Strawberry Letter 23
The Brothers Johnson, 1977. Solo by Lee Ritenour.
The Shuggie Otis song made into a hit, with Lee Ritenour's multitracked guitar solo.
The Brothers Johnson turned Shuggie Otis's dreamy song into a polished hit, and the guitar break is one of its most memorable sections. Lee Ritenour recorded the solo as several layered guitar parts, so what you hear is a shimmering, harmonised cascade rather than a single line. The parts move in tight step, creating an almost orchestral, psychedelic sweep that nods to the song's original spirit while fitting the slick late-1970s production. It is a lovely example of session craft, where the solo is composed and arranged rather than simply blown. Listen for the way the stacked lines fan out and then close together again, like light through a prism.
Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson is featured in our Funk & Soul (#8) list. The solo is played by Lee Ritenour and the song was released in 1977.
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Who played the guitar solo on Strawberry Letter 23?
Lee Ritenour played the solo on The Brothers Johnson's Strawberry Letter 23 (1977).