"Let it Whip" by The Dazz Band - March 15th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

I was trying to remember how I came to know this song, "Let it Whip" and The Dazz Band, and came to the conclusion that I’m not entirely sure…but it was either through my older sister who came home from the Army where she was stationed in Washington, DC with crates full of R&B, Urban Dance and Rap albums (the kind of stuff they weren’t playing on the radio very much farther North in New England where we were raised and where classic rock n’ roll was de rigueur. If not my sister then it was at Club 777, a teen dance club for the under 18-years-old set that would have played stuff like this. Wherever it was that this song came into my life, it has always been a song that gets me out on the dance floor every time I hear it (or dancing around the apartment more so these days!).  Ooo-woo-hooo!
　
The Dazz band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1976. It all started when Bobby Harris (lead guitarist/songwriter), Mike Calhoun (percussion), Kenny Pettus (drums), Isaac "Ike" Wiley Jr. and his brother Michael Wiley (bass) performed together in a jazz fusion band called Bell Telefunk. They began working as the house band at a lounge called Sonny Jones’ Kinsman Grill Lounge on a street called Dazz, and changed their name to Kinsman Dazz. In 1978 20^th Century Records signed Kinsman Dazz. Marvin Gaye was slated to produce their first album. The band flew out to Los Angeles, but Gaye had to back out due to illness. Harris requested that Philip Bailey the lead singer of Earth Wind and Fire produce the album in his place. Bailey produced their first album Kinsman Dazz, as well as their second album Dazz. The first single Kinsman Dazz released was called "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You" (1978) and "Cathin’ Up on You" (1979).
　
In 1980 the band changed their name again, this time to the Dazz Band. 20^th Century Records had gone out of business, and the Dazz Band was next signed to Motown Records and added 4 new members: Kevin Kendrick, Eric Fearman, Pierre DeMudd, and Sennie "Skip" Martin. The first album they released on Motown was called Invitation to Love (1980). They had their first hit single in 1980 with "Shake it Up".
　
In 1981 they released their second Motown album, Let the Music Play. It reached the Top 50 and spawned a minor hit with "Knock! Knock!". It was their next album 1982’s Keep it Live that spawned their big hit "Let it Whip" which reached #1 on the R&B charts and won the Dazz Band a Grammy Award for best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Over the years they scored other notable hits with "Party Right Here" (1983), "Joystick" (1984), and "Let It All Blow" (1984) which was their biggest hit in the U.K. In the 1990’s the band would get together to perform at festival in the U.S. and abroad.

Lyrics:

I want to see you with it
Sho' could treat you right
Give me just a minute of your time tonight

We both are here to have good fun
So let it whip
We'll get into grooving, love your body language
Baby let me know, you've got me sort of anxious

We both are here to have good fun
So let it whip

So let it whip
(Let's whip it, baby)
Child
(Let's whip it right)
Get a grip
(Let's whip it baby)
(Work it all night)
You'll get your trip, child
C'mon let it whip

Now that you can see
How you groove with me
What else can I do
To get closer to you?

We both are here to have the fun
So let it whip

We have the natural feeling
Obviously revealing
Let me be your paper man
I'd love to be at your command

We both are here to have the fun
So let it whip

So let it whip
(Let's whip it, baby)
Child
(Let's whip it right)
Get a grip
(Let's whip it baby)
(Work it all night)
You'll get your trip, child
C'mon let it whip

(There's no time to lose)
There is no time to lose
(You're the one I choose)
(You're so right)
You're the one I choose
I only wanna be with you
You're the one for me
Can't you see that I
(I won't waste your time)
I won't waste your time
(I sense something divine in you)
Something divine in you
(Yes I do)
Oo-woo-hoo