Da’Butt – E.U. | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#35) & R&B (#1); 1988

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Go-go exploded out of Washington D.C. in the late 1970’s: a percussion-driven jam soundtrack to underground parties pioneered by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers. The drummer pounded, Chuck ad-libbed, and the audience shouted back: one long non-stop extravaganza of primal music.

And all this stemmed from the D.C. Knights of Columbus Hall Thursday night dance tradition where the groove never stopped. In the wake of Brown’s 1979 smash Bustin’ Loose go-go expanded into the mainstream.

More bands joined the scene including E.U., for Experience Unlimited, whose Greg “Sugar Bear” Elliott and Tino had once worked together in a Hendrix-inspired rock band.

Go-go flourished through the 80’s and, just as its nationwide breakthrough seemed assured, a shooting at an April, 1987 concert brought the media hounds down on it. E.U. still managed a not-quite-go-go hit with Da’Butt, written by ex-Miles Davis bassist Marcus Miller, recorded for Spike Lee’s School Daze movie.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Marcus Miller
• Robert Clivilles
• David Cole

Lyrics Written by:

• Marcus Miller
• Mark Stevens