Music / Inspiration Information

Cover art for the record's initial release

Cover art for it's re-release by Luaka Bop

We had a rainy day
I'm in a sneak-back situation
Here's a pencil pad
I'm gonna spread some information

- "Inspiration Information"

Inspiration Information is the third studio album by singer-songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Shuggie Otis.

His debut project as a producer and as an adult (he had been 17 recording his previous album), it would take three years to complete. Straining his relationship with Epic Records in the process and nullifying their three album agreement after his third record never came. The record would also heavily make use of analog drum machines. Which at the time were only used by a handful of select musicians. Most notable at the time, Sly Stone, a noted influence on Shuggie.

The album commercially underperformed Epic's expectations and Otis was dropped from the label following its release. However, it would earn comparisons fellow psychedelic and jazz-inspired soul artists such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, and reportedly impressed Sly Stone himself upon his first hearing of it. It would also gain a cult following within the acid jazz and rare groove movements and would be admired by other noted musicians such as Prince and David Byrne, who would later re-release the record on his independent label, Luaka Bop with tracks taken from his previous record Freedom Flight.

Tracklist

Side A

1. "Inspiration/Information" (4:07)
2. "Island Letter" (4:40)
3. "Sparkle City" (5:55)
4. "Aht Uh Mi Hed" (4:14)

Side B

1. "Happy House" (1:08)
2. "Rainy Day" (2:39)
3. "XL-30" (2:05)
4. "Pling!" (4:24)
5. "Not Available" (2:26)

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Tropes, not available

• Instrumentals: All of Side B is chock full of them withgthe exception of "Happy House".
• Funetik Title: "Aht Uh Mi Hed" ("Out Of My Head")
• Miniscule Rocking: "Happy House" at a minute and eight seconds.
• Non-Appearing Title: There are multiple, but it is most apparent on "Inspiration/Information."
• One-Word Title: "Pling!"
• Record Producer: This would be the first record where Shuggie would receive production credits as well as his first record not produced by his father.
• Title Track: "Inspiration/Information"

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