freedom Flight is one of the most gorgeous things i've ever heard - the soft noise of windcatchers underneath and incredible, slow guitar bars - gorgeous. The layers work incredibly well, then the saxophone comes in and it's like heading to another planet. I've never enjoyed a song longer than 5 minutes more, to be honest. The whole album is very magical and atmospheric, really loved listening to this. Most / Least Favourite Track(s): Hard as I discovered that the original album didn't have the final four songs until a 2001 reissue, and they're from his former album. Freedom Flight, Ice Cold Daydream and Strawberry Letter 23 would all be vowing for first, but if I limit to the "original" tracklist then it's Aht Uh Mi Hed - the various noises throughout this are especially fun to listen to, the little keyboard melody that plays throughout is addictive, the occasional flute, and I swear I even heard an eagle cawing at one point (if wrong then i'm joking), title track close second / XL-30, but "least" is doing some heavy lifting here, I loved the whole album head to tail, but this one did sound like Grandma got a bit excited on the church organ. Rating: 5, probably only 4 if it were confined to the original tracklist.
I was surprised by the quality of the music. I never knew that he ain't the original Strawberry Letter 23 and penned it for his then girlfriend.
Super rad album Lots of cool tones and sounds
3
What a sweet, jammy trip. I’m shocked this wasn’t in my Daddy’s vinyl stash. It should have been. I’d never even heard of Shuggie, but he’s in my rotation now. From what I read, the album didn’t make much of a splash on release. There was a 2001 reissue, but somehow, I missed that too. This album blends a lot of sounds that I really enjoy, including psychedelic soul, funk, R&B, and even some gentle electronic textures, into something uniquely mellow and forward-thinking. My research indicates that Shuggie was only 21 when he made this album in 1974, and it shows in the best way. There’s a wide-eyed curiosity in every groove, paired with the control and craftsmanship of someone years ahead of his time. This hazy, intimate soundscape still feels fresh over fifty years later. Most of the songs sound effortless, but the more I listened, the more I found them slyly complex. The opener, “Inspiration Information,” eases you in with a loose, hypnotic rhythm and a laid-back groove laced with drum machine and wah-wah guitar. It’s like a warm-up stretch for the rest of the album. From there, the vibe floats: laid-back, textural, almost underwater in parts. The instrumental tracks are lush and dreamy, soaked in atmosphere. “Pling” feels like sipping a perfect cup of coffee on a foggy morning, and those keys are butter. “Sparkle” shimmers just right. “Sweet Thing” floats along like a warm wave. “Island Letter” is also a standout. Dreamy and cinematic, spacey and serene, it sounds like proto-lofi waaaay before that was even a concept. And “Aht Uh Mi Hed” delivers the closest thing to a pop hit, but even that’s soaked in melancholy. I had to look up why the intro to “Strawberry Letter 23” sounded so familiar. It was later covered by the Brothers Johnson, but it's been widely sampled and featured in various media, including commercials, lo-fi beat samples, and is referenced in other funk and R&B tracks. Most notably, in: • OutKast - “Ms. Jackson” (2000): The overall vibe and layered guitar sounds were heavily inspired by the Brothers Johnson version. • Dr. Dre - “Keep Their Heads Ringin’” (1995): Subtle use of the melody. • (AMThriller, this is for YOU!) Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997): Features the Brothers Johnson version, which uses the same structure and feel as Shuggie’s original, especially the intro. Had no idea this was all originally a Shuggie sound. Pretty neat. The other tracks did not disappoint in the slightest. I thought “Freedom Flight” was the best unique track I had heard in a while, but then hazy “Purple” came on, and it is hands-down my favorite song on this album. Just pure mood. Kinda slippery, a little strange, and somehow both chill and urgent. The guitar sound is woozy and seductive, and the rhythm just barely holds together, as if it's swaying in a breeze. It sounds like a memory and clearly cements Shuggie's legacy as a lost genius. I didn't intend to make this review so long, but by the third listen, Shuggie’s talent is pretty staggering here: guitar virtuosity, silky vocals, soulful songwriting, and an experimental streak. This album feels timeless but also like it came from a slightly alternate universe where soul took a weirder, more introspective path. It’s not a flashy album. It’s subtle, spacey, and soulful. You can easily put this on in the background while doing laundry or making dinner, pair it with a medical cannabis sesh, or listen more intently to the layers of sound, in order to analyze each dreamy component. Either way, once it sinks in, it lingers in the mind, like the last notes of a song that never fully leave your head.
Shuggie!
This dude. So slick.
I totally dug this! I really like the Sly and the Family Stone vibe. I would like to listen to more of his stuff.
Never heard of this guy but I did (mostly) like it. If this was just an instrumental album it would be 5 stars, but the voice - while not really bad - just didn't seem to go with the music.
Good jazz/rock guitarist.
3 sterne
2.5 stars. It was alright. Funky but nothing special
I respect this album a lot. Dig the sound. Only a handful of memorable tracks, however.
