Right on Time is the second album by the Los Angeles, California-based duo the Brothers Johnson. Released in 1977, the album peaked at number two on the R&B albums chart and number thirteen on the pop albums chart in the U.S. It includes the number-one R&B song "Strawberry Letter 23", and winner of a Grammy Award in 1978 for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, "Q".
Critical reception
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "C+" grade and panned the duo for how "bland" and lifeless they made their funk: "Pop professionalism reduced to a concept in which all annoyances and other signs of life are eliminated." In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Stephen Cook credited Quincy Jones for producing a "seamless mix of pop and funk."
Track listing "Runnin' for Your Lovin'" - (George Johnson, Louis Johnson) 5:05 "Free Yourself, Be Yourself" - (George Johnson, Louis Johnson) 4:14 "Q" (Instrumental) - (George Johnson, Louis Johnson) 3:25 "Right on Time" - (George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones) 3:50 "Strawberry Letter 23" - (Shuggie Otis) 4:58 "Brother Man" (Instrumental) - (Dave Grusin, George Johnson, Louis Johnson) 3:10 "Never Leave You Lonely" - (Louis Johnson, Peggy Jones, Valerie Johnson) 3:02 "Love Is" - (George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Peggy Jones, Quincy Jones) 4:20
Personnel George Johnson – Lead Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals Louis Johnson – Bass, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer, Lead and Backing Vocals Harvey Mason, Sr. – Drums Lee Ritenour, David T. Walker – Guitar Dave Grusin, Ian Underwood, Michael Boddicker – Keyboards, Synthesizer Ralph MacDonald – Percussion Mic Gillette – Trombone, Trumpet Emilio Castillo – Tenor Saxophone Stephen Kupka – Baritone Saxophone Lenny Pickett – Alto Saxophone Greg Adams – Trumpet Alex Weir, Jim Gilstrap, Richard Heath, Mortonette Jenkins, Stephanie Spruill, Oren Waters, Alexandra Brown – Backing Vocals
Charts and certifications
Charts Year Chart Peakposition1977 US Billboard Pop Albums13 US Billboard Top Soul Albums2 US Billboard Jazz Albums4 New Zealand34
Singles Year Single Chart positions US USR&B1977 "Strawberry Letter 23" 5 1 "Runnin' for Your Lovin'" 107 201978 "Love Is" — 50
Certifications
References
External links