Tavares, Check It Out | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 164^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Check It Out” by Tavares. 

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 164^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Check It Out” performed by Tavares.

“If you want someone who understands / Then things can’t get uptight,” Antone “Chubby” Tavares sings in the first verse of “Check It Out”.  The Tavares vocalist adds, “If it means anything to you / To know that I care for you / Check it out.” “Check It Out” is the fourth track on the Boston-based R&B collective’s 1974 album, also titled, Check It Out.  The soulful ballad was written by Billy Osborne and Floyd Butler. Robert Bowles produced, overseeing the ear-catching, luscious backdrop.  “Check It Out” marked a breakthrough single for Tavares.  They’d chart higher with future singles – it peaked at no. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 – but this was the beginning of their career success.

The theme and lyrics of “Check It Out” are simple.  If you need somebody, I’m the one, the Tavares brothers sing throughout the song.  “Oh… surely you must know / My love will always grow” sums up the vibe perfectly.  Adding to the allure beyond compelling lead and background vocals, love-oriented lyrics, and lush production are the melodies.  The tuneful melodies are a perfect match for the dedicated, love-driven lyrics. “There may not be a dreary day / For you to suffer through,” Tavares sings together, continuing, “If you would let me lead the way / I’d give the world to you.” Girl, the thing for you to do is “Check It Out”, period.  Also, if you somehow missed this check-oriented soul song (Bobby Womack had his own tremendous, top 10 hit titled “Check It Out”), now is the time to check it out!

Tavares // Check It Out // Capitol // 1974

Tavares, Check It Out: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 164 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]