Look Out For #1
View on Discogs
Album Summary
Brothers Johnson — the dynamic duo of George and Louis Johnson — stepped into the spotlight with their debut album 'Look Out For #1,' released in 1976 on A&M Records. Produced by the legendary Quincy Jones, the record brought together a deep ensemble cast including Ricky Lawson on drums, Alex Weir and Wayne Vaughn on guitars, Richard Heath, Patches, Kenny Pickens, and Bobby Rodriguez rounding out the rhythm and texture. Quincy's Midas touch gave the brothers the perfect canvas to showcase what they'd been quietly perfecting as session players and collaborators — a richly layered, Los Angeles-bred brand of funk and soul that felt both radio-ready and street-certified straight out of the gate.
Reception
- The album was a commercial breakthrough for the brothers, producing the infectious hit 'I'll Be Good To You,' which became a top-charting soul single.
- Critics embraced the album's tight grooves and the undeniable chemistry between the brothers, with Louis Johnson's bass work in particular drawing wide acclaim.
- The record helped establish Brothers Johnson as bankable headliners in their own right, building on the reputation they had already earned as session musicians.
Significance
- The album stands as a landmark debut in mid-1970s funk and soul, demonstrating how the genre could carry melodic sophistication alongside raw rhythmic power without sacrificing either.
- Louis Johnson's bass playing throughout the record — especially on tracks like 'Get The Funk Out Ma Face' — helped codify a style of slap and pop bass that would influence countless players in funk, R&B, and beyond.
- 'Look Out For #1' captured a pivotal moment when funk and disco were beginning to blur at the edges, with the album's stylistic range reflecting that fertile creative tension present across American Black music in 1976.
Samples
- "I'll Be Good To You" — one of the most recognizable grooves on the album, this track has been sampled and interpolated across R&B and hip-hop productions over the decades.
- "Get The Funk Out Ma Face" — sampled by numerous hip-hop and funk artists drawn to its tight, punchy horn-driven energy and relentless rhythmic drive.
- "Tomorrow" — sampled by producers seeking its smooth, soulful mid-tempo feel for R&B and hip-hop contexts.
Tracklist
-
A1 I'll Be Good To You 98
4:44
-
A2 Thunder Thumbs And Lightnin' Licks 105
4:51
-
A3 Get The Funk Out Ma Face 106
2:27
-
A4 Tomorrow 80
2:58
-
A5 Free And Single 192
4:07
-
B1 Come Together 87
4:12
-
B2 Land Of Ladies 104
4:30
-
B3 Dancin' And Prancin' 104
3:01
-
B4 The Devil 148
3:40
Artist Details
The Brothers Johnson — George and Louis Johnson, born and raised in Los Angeles — came together in the mid-70s and hit the scene like a thunderbolt, blending funk, soul, and R&B into some of the most irresistibly groovy music the decade had to offer, with that signature slap bass from Louis becoming one of the most imitated sounds in all of funk. Discovered and produced by the legendary Quincy Jones, they scored massive hits like "I'll Be Good to You" and "Strawberry Letter 23," cementing themselves as essential voices in the golden age of funk and soul. Their influence on bass guitar technique and their role in shaping the polished yet deeply funky sound of late-70s R&B left a mark that musicians and producers are still feeling to this day.
