Page 19 - BiTS_08_AUGUST_2025

At the 1971 Monterey Jazz Festival the entire Saturday afternoon was devoted to
The Johnny Otis Show and his various guests, including Shuggie, Roy Brown, Pee
Wee Crayton, Ivory Joe Hunter, Roy Milton, Esther Phillips, Big Joe Turner and Eddie
‘Cleanhead’ Vinson. The performance was released on a double LP by Epic, and later

as a single cd.

1971 also saw the release of the second Shuggie Otis solo album, entitled “Freedom

Flight”. The album contained some fine blues playing on such tracks as the classic
‘Me and my Woman’ and the instrumental ‘Purple’, but also some more experimental
work.

The following year Johnny Otis brought his entire show to the UK, and I was really
looking forward to seeing young Shuggie play. However, I was to be a little
disappointed - the tasteful playing I had previously heard had been overtaken by
loud, blistering, almost ‘rock’ licks when he did his guest spot, and I have to say I

was more interested in the ‘regular’ guitarist, an “elderly” gentleman (whose name
I don’t know) playing a black Gibson Les
Paul Custom, who seemed to me much
more suitable for the band.

However, by this time it was clear that
Shuggie was branching out, and using his

influences to explore new ideas in his solo
career, although he continued to perform
with his father’s band. His next solo project
did not appear until 1975, having taken
nearly 3 years to complete, with his final

Epic album ‘Inspiration Information’,
which continued his wider musical
journey. Shuggie played every instrument

apart from strings and brass. The title
track was released as a single, and entered
the Billboard Top 100, although the album
itself was not a great commercial success.

Subsequent to the release of “Inspiration Information” Shuggie was approached by
Billy Preston, on behalf of the Rolling Stones, with an offer to join them for their
forthcoming world tour, but he declined. He also declined an offer from Quincy Jones

to work together on an album.

By this time Epic were apparently getting a little tired of waiting for product from

Shuggie, so he was dropped from the label, although he continued to work on his
father’s projects throughout the 1970s. From there on he was unable to secure a
record deal, and was all but forgotten about until the “Inspiration Information” album
was picked up by Prince and Lenny Kravitz and became something of an ‘inspiration’

for the burgeoning rare groove and acid jazz scene. As a result, the album was