Tavares, Whodunit | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 176th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Whodunit” by Boston-based R&B collective, 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 176^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Whodunit” performed by Tavares.

“Whodunit / Who stole my baby / Whodunit / Everyone in the room looks shady.” Boston-based R&B collective Tavares is in detective mode on “Whodunit”. “Whodunit” is the first track from the Grammy-winning group’s 1977 album, Love Storm. Keni St. Lewis and Freddie Perren penned this fun 70s soul cut.  Perren also produced. The single reached no. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

One of the signature features of “Whodunit” are the dramatic, instrumental riffs that appear at the beginning of the record. Notably, “Whodunit” interpolates Mysterioso Pizzicato by J. Bodewalt Lampe. The intro is deceptive. Set in a minor key, once the vocals enter, “Whodunit” is firmly planted in a major key. The harmonic progression is intriguing, yielding a few ear-catching chords here and there.  The orchestration and production are top-notch, led by the rhythm section and electrifying horns.  The chorus is the section to beat, sung by the entire group. It continues as follows:

“Whodunit
Who stole my girl from me (Yeah)
Whodunit
Who took my honey
Whodunit
I know the motive was not funny
Whodunit
It’s a bedside mystery (Yeah, yeah).”

Throughout, the lyrics are fun as the status of ‘his girl’ is up in the air. “Hey, where’s the phone to call Sherlock Holmes / (Somebody took my baby),” they sing, continuing, “I’ve been framed by what’s name / And he’s gettin’ away.” Besides Sherlock Holmes, Tavares asks for assistance from Charlie Chan, Ellery Queen, Baretta, and Dirty Harry, among others.  Ooh-wee! Adding to the enjoyability of “Whodunit” is a terrific, timely key change that occurs within the song’s final minute. Who doesn’t love a modulation?! “Whodunit” marks another gem from the Tavares catalog, which includes “Check It Out” and “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel”.

Tavares // Love Storm // Capitol // 1977

Tavares, Whodunit: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 176 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]