Charles Wright, Express Yourself | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 88th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Express Yourself” by Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band.

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 88th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Express Yourself”, performed by 🎙 Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band.

Two words: EXPRESS YOURSELF!  That’s right! Use your V-O-I-C-E! 🎙 Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band landed a quartet of songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1970 and 1971.  The highest charting, most successful record is 🎵 “Express Yourself” (💿 Express Yourself).  If you had the experiencing of growing up during the 1970s, you got to experience this no. 12 hit in real time.  If you’re a millennial (like me), perhaps your first experience with this gem was from 🎮 Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 🛹 via the 🎙 N.W.A. song which sampled to soul classic. The original is a surefire vibe on its own pushing individuality.  

The chorus sums thing up perfectly – “Express Yourself!” Beyond it, the verses exhibit plenty of personality and sound advice. “You don’t never need help / From nobody else,” Charles Wright sings, later adding, “Whatever you do, do, do, Lord, Lord / Do it good.” WOO! The pre-chorus sections, which are varied throughout, are quite insightful. In the first pre-chorus, Wright makes it clear that you can’t judge a book by its cover:  

“It’s not what you look like 

When you’re doin’ what you’re doin’ 

It’s what’s you’re doin’ when you’re doin’ 

What you look like you’re doin’!”

The wisdom is through the roof.  Also, you know what else is pretty cool about this funky joint? The music! The band is lit 🔥! Honestly, reflecting on 🎵 “Express Yourself”, how did it miss the top 10 on the pop charts? It’s what we call a decadent earworm 👂🪱!!!

via GIPHY

🎙 Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band • 💿 Express Yourself • 🏷 Warner • 📅 1970 

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band, Express Yourself: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 88 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Warner; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]