Express Yourself (Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band song)
1970 single by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
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"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 | Charles Wright | |||
| Producer | Charles Wright | |||
| Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Covers and samples
- Idris Muhammad on his 1971 album, Black Rhythm Revolution![8]
- 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,[9] and was featured on their debut album, Straight Outta Compton, released the same year.[10]
- Kurtis Blow on his 1988 album, Back by Popular Demand.
- Saccharine Trust on their 1989 album, Past Lives.[11]
- 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.[12]
- Francis Rocco Prestia on his 1999 album, ...Everybody on the Bus with vocals by Tamara Champlin.[13]
- Snooks Eaglin on his 2002 album The Way It Is with Jon Cleary.[14]
- Jason Mraz in Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
- Tinchy Stryder sampled it on his 2009 album, Catch 22 on the song "Express Urself".[15]
- Labrinth sampled it on the track "Express Yourself" from his 2012 album Electronic Earth.[16] The song reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart.[17]