"Peanut Butter" by Twennynine with Lenny White

Song#:  0032
Date:  02/02/1980
Debut:  90
Peak:  83
Weeks:  4
Genre:  R&B, Funk



Pop Bits:  Jazz-fusion drummer Lenny White was in Chick Corea's Return to Forever group until it disbanded in 1977. After that, White had some other fusion projects before signing with Elektra and issuing the first Twennynine album "Best of Friends." It was a drastic shift going from Corea's jazz-rock-fusion to a pure urban sound, and like anyone who jumps genres (especially from purist ones like jazz), White got his share of backlash. But the group was able to get three albums under their belt with "Peanut Butter" scratching the singles chart.

ReduxReview:  So a very respected jazz musician makes a funk album and comes up with this borderline novelty song? Now, I dearly love peanut butter but I'm not sure I really like "Peanut Butter." In one way it is kind of hilarious and almost a goof on the funk songs at that time. In another way it is pretty much awful. Actually, the balance of the "Best of Friends" album has some solid songs (including an album-ending fusion instrumental) that are nothing like this. I'll give some points for pedigree and that it makes me chuckle, but that's as far as I can go with "Peanut Butter." It just uncomfortably sticks to the roof of my ears...

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Lenny White got a big career boost early on when he played on the sessions for one of the most influential jazz albums in history - Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew."

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