Today’s classic song of the day is that perennial ear worm, “Come and Get Your Love,” by Redbone. The single was released in January of 1974 and peaked a few months later at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was and remains one of the most infectious tunes of the past fifty years and is one of my personal favorites.
“Come and Get Your Love” was written by the band’s guitarist, Lolly Vegas. It features some very hot drumming by the band’s drummer, Butch Rillera, and an arresting bit of electric sitar playing by Mr. Vegas. It’s just a fun little tune that really cooks. You gotta love it.
Younger listeners might know the song from from Marvel’s 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy movie, where it was included on Peter Quill’s ever-present ’70s mixtape. It’s also featured in Hulu’s Reservation Dogs streaming series, which is all about a group of Native American teens and their extended community. (Reservation Dogs is a wonderful show that, if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to watch right now. Really. I’m serious about that.)
In addition, I’m sure many of you have heard “Come and Get Your Love” in one of my favorite deliberately heartwarming commercials of all time, a 2018 spot for French telecom company Bouygues Telecom. Go ahead, watch it without tearing up a little. I dare ya.
Given all this exposure, you probably know the song and think you know all the lyrics. I’m betting you’re wrong. You see, many if not most people mishear the very first word of the song as “Hey.” That is not correct. The real lyric is “Hail,” not “Hey,” which you’ll realize if you listen closely. The first verse really goes like this:
Hail (hail)
What’s the matter with your head, yeah
Hail (hail)
What’s the matter with your mind
And your sign an-a, oh-oh-oh
Hail (hail)
Nothin’ the matter with your head
Baby find it, come on and find it
Hail, with it baby
‘Cause you’re fine
And you’re mine, and you look so divine
And now you know.
Redbone is a Native American band that often performs in tribal dress. The original band was comprised of brothers Lolly (lead guitar, electric sitar, and vocals) and Pat Vegas (bass and vocals), along with Tony Bellamy on rhythm guitar and Butch Rillera on drums. (That’s Lolly singing lead on “Come and Get Your Love.”) Lolly and Pat started playing professionally back in 1959, when they were just teenagers, and formed the band Redbone in 1969. They released their first album the following year and had their first big hit, “The Witch Queen of New Orleans,” in 1971.
By the way, “Vegas” was not the brothers’ given name; they shortened it from Vasquez-Vegas. They’re of mixed Yaqui, Shoshone, and Mexican heritage, which explains the band’s name. (Redbone is a Cajun term for a mixed-race person.)
Redbone released a total of six albums between 1970 and 1977. They started losing members shortly after but continued touring, with Pat Vegas being the only original member in the band today. (His brother Lolly passed away in 2010.)
Here’s something else—these guys really cooked live. Dig this 1974 live performance on The Midnight Special that they start out with a native chant then slam into the song. They take the tempo up a click or two and just rock out. I can listen to this all day and all of the night. Hail!
