Al Jarreau, Boogie Down | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 33^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Boogie Down” by Al Jarreau. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 33^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Boogie Down”, performed by Al Jarreau. 

“I can be what I want to / And all I need is to / Get my boogie down.” Word! “Boogie Down” appears as the second track on Jarreau, the 1983, platinum album by versatile, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, Al Jarreau.  Stylistically, Jarreau encompassed jazz, R&B, and pop music, winning Grammys in each category. Although a top-10 hit eluded him, Jarreau earned eight entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including three top-40 hits.  While “Mornin’”, the opening track from Jarreau earned one of the top-40 spots, “Boogie Down” was more modest, peaking at no. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Boogie Down” was written by Jarreau alongside Michael Omartian. Jay Graydon produced this groovy, jazzy, R&B record.

“I got my certain and my sure ‘nough on

And I’m puttin’ on my really for real

You face that curtain with your best stuff on

You are the winner and you’re gonna feel.”

Al Jarreau sounds epic on “Boogie Down,” PERIOD.  Backed by a colorful instrumental including rhythm section and exuberant horns, Jarreau packs a mean punch. The synthesizer provides ample inspiration.  Even as Jarreau ‘packs a mean punch,’ he never over sings, sounding as if he barely breaks a sweat. His cool energy and marvelous tone are everything. Also, the scatting is awesome too!  It doesn’t hurt that “Boogie Down” sounds incredibly sunny, with no gloom or pessimism to be found.  “Come and strut your stuff but leave enough,” he sings, continuing, “For the nearest boogie and truest boogie woogie.” Woo! Another selling point on the gem that is “Boogie Down”? The melodies are tuneful to the nth degree.  It’s modest chart success doesn’t do this Al Jarreau gem justice.

Al Jarreau // Jarreau  // Warner // 1983

 Al Jarreau, Boogie Down: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 33 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Warner; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]