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.
Favorite track: strawberry letter 23. Overall score: 6.7/10
Shuggie Otis, never heard of him and somehow not my thing, but not bad either. I'll definitely listen to the album "Inspiration Information" again. Relaxed funky. Groovy psychedelic. 3 stars, because after 3 or 4 songs it gets a bit boring.
mid 3
Pre-listening thoughts: idk who shuggie Otis is but I saw strawberry letter 23 on here and the Brothers Johnson version of that song goes hard so let’s see if the og is any good Post/during listening thoughts: well it was great music to put on in the background at work. Never too demanding of your attention. Just sort of there to build the atmosphere. It’s okay, I don’t think I’d revisit this tho. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Sparkle City, Strawberry Letter 23 (still prefer the cover) Least fav tracks: Aht Uh Mi Head
Some incredible beauty mixed in with some stanky funk. Great ride.
Upscale elevator music
Great album but the last few songs come from a previous album he did. Still it is incredible music that deserves to be in the list, just can't be a 5 for me.
Fun vibe, but probably not something I’d come back to.
Pecka
Dig this groove.
note to self: the albums ends on “not available” as the spotify version is the reissue from 2001 that has bonus tracks from his other albums included. this is really nice and laid back mixed with nice funky sounds! absolutely love the guitar work. the vocal walk down at 1:48 in the first track is my fave thing on the whole album. it is GORGEOUS!!!! this title track is my favourite of the album for sure. i am a bit torn whether i feel this is a high 3 or a low 4 because it does kind of drop off a bit too much for me. even just the second track being such a mood shift from the hype first track is something i struggle with. i listened to the extra 4 bonus tracks and yeah i get why people think it’s too long with the bonus tracks. the original release is a perfect length at 33 something minutes.
Went a little bit too far into the easy listening side but there's still some pretty good funk here. Solid playing. Might listen again in the future.
Lovely chilled upbeat album, so nice to listen to on a sunny morning.
Really enjoyed this. A lot of psychedelic sounds but not overdone. Good mix of funk, soul and psychedelic I'd say. Saved a few songs for later listening. Was a good way to start my day!
Blues based music is not my thing and this didn’t change my mind. Strawberry Letter 23 is a classic but not on this album. He did play all the instruments which is notable achievement.
It was so close but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
This album was amazing. I can't believe it came out when it did. He was definitely before his time. There were some tracks that seemed like he was sampling himself. Really really great. Also the fact that he played every instrument himself in his home studio. Such a talent.
I didn’t mind this on in the background, but nothing really jumped out at me.
iets te laidback voor mij...
Great background music
There is something almost delicious about the instrumentation on this album
Mildly disappointed that Shuggie is a nickname for Sugar rather than Hugh, and that he's not a Weegie. Pleasantly surprised by the music though. I actually thought the final four bonus tracks were some of the strongest - discovered these were from previous album of his, so not sure if they should factor into my score. Anyway, a reasonably solid four stars
Oh Shuggie, where have you been all my life?
I had not heard of Shuggie before this, but man does he play a mean guitar on this album. It’s a great sounding record throughout, and I love the weird jazzy closing track.
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
GREAT vibes throughout this album. The song quality is very up and down to me though. The highs are really high so I would choose my favorites and just add those to a playlist rather than listening to the entire album again.
Yo groovy really liked this
gained momentum and then lost it unfortunately
3.5 jazzy soulful funk. Really liked his voice
☀︎wow ☀︎ça fait du bien après plusieurs jours de trucs moins cool ☀︎j’aime vraiment Freedom Flight ☀︎good vibes
The title track is really catchy but the rest of the album is just ok. Can't really think of anything that was particularly interesting in the rest of the album mainly just background music. 6/10 Favourite: Inspiration Information Least Favourite: XL-30
This album starts off strong with some of the vocal songs, but peters out into some unremarkable instrumentals.
first song absolutely slaps. Had high hopes off of that but wasnt a huge fan of the instrumental turn the album took
Favorite Track: Inspiration Information
i liked it alright
decent
Easy listening. Not great, not bad.
Ein R&B Klassiker würde ich sagen
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.
Not listened before Favourite tracks: Inspiration Information, Strawberry Letter 23, Rainy Day
It’s so clear that Shuggie had a massive influence on Prince. This record is brilliant. Shuggie is a natural talent.
I enjoyed it as a whole album and experience, though no particular songs jumped out at me as stars. But it was fun and groovy and boppy.
Guy's jamming
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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Casi me quedo dormido, y eso que lo escuche parado. A ver, el tema de cierre me gustó, y ya, no hay virtuosismo que me haga apreciar este género. Nota: 2.5
Overpromising and underdelivering ('elevator music') psychedelic soul.
≠ the Beatles Some of this is really interesting and great but a lot of this is elevator music.
Groovy strange experimental
I feel like some inspiration would have been a good idea This was incredibly dull
Good album. Dig the funky guitar work.
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.