Brick House by The Commodores
Brick House is one of the most fun songs to play from the 1970's. The original Commodores recording is timeless but check out the live Lionel Richie version for some arrangement ideas and more advanced drumming. If you are new to this song learn the original first. You will never go wrong playing the original. The intro drum fill and the "+2" snare hits in bar 6 are signature parts you have to play. Everything else is subject to taste. If you play those signature parts you're band will be smiling. Ending ideas: You can seque to another funk song like Play That Funky Music. You can lift the ending from the live Lionel version. The one I've seen the most is to end short with the dotted 8th horn hits at the end of the chorus.(1)+,(2)e,3. It's written out at the end of the intro in your drum chart.
You have to see this live Lionel Richie version! It's blocked from embedding but that won't keep me from sharing it with you. Just click Amazing Live Version on youtube
In pop culture The song was featured as the opening musical number in the films Muppets from Space. The song was also the wrestlers' Aaron Stevens, Beth Phoenix, and Shelly Martinez entrance theme while in Ohio Valley Wrestling. The song was also featured in an episode of the George Lopez show in which The Commodores (excluding Lionel Richie) make a guest appearance. In the episode the main protagonist (George Lopez as himself)'s mother Bennie Lopez's ex-boyfriend puts their relationship in jeopardy when he abandons her for 40 days of solitude after his ex-girlfriend attempts to take him back. He attempts to win back Bennie's affection by inviting The Commodores to play a song, Bennie incorrectly guesses the song will be "Three Times a Lady" commenting "You really think you'll win me back with 'Three Times a Lady'?" but instead they begin to perform "BrickHouse", which coincidently describes Bennie's personality. It was also utilized on an episode of Scrubs. The above article and Lionel Richie image is from Wikipedia
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