Z.Z. Hill, Clean Up America | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 110th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Clean Up America” by late R&B/blues singer, Z.Z. Hill.   

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 110^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Clean Up America” performed by Z.Z. Hill.

“The world today is in a bad situation / Too much talk and not enough communication.” Facts! Z.Z. Hill (Arzell J. Hill) was a blues and R&B singer from Texas.  Sadly, he only lived to be 48 years old, dying of a heart attack in 1984. In 1974, Hill released a fabulous, socially conscious soul cut, “Clean Up America”.  It was written by Tom Brasfield, Al Cartee, Brent Cartee, and George Soule.  That same year, Grammy-nominated R&B/gospel singer Candi Staton also released “Clean Up America”.  Reflecting on the excerpted lyrics, five decades after its release, the world, specifically America, continues to be plagued by various issues.

“We got to get it together / ‘fore it gets out of hand,” Hill sings, adding, “We view our problems through too many colors / Never stop to think that we’re sisters and brothers.” Amen, brother! Continuing to preach in the second verse, he advises, “Clean up your own backyard / And I’ll clean up mine / We’re too busy fussing and fighting / All the time.” Yep! Z.Z. delivers prudent, thoughtful lyrics with incredible authenticity and ample soul. The most memorable lyrics hail from the chorus where he implores, “We got to pitch in, pitch in, and clean up America.” While singing these stirring, call-to-action lyrics, the musical accompaniment is lit.  The groove is electric, the bass line fat, and the horns biting in all their articulated glory. If killer funk music can’t move you to action, I’m unsure what will! Z.Z. Hill ‘put his foot’ into “Clean Up America”, PERIOD!

Z.Z. Hill // The Complete Hill Records Collection / United Artists Recordings, 1972-1975 // Capitol // 1996

Z.Z. Hill, Clean Up America: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 110 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]