Joe Simon, Get Down, Get Down | Throwback Vibez

In the 203^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Get Down, Get Down” by southern soul singer, Joe Simon. 

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 they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 203^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Get Down, Get Down” performed by Joe Simon.

“Everybody, won’t you get on the floor (Get on the floor and let the good time roll).” Late, great soul singer Joe Simon (1936 – 2021) brought the house down with “Get Down, Get Down” aka “Get Down, Get Down (Get on the Floor).” “Get Down, Get Down” is the super groovy opener from his 1975 album, Get Down. The song is the perfect catalyst to ‘get your groove on.’ Interestingly, “Get Down, Get Down” earned Simon the sole top 10 hit of his career . That is shocking, considering he released gargantuan hits with the likes of the Grammy-winning “The Chokin’ Kind” and “Drowning in the Sea of Love”. “Get Down, Get Down” peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Simon and Raeford Gerald wrote and produced it.

On “Get Down, Get Down,” Simon serves up incredible singing. His voice oozes with that hearty, southern soul! “Everybody, won’t you clap your hands and dance / (Get on the floor and let the good time roll) come on,” he sings, aided by backing vocals. They continue singing, “All you gotta do is move your body, and shake what you can / Oh, baby (Get on the floor and let the good time roll).” Beyond conveying the memorable melodies superbly, his ad-libs and riffs are top-notch, too. Beyond fun, dance-inciting lyrics, “Get on the Floor” features a marvelous musical accompaniment with a locked-in rhythm section and biting, articulated horns. The piano parts are particularly bluesy and funky to the nth degree.  One of the most interesting sounds is synths, which only elevate the colorful sound palette. In the epic “Get Down, Get Down”, the influence of gospel music is clear, specifically during the extended vamp at the end.  One of the greatest to do it, Joe Simon easily made us “get on the floor” with this certified bop!

Joe Simon // Get Down // Ace // 1975

Joe Simon, Get Down, Get Down: Throwback Vibez No. 203 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Ace; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]