Right On Time

Album: Right On Time (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Right On Time" is the title track to the second Brothers Johnson album. The song is all about dancing and having a good time; most of the lyric is the line, "In a minute, you'll be right on time" repeated.

    Like many Brothers Johnson songs, the lyric is in service to the groove. They were one of the top R&B/funk acts of the late '70s, with their first four albums going Platinum.
  • Quincy Jones produced the Right On Time album and co-wrote this song with George and Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson.
  • Quincy Jones brought in the Tower of Power horn section, who have played on many hit records by artists like Huey Lewis, Bonnie Raitt, Santana, Elton John and Aaron Neville, to play on this track. Emilio Castillo told Songfacts about working with Jones:

    "There was a real kinship there musically. He knew us from before because we had traveled with him on the road. It was a Quincy Jones and Tower of Power tour. He also was the one who gave me my first gold record. He was talking to us after the session with The Brothers Johnson and he said, 'You guys must have tons of Gold records,' and we told him, 'No we don't even have one.' He was amazed. He said, 'You guys don't have a Gold record? I can't believe that. This record is going to go Gold and when it does you're getting one.' He was true to his word, he sent me one."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.