Archie Bell & The Drells--Tighten Up (1968)

     Archie Bell was from a family of high achievers. His brother Jerry was a karate champion and lead singer of the the Dazz Band. Another brother, Ricky played in the NFL with Tampa Bay and San Diego.
     In 1967, the T.S.U. Tornadoes had developed a cool instrumental riff, but nothing else beyond that. Skipper Lee Frazer, a Houston disc jockey who worked with T.S.U. and the Drells suggested they get together and build a song around that riff. Thus was born, "Tighten Up".
     Shortly after it was recorded in 1967, Bell was drafted into the army. While he was serving, the song became a huge hit in Houston and was picked up by Atlantic Records and released in early 1968, and it soon reached #1 in March of that year. Interestingly enough, Archie was in a hospital bed while that was happening, as he had been shot in the leg during his tour of Vietnam. Upon recovering, he was allowed to tour some and was discharged in April of 1969.
     Archie and the Drells continued to perform until 1980, when Bell left to pursue a solo career...