Lowdown (Boz Scaggs song)

Infobox Single
Name = Lowdown


Artist = Boz Scaggs
Album = Silk Degrees
B-side = "Harbor Lights"
Released = June, 1976
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Rock, Disco
Length = 3:14 (single version)5:16 (album version)
Label = Columbia
Writer = Boz Scaggs, David Paich
Producer = Joe Wissert
Last single =
This single = "Lowdown"
Next single = "Lowdown" is a popular song originally recorded in 1976 by Boz Scaggs for his mainstream-breakthrough album, "Silk Degrees". The song was co-written by Scaggs and David Paich. Paich, along with fellow "Lowdown" session musicians David Hungate and Jeff Porcaro, would later help form the band Toto. The song's production, as well as Scaggs' laid-back vocal, gave "Lowdown" a smooth, Soul/Disco feel.

Release and reaction

Initially, "Silk Degrees" received a lukewarm commercial response and, similarly, the first single released from the album, "It's Over" just barely cracked the top 40 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, peaking at #38. One day, however, a Cleveland R&B radio DJ began playing "Lowdown" straight off the album. This was during a time period when DJs had much more say in what got played. [http://www.thestar.com/article/445438 TheStar.com | Primetime | Lucky numbers ] ] Public response was very positive and soon Scaggs' record label Columbia, sent the song to other R&B-oriented radio stations for airplay. It began receiving airplay on Top 40 Pop stations as well, and when it was officially released as a single in June of 1976, it went on to become Scaggs' first major hit, eventually peaking at number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It was also successful on the R&B and Disco Singles charts, peaking at number five on both. Scaggs is quoted as saying that the success of "Lowdown" was 'an accident' and that, even though it was their favorite from "Silk Degrees", he and the others involved in the making of the song thought there 'wasn't a chance in hell' that the song would have been released as a single. The single was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies and would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best R&B song of 1976.

Usage in film

The producers of the movie "Saturday Night Fever" asked for permission to use "Lowdown" but Scaggs' manager turned them down and instead used it in the movie "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". [ [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1222 Lowdown by Boz Scaggs Songfacts ] ]

Credits

* Boz Scaggs - Lead vocals
* David Paich - Keyboards, Mini-Moog & ARP
* Jeff Porcaro - Drums
* David Hungate - Bass
* Fred Tackett - Guitar
* Louie Shelton - Guitar
* Carolyn Willis - Background vocals
* Marty McCall - Background vocals
* Jim Gilstrap - Background vocals
* Augie Johnson - Background vocals
* Joe Wissert - Producer

References