“Express Yourself” (Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band)

Today’s classic early ’70s song of the day is “Express Yourself” by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. Released in August of 1970, this funky little tune peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on Billboard’s R&B chart. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but lost to “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” by the Delfonics, another terrific early ’70s soul song.

“Express Yourself” is notable for that very funky bass line played by Melvin Dunlap. The funky drums were provided by James Gadson and the guitar licks were by Benorce Blackmon. (Blackmon had replaced original guitarist Al McKay, who later joined up with Earth, Wind & Fire and co-wrote EWF’s big hit, “Sing a Song.”) “Express Yourself” was written by band leader Charles Wright, who also supplied the lead vocals.

I particularly like the twisty lyrics that go:

It’s not what you look like
When you’re doin’, what you’re doin’
It’s what you’re doin’, when you’re doin’
What you look like you’re doin’

Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band were a highly influential L.A.-based funk group. Wright formed the group in 1968 and they had a number of hit singles, including former classic song of the day “Love Land,” which hit #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, also in 1970.

Wright’s “Express Yourself” was sampled by N.W.A. for their similarly named 1988 track. That group didn’t initially get Wright’s permission to use his tune. When Wright heard the N.W.A tune on the radio, he promptly called up N.W.A.’s record label:

“The lady who answered the phone said, ‘I told them they couldn’t get away with that.,’ She gave me Ice Cube’s number and I called him and was like, ‘You can’t do that, that’s my song.’ He apologized profusely and I got my royalties.”

And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, N.W.A.’s music video for their “Express Yourself,” with liberal sampling of the Charles Wright tune.