"Lowdown" is a song originally recorded in 1976 byBoz Scaggs from his albumSilk Degrees. The song was co-written by Scaggs and keyboardistDavid Paich. Paich, along with fellow "Lowdown" session musicians bassistDavid Hungate and drummerJeff Porcaro, would later go on to form the bandToto.
Initially,Silk Degrees received a lukewarm commercial response and, similarly, the first single released from the album, "It's Over", barely cracked the top 40 onBillboard Pop Singles, peaking at #38. One day, however, aCleveland R&B radioDJ began playing "Lowdown" straight off the album; it was a time when DJs had much more say in what was played on their programs.[7] Public response was very positive and soon Scaggs' record label,Columbia, sent the song to other R&B-oriented radio stations for airplay.
It broke big onTop 40 stations as well, and when it was officially released as a single, it became Scaggs's first major hit, reaching #1 onCash Box Top 100 and number three onBillboard Pop Singles. It was also successful on theR&B and disco charts, peaking at number five on both. The song was also a major hit in Canada, peaking at number two. It was a minor hit in the UK, topping out at #28.
Scaggs is quoted as saying that the success of "Lowdown" was "an accident" and that, even though it was their favorite fromSilk Degrees, he and the others involved in the making of the song thought there "wasn't a chance in hell" that it would be released as a single.[7] The single was certified gold by theRIAA for sales of one million copies and would go on to win theGrammy Award for Best R&B Song at the19th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 1978, studio disco collective Joe Thomas recorded a version that appeared on their "Get in the wind" album.
In 1987, British jazzfunk duo Hindsight recorded a version of Lowdown for their album "Days like this". The song was released on a 12" single with "The Highlife" remix and the album version.
In 1996 Scaggs recorded an unplugged jazz version for hisFade into Light album.[8]
In 2001 saxophonistJimmy Sommers recorded asmooth jazz arrangement with rapperCoolio on background vocals. The song was released on his album360 Urban Groove.[9][10]
In 2010, Incognito recorded a version of the song for their album "Transatlantic RPM", sung by Mario Bondi and Chaka Khan. The song was released as a single and 12".
Also in 2010, Japanese jazz saxophonist Yaz, real name Yasuyuki Takagi, recorded a version for his "You can't say it in public" album.
In 2020 the English bandDisclosure sampled "Lowdown" in their track "Expressing What Matters".[11]
"Lowdown" plays in a singles bar in the 1977 American crime drama filmLooking for Mr. Goodbar.
"Lowdown" is heard in theDavid Fincher 2007 American mystery thriller movieZodiac, in the diner scene depicting real life character Robert "Bob" Graysmith telling Inspector Dave Toschi what he knew about the Zodiac Killer.[12]
John Travolta filmed a scene forSaturday Night Fever withDonna Pescow to the song "Lowdown"; however, Columbia Records refused to grant permission for the song to be used and a generic track was dubbed in place of "Lowdown".
^Molanphy, Chris (July 31, 2021)."What a Fool Believes Edition".Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast).Slate. RetrievedFebruary 20, 2024.
