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March 28, 2007
Retrohump Day- Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
With a contagious rhythm section set against a musical philosophy that enjoyed the good parts of life, Charles Wright became one of the more dominant musical figures who helped forge a bridge from the looseness of 60's soul to the tightly wound funk of the 70's. Regarded as the middle ground between Otis Redding and James Brown, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band fashioned about 9 top 100 singles between 1967 and 1972. Even if you were nowhere near the West Coast four decades ago you probably can recognize their sound from artists like NWA and Tribe Called Quest who sampled Charles Wright's pocketed bass-lines and bright horn arrangements in order to launch a hip-hop generation. Recently, the advertising world has locked on to the idea that Charles Wright can help them sell everything from burgers to sneakers as Wright’s “Express Yourself” continues to find new life.
Charles Wright's early musical career started in Doo-Wop in the 50’s. By the 60’s he had formed an eight piece band that quickly became a club sensation. In 1967 Bill Cosby was looking for back up on his first attempt at a singing album and came looking for Charles Wright the Watts 103rd. With the Cos the band recorded Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings
Though it could not compare to Rudy Huxtable lip synching to Ray Charles for Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable's 49th Wedding Anniversary, the album actually landed them a hit single. They were signed by Warner Bros. in 1969 and became one of the first successful R&B artists on the label. Wright and the 103rd went on to record a dream catalogue for DJs looking for samples with hits like "The Joker," "65 Bars and a Taste of Soul," and "Keep Saying."
I'm not real sure what the below video proves other then begging the question on why any editor would cut straight from a picture of MLK to Charles Wright admiring a dancer's a$$...nevertheless, the song is a classic. More importantly this ill advised video serves as a great transition on why NWA's remake of the song was so remarkable for reminding the world that the song's true origin was in the tumultuous years following the Watts Riots.
"Express Yourself" sexed up/ possibly offensive version
"Express Yourself" from NWA's remake from Straight Outta Compton
This song is so good that even if they did not share the same last name false rumors would still circulate that Charles Wright was the late Eric "Eazy-E" Wright's father.
// Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band buy
Posted by Yonah Korngold at March 28, 2007 06:14 PM
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