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Let's Go Get Stoned

"Let's Go Get Stoned" is a soul and song written by the songwriting trio of , Nickolas Ashford, and Valerie Simpson. First recorded and released by the group as a single in May 1965, it gained widespread popularity through ' cover version, issued in February 1966 on ABC-Paramount Records, which peaked at number 31 on the and number 1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart for one week. The song's lyrics depict a narrator locked out of his home by his romantic partner, who then resolves to seek comfort by going out drinking with friends, using "stoned" in the slang sense of becoming intoxicated from alcohol rather than marijuana, despite later cultural associations with drug use amid the 1960s counterculture. This interpretation aligns with the era's common vernacular for heavy drinking, and the track's upbeat, horn-driven arrangement underscores its bluesy, resilient tone. Ray Charles' rendition, produced during his recovery from heroin addiction, became one of his signature hits from the mid-1960s, blending gospel influences with R&B. Since its release, "Let's Go Get Stoned" has been covered extensively across genres, highlighting its enduring appeal in , , and music. Notable versions include Ronnie Milsap's 1965 country-inflected take, James Brown's funky 1966 recording, Joe Cocker's raw, extended performance at the 1969 Festival, and more contemporary renditions such as the featuring in 2024. With over 40 documented covers, the song remains a staple in live performances and tributes to classic American songwriting.

Background and origins

Songwriting and composition

"Let's Go Get Stoned" was written by the songwriting trio of Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, and (also known as Jo Armstead or Joshie Armstead) in 1965. The collaboration emerged from their early partnership in City's scene, where Ashford and Simpson, who met in 1964, began working with Armstead, a former Ikette and aspiring songwriter, to craft material for various artists. This team operated independently before joining Motown Records later that year, producing songs that blended R&B sensibilities with broader pop appeal. The song's creation stemmed from a moment of creative frustration during an unproductive writing session at their publisher's office. As Ashford later recalled, after struggling to compose, one of the trio jokingly suggested, "Oh, let’s go get stoned," referring initially to getting drunk as a way to unwind. Inspired by the phrase, they spontaneously sang it while running down the office steps, turning the lighthearted remark into the song's refrain. The next day, they expanded it into a full composition, with Ashford focusing on lyrics and Simpson handling the melody and arrangement. Their publisher, Ed Silvers, recognized its potential and encouraged them to refine it, envisioning it as an uptempo party track suitable for artists like Ray Charles, though it was first pitched to others including Ronnie Milsap and The Coasters. Musically, "Let's Go Get Stoned" is rooted in and R&B, incorporating influences through its rhythmic groove and expressive phrasing. The structure follows a straightforward verse-chorus form, featuring call-and-response elements that enhance its communal, celebratory feel—evident in the repeated urging listeners to "let's go get stoned." Simpson's melodic contributions provide an infectious, mid-tempo bounce, while Ashford's emphasize , portraying as a temporary refuge from life's hardships like relationship woes and financial woes, without explicit endorsement of substance use. This reflected mid-1960s urban experiences, capturing a subtle nod to the era's social tensions and the allure of fleeting relief in everyday struggles.

Original recording by The Coasters

The Coasters recorded the original version of "Let's Go Get Stoned" on April 21, 1965, in an unknown studio. The session was produced by group member and arranged and conducted by Bert Keyes. Written by the songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, and Josephine Armstead, the track exemplified The Coasters' characteristic and R&B style, delivering the lyrics with humorous, energetic flair typical of their novelty-oriented sound. Released as a (Atco 45-6356) in May 1965, "Let's Go Get Stoned" served as the A-side, backed by a cover of "Money Honey" on the B-side. Aimed primarily at the R&B audience, the release achieved modest commercial success amid the dominance of the acts on the pop charts. It failed to enter the , peaking outside the top 100, though it received some praise for the group's tight vocal harmonies and lively performance.

Ray Charles version

Recording and release

Ray Charles recorded "Let's Go Get Stoned" in 1966 at his own Studios in , . The track was the first recorded at the newly opened studio. Produced by Joe Adams through Charles's Tangerine Records label, distributed by ABC-Paramount. The session featured backing vocals from and a arrangement incorporating horns and for a fuller, more layered sound. Key personnel included longtime collaborator David "Fathead" Newman on , contributing a prominent solo that highlighted the song's bluesy undertones. In adapting the song—originally recorded by as source material—Charles slowed the tempo significantly from its upbeat, R&B-driven pace, infusing it with gospel-soul depth through his emotive phrasing and call-and-response interplay with . This transformation emphasized emotional vulnerability, aligning with Charles's longstanding affinity for interpreting standards in a personal, soulful manner. The single was issued by ABC-Paramount in May 1966, backed with the non-album track "The Train," and appeared on Charles's album Crying Time. It was positioned as a comeback release following Charles's legal troubles and successful rehabilitation from addiction, marking his return to recording after a period of personal challenges.

