I'll Be Good to You

"I'll Be Good to You" is a 1976 hit song by R&B duo the Brothers Johnson. George Johnson, one of the two Johnson brothers in the band, wrote the song after deciding to commit to a relationship with one woman, instead of dating several at a time. While George was recording a demo for the song, family friend Sonora Sam came by and added some lyrics.^[1] Brothers Johnson producer and mentor Quincy Jones heard the song, liked it, and convinced George to sing lead on the finished track. Released from their debut album, Look Out for #1, it was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot Singles Charts, peaking at number three, and a number one song on the Billboard R&B Charts during the summer of 1976.^[2] The single was later certified gold by the RIAA.

"I'll Be Good to You"
US single picture sleeve
Single by The Brothers Johnson
from the album Look Out for #1
B-side	"The Devil"
Released	April 1976
Genre	R&B, disco
Length	3:30 (Single Edit) 4:44 (Album Version)
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	George Johnson Louis Johnson Sonora Sam
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
The Brothers Johnson singles chronology
"I'll Be Good to You" (1976) "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" (1976)

"I'll Be Good to You"
Single by Quincy Jones featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan
from the album Back on the Block
Released	September 22, 1989
Genre	New jack swing
Length	4:17 (Single edit) 4:54 (Album Version)
Label	Qwest Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	George Johnson Louis Johnson Sonora Sam
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones singles chronology
"I'll Be Good to You" (1989) "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" (1990)

Thirteen years later in 1989, it became a number one R&B hit again, with Chaka Khan and Ray Charles doing the lead vocals on Quincy Jones' Back on the Block album, and went to number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.^[3] It also topped the American dance chart in early 1990.^[4] This was Ray Charles' first No. 1 R&B hit in twenty-four years.

Chart performance

The Brothers Johnson version

Weekly charts Chart (1976) Peak position Canada RPM[5] 12 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 3 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[6] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[7] 7

Year-end charts Chart (1976) Rank Canada [8] 120 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] 61 U.S. Cash Box [10] 68

Quincy Jones featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan version

Chart (1989–90)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11]	34
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12]	46
Germany (GfK)[13]	28
Ireland (IRMA)[14]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	38
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16]	7
UK Singles (OCC)[17]	21
US Billboard Hot 100[18]	18
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19]	30
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[21]	1

Personnel

• Ray Charles, Chaka Khan: lead vocals featured rap artist on remix Kyle "Magic" Jackson
• Quincy Jones: producer, vocal and rhythm arranger
• David Paich, Greg Phillinganes, Ian Prince: keyboards
• Louis Johnson: Moog synthesizer bass, Fender slap bass, background vocals
• Ian Underwood, Larry Williams, Michael Boddicker, Steve Porcaro: synthesizer programming
• Bruce Swedien: drum programming
• Harvey Mason: hi-hat, cymbals
• George Johnson: guitar, background vocals
• James Ingram, James Gilstrap, Phil Perry, Siedah Garrett, Syreeta Wright: background vocals

Cover versions

• It was later covered by Vanessa Williams and James "D. Train" Williams on Vanessa's 2005 studio album Everlasting Love.
• Boney James covered the song on his 2009 studio album Send One Your Love.