Shake It Up by The Vibrations: A Funky Blast from 2006 That Still Slaps
Alright, let’s cut to the chase. Shake It Up ain’t your grandma's soul record—this thing is raw, gritty, and dripping with that old-school funk vibe that Chess Records knows how to bottle up so damn well. Released back in ’06 (yeah, I know, not exactly ancient history, but still), this album hits like a freight train of grooves. And no, it ain’t perfect, but who cares when you’ve got tracks like “MAKE IT LAST” and “SHAKE IT UP” slapping harder than most stuff out today?
First off, “MAKE IT LAST.” Man, this track grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The bassline? Ridiculous. Like, legit ridiculous. It rumbles through your chest like some kind of musical earthquake, while the vocals glide over it smooth as butter. You can hear the desperation in the singer's voice—he wants that love to stick around, and honestly? So do you. This jam sticks with ya because it’s real. No fluff, no fake-deep nonsense. Just straight-up emotion wrapped in a killer melody.
Then there’s “SHAKE IT UP”—and yeah, they named the album after it for a reason. This song’s got swagger. From the second those horns kick in, you’re hooked. It’s one of those tracks where you don’t just tap your foot—you’re on your feet, moving whether you wanna or not. The energy here is infectious, man. They repeat the title enough times to drill it into your brain, but instead of getting annoying, it feels like an invitation. Like, c’mon, loser, get up and shake something!
Now, sure, the rest of the album has its moments too—“Gonna Get Your Love” is sweet enough to give you cavities—but these two tracks are what make Shake It Up unforgettable. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s just reminding you why the wheel was invented in the first place. Pure, unapologetic funk/soul goodness.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this album feels like finding a hidden treasure in a thrift store bin. It shouldn’t be this good, right? But somehow it is. Maybe that’s why it sneaks up on you. Or maybe it’s just proof that sometimes, the best things come from places you least expect. Either way, if you haven’t spun this yet, fix that ASAP. Trust me, your speakers will thank you.
Oh, and hey—one last thing. If anyone asks why you’re suddenly obsessed with dusty old funk records, just tell ‘em Vibrations told you to. Works every time.
