James Brown Says Stay In School

[Codfromderby]

saw a young skateboard type person today with a tshirt with a picture of james brown and written underneath was james brown says stay in school,was this an lp or some sort of promotion thing in the states,?

[Guest MBarrett]

I'm sure it must have been a campaign in the U.S.

I've got the Rhino 4 CD Otis Redding box set and there's a short track on there - jingle style - with an "Otis says Stay in School" theme.

Sorry I can't dig it out for a few days - but I'm sure someone else can help with the words.

MB

[Guest Dave Turner]

saw a young skateboard type person today with a tshirt with a picture of james brown and written underneath was james brown says stay in school,was this an lp or some sort of promotion thing in the states,?

The Stay In School campaign in the late 60's was I believe influenced by James Brown's "Don't Be A Dropout" from his Raw Soul album. Obviously it was a campaign to encourage kids to run the full term of their education and get educated. Quite a few artists were involved with the campaign at various periods, James Brown, Otis Redding, Dionne Warwick, O.C. Smith and others. The campaign is still running I believe but not sure what artists nowadays are in any way involved.

[Guest MBarrett]

Here are the lyrics to the Otis Redding Stay in School "jingle".

Wish I had a sound file - he even manages to make something like this sound cool.

The first bit is spoken and the second part is sung.

OTIS REDDING

Stay In School

Hi, this is the big O, Otis Redding

I was just standing here thinking about you

Thought I'd write a song about you

And dedicate it to you

Take a listen

If you didn't go back to school this year

your really not groovy

Maybe you feel that school is a drag

it's just don't moving

But did you ever think about how square you look standing

in an employment line because school didn't empty you

You really ought to think about it

Without an education you could only be a tramp

Grow ?grain? shoes, no haircut, just plain ole country

Don't worry 'bout the fellows gonna calling you green

Because your heading no future condition

You really ought to think about it

And further motto than that Otis Redding saved you very wise

Because you'll be at the top

When they get that and if they make it

When they get that and if they make it

When they get that and if they make it

You really ought to think about it

Think about it

Really ought to think about it

Edited April 24, 2011 by MBarrett

[De-to]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oczqp8tytQ

[Philippe]

There's a Stax LP( various artists compilation) on the subject :

[Codfromderby]

thats the one, cheers for that

[De-to]

and this brenda holloway rare 45,