Express Yourself (Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band song)
"Express Yourself" was written by Charles Wright and performed by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. It became their signature song after its release in 1970 on their album, Express Yourself.[1] The song was produced by Wright.[2]
| "Express Yourself" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band | ||||
| from the album Express Yourself | ||||
| B-side | "Living on Borrowed Time" | |||
| Released | August 1970 | |||
| Recorded | 1970 | |||
| Genre | R&B, Funk, soul | |||
| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Charles Wright | |||
| Producer(s) | Charles Wright | |||
| Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band singles chronology | ||||
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It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also their biggest hit on the U.S. R&B chart, reaching #3.[3][4]
The single was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1971, losing to The Delfonics song "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and ranked #57 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970.[5]
Chart performance
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[6] | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| U.S. R&B | 3 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 17 |
Covers and samples
- Idris Muhammad on his 1971 album, Black Rhythm Revolution![7]
- N.W.A sampled it in their 1989 song also titled "Express Yourself". It reached #40 on the U.S. R&B chart and #50 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] and was featured on their 1988 album, Straight Outta Compton.[9]
- Saccharine Trust on their 1989 album, Past Lives.[10]
- Roger and Fu-Schnickens on the 1993 soundtrack album Addams Family Values: Music from the Motion Picture.
- The House Jacks, for Tommy Boy Records, on their 1997 album, Funkwich.[11]
- Francis Rocco Prestia on his 1999 album, ...Everybody on the Bus with vocals by Tamara Champlin.[12]
- Snooks Eaglin on his 2002 album The Way It Is with Jon Cleary.[13]
- Tinchy Stryder sampled it on his 2009 album, Catch 22 on the song "Express Urself".[14]
- Labrinth sampled it on the track "Express Yourself" from his 2012 album Electronic Earth.[15] The song reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart.[16]
In popular culture
- Fu-Schnickens - over the end credits of the 1993 film Addams Family Values.[17]
- The 2000 film Remember the Titans.[18]
- Remix by Mocean Worker - during the end credits of the 2005 film Guess Who.[19]
- During the fight scene in the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.[20]
- Labrinth, in a 2012 commercial for Windows 8.[21]
- Teaser trailer for the 2017 film The Emoji Movie.[22]
References
- Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Express Yourself Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, "Express Yourself" single release Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Weiss, Jeff (2014-12-17). "Watts Soul Legend Charles Wright's "Mistake" Turned Into "Express Yourself"". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
- Hudak, Joseph. "Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, 'You're So Beautiful' - 20 R&B Albums Rolling Stone Loved in the 1970s You Never Heard". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
- "Billboard Top 100 - 1970". Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970-10-24. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- Idris Muhammad, Black Rhythm Revolution! Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- N.W.A., "Express Yourself" chart positions Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Saccharine Trust, Past Lives Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- The House Jacks, Funkwich Archived 2015-05-29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Francis Rocco Prestia, ...Everybody on the Bus Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Snooks Eaglin, The Way It Is Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Tinchy Stryder, Catch 22 Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Labrinth, Electronic Earth Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Labrinth, "Express Yourself" chart position Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Addams Family Values soundtrack Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Remember the Titans soundtrack Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Guess Who soundtrack Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith soundtrack Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- Retrieved April 17, 2018
- "The Emoji Movie" soundtrack Retrieved March 5, 2017.
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself on YouTube
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