Commercial performance

Ray Charles' version of "Let's Go Get Stoned," released in May 1966, marked a significant commercial resurgence for the artist following a period of personal challenges. The single debuted on the at number 83 in late May 1966, climbed steadily, and peaked at number 31 on July 16, 1966, spending a total of nine weeks on the chart. On the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, it entered at number 22 on June 4, 1966, ascended to number 1 on July 23, 1966—holding the top spot for one week—and charted for 13 weeks overall, becoming Charles' first R&B number-one hit in several years. The recording achieved strong sales, exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States. It reached the top 50 in . Several factors propelled its success, including robust radio airplay that capitalized on Charles' recent recovery from , framing the release as a triumphant return and resonating with audiences through its themes of and resilience. The track's infectious R&B groove, enhanced by ' backing vocals, facilitated crossover from R&B to pop radio, mirroring the era's soul hits like Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman," which dominated the Hot 100 earlier in 1966 and exemplified similar genre-blending dynamics.

Notable cover versions

Early covers (1965–1966)

One of the earliest covers of "Let's Go Get Stoned" came from , who recorded the song in October 1965 as the B-side to his single "Never Had It So Good" on Scepter Records (SCE 12109). Milsap's rendition infused the track with a soulful, R&B-inflected twist reflective of his early career focus on genre-blending sounds, though it did not chart independently while the A-side reached No. 19 on Billboard's R&B chart. This version preceded ' more prominent adaptation and highlighted the song's quick uptake in circles following ' original release earlier that year. In the UK, included a on their EP No Living Without Loving, released in November 1965 by and topping the British EP chart in December. The group's take adopted a punchy rock style, driven by Manfred Mann's signature organ riffs and harmonica accents, transforming the original's playful R&B into a high-energy pop track suited for the era's beat group sound. It exemplified the rapid transatlantic adaptation of American hits amid the Invasion wave. James Brown released a funky reinterpretation in 1966 on Smash Records as a single (S-2064) backed with "Our Day Will Come," emphasizing his signature rhythmic grooves and brass-driven arrangement. Though it garnered airplay in R&B markets, the single achieved only modest commercial success without cracking the upper echelons of the R&B chart, overshadowed by Charles' concurrent No. 1 hit. These early covers, emerging in the wake of ' 1965 original and alongside ' rising 1966 version, reflected the song's immediate appeal across R&B, , and scenes but lacked significant international breakthroughs beyond regional or niche chart performance.

Later covers and reinterpretations

In the decades following its initial release, "Let's Go Get Stoned" inspired numerous reinterpretations across genres, with over 40 recorded covers documented, many emphasizing live energy or stylistic fusions that extended its roots into , , , and . These later versions often highlighted the song's laid-back groove and wry lyrics, adapting it for concert settings or thematic albums rather than chart-driven singles. During the 1970s, the song gained traction in and contexts through high-profile live recordings. delivered a raw, extended rendition at East in 1970, featured on his album Mad Dogs & Englishmen (A&M Records), transforming the track into a gritty, communal anthem with his raspy vocals and horn-driven arrangement. Similarly, Billy Preston's upbeat funk-infused take appeared on his 1974 live album Live European Tour (A&M Records), where he paid homage to ' influence with organ flourishes and a playful scatting style during European performances. closed the decade with a soulful version on her 1976 album Lady's Choice (), blending gritty guitar riffs and backing vocals for a more introspective, blues-tinged vibe. The 1980s and 1990s saw the song incorporated into medleys and blues explorations, reflecting its versatility in ensemble settings. The included it in a medley on their 1979 album (Polydor Records), merging it with elements for a smooth, radio-friendly flow that underscored the track's enduring party appeal. In the realm, Lucky Peterson offered a Hammond organ-led reinterpretation in 1997 on Move (Verve Records), slowing the tempo to emphasize emotional depth and piano-driven melancholy. Into the 2000s and beyond, jazz and contemporary blues artists reimagined the song instrumentally or in live formats, often as tributes. Jazz guitarist provided an upbeat, horn-backed instrumental on his 2005 Ray Charles tribute album That's What I Say (), featuring guests like and shifting the focus to improvisational solos that highlighted the composition's rhythmic backbone. The captured a fiery, slide-guitar driven live version in 2006 on Songlines Live! (), infusing jam-band energy with southern blues flair. More recently, the has frequently performed it live, such as a 2015 rendition at released in 2025 (Fantasy Records), where Susan Tedeschi's vocals and ' guitar work add a rootsy, expansive jam element, and the featuring in 2024. Vocalist Crystal Thomas delivered a smooth R&B cover in 2021 on Now Dig This! (independent release), maintaining the song's escapist theme in a modern soul context. The song's cultural footprint extends to media appearances, notably through Cocker's electrifying 1969 Woodstock performance, which was immortalized in the 1970 Woodstock and amplified its countercultural resonance. While absent from major sampling in or electronic music, it persists in live repertoires and tribute projects, underscoring its timeless draw for artists seeking to evoke relaxation and rebellion without significant commercial revivals.

References

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