Buckle up for a ride with Jerry Harrison as he takes a solo spin with his electrifying track, "Rev It Up"!
The Song
"Rev It Up" is a dynamic funk-rock track by American musician Jerry Harrison, performed with his band Casual Gods. Released as the lead single from his second solo album, Casual Gods, in January 1988, the song features a distinctive guitar riff crafted by Harrison himself and Alex Weir of the funk band The Brothers Johnson. Harrison co-wrote the lyrics, which are about a boy and girl driving in a car, with John Sieger and Ernie Brooks, and also produced the track. Most of the Casual Gods album, including "Rev It Up," was recorded in a unique setting: a bomb shelter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Harrison describes the song as sounding like an Eddie Cochran track.
The Artist
Jeremiah Griffin Harrison is an American musician, songwriter, and producer, widely recognized for his pivotal roles in two influential bands: The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads. As the keyboardist and guitarist for the new wave pioneers Talking Heads from 1976 until their disbandment in 1991, Harrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group in 2002. Beyond his band work, Harrison has released three solo albums: The Red and the Black (1981), Casual Gods (1988), and Walk on Water (1990). After Talking Heads, he focused heavily on production, working with a diverse range of artists including Live, Violent Femmes, Crash Test Dummies, and No Doubt. Harrison is also a Harvard graduate and holds an honorary doctorate from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Chart Performance
"Rev It Up" achieved significant chart success, particularly in the US and Australasia. In the United States, the song debuted on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in February 1988, climbing to a peak position of number seven, where it remained for two weeks. It spent a total of 16 weeks in the chart's top 50.
Internationally, the single was a top-10 hit in Australia and New Zealand, reaching number three and number six respectively. In Europe, "Rev It Up" charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 90, and in West Germany, where it reached number 45. It stands as Harrison's only solo single to chart in both the UK and West Germany. The song also reached number 14 in South Africa.
Cultural Impact
While Jerry Harrison is primarily celebrated for his contributions to Talking Heads, "Rev It Up" offered a glimpse into his individual artistic vision, showcasing his continued exploration of funk-rock grooves. The song's distinctive sound and Harrison's touring with his Casual Gods band, which included notable musicians like Bernie Worrell and Alex Weir, helped solidify his identity as a solo artist and producer. The track allowed Harrison to maintain a musical presence and tour internationally during a period when Talking Heads' future was uncertain, bridging the gap between their later work and his prolific production career.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "Rev It Up," directed by Jerry Harrison himself and produced by Bell One Productions, was filmed in New York.
- The video famously features babies riding Big Wheels in a biker bar, creating a quirky and memorable visual.
- The Casual Gods album, which includes "Rev It Up," was mostly recorded in a bomb shelter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after Harrison returned to his hometown to support his mother.
- Alex Weir, who contributed the primary guitar riff to "Rev It Up," also played with Talking Heads during their Stop Making Sense tour.
- During a 2021 podcast, Harrison mentioned that he "just really liked" the title The Red and the Black for his first solo album, inspired by a pamphlet by Guy Debord, clarifying a common misconception about its origin.