I'll Be Good to You

"I'll Be Good to You" is a 1976 song by R&B duo the Brothers Johnson. George Johnson, one of the two Johnson brothers in the band, wrote the song after deciding to commit to a relationship with one woman, instead of dating several at a time. While George was recording a demo for the song, family friend Sonora Sam came by and added some lyrics.^[1] Brothers Johnson producer and mentor Quincy Jones heard the song, liked it, and convinced George to sing lead on the finished track. Released from their debut album, Look Out for #1, it was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number three, and a number one song on the Billboard R&B chart during the summer of 1976.^[2] The single was later certified gold by the RIAA.

B-side"The Devil"

ReleasedApril 1976

GenreR&B, disco

Length3:30 (single edit)
4:44 (album version)

Quick facts Single by The Brothers Johnson, from the album Look Out for #1 ...

"I'll Be Good to You"
US single picture sleeve
Single by The Brothers Johnson
from the album Look Out for #1
B-side	"The Devil"
Released	April 1976
Genre	R&B, disco
Length	3:30 (single edit) 4:44 (album version)
Label	A&M
Songwriters	George Johnson Louis Johnson Sonora Sam
Producer	Quincy Jones
The Brothers Johnson singles chronology
"I'll Be Good to You" (1976) "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" (1976)

Close

ReleasedSeptember 22, 1989

GenreNew jack swing

Length4:17 (single edit)
4:54 (album version)

Label

• Qwest
• Warner Bros.

Quick facts from the album Back on the Block, Released ...

"I'll Be Good to You"
Single by Quincy Jones featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan
from the album Back on the Block
Released	September 22, 1989
Genre	New jack swing
Length	4:17 (single edit) 4:54 (album version)
Label	Qwest Warner Bros.
Songwriters	George Johnson Louis Johnson Sonora Sam
Producer	Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones singles chronology
"I'll Be Good to You" (1989) "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" (1990)
Audio
"I'll Be Good to You" by Quincy Jones on YouTube

Close

Thirteen years later in 1989, it became a number one R&B hit again, with Chaka Khan and Ray Charles doing the lead vocals on Quincy Jones' Back on the Block album, and went to number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.^[3] It also topped the Billboard Dance chart in early 1990.^[4] This was Ray Charles' first No. 1 R&B hit in twenty-four years.