Jeffrey Osborne ~ Don't You Get So Mad 1983 Funky Purrfection Version

Jeffrey Linton Osborne was born March 9, 1948 the youngest of 12 children in Providence, Rhode Island. His father was Clarence "Legs" Osborne well known trumpeter who played with jazz greats Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington. Clarence passed away when Jeffrey was 13, but it did not deter his wish to pursue a music career.

Two years later he was playing drums for the O'Jays replacing their regular drummer who was unable to nail down what the O'Jays heard in their head and ended up drumming for them for the following two weeks. At one nightclub he was on the same bill as Love Men Ltd who invited him to drum for the band, but he had to move to Los Angeles.

After a heart to heart with his Mom, she encouraged him to take the job. Love Men Ltd changed their name to LTD (Love, Trust, Devotion) and bumped Jeffrey up to lead singer. He left the band after a stellar run of hits in 1982 and began a solo career.

His first album gave him two Top 40 hits with his second LP "Stay With Me Tonight" which gave him three Top 30 hits with "Don't You Get So Mad" peaking at #25 in the summer of 1983.

It caught my ear, I went looking for an extended version and never found one and since I'm on this crazy run of remixes it popped up in my consciousness and I got busy on it. The spring/summer of 1983 was actually the beginning of a new life in Toronto, as I left Quebec City behind. It was scary stuff, my dad had just passed away and I got a job and an apt in a new city and moved my meager belongings, a few 18x18x18 boxes, two suitcases and a portable TV so I looked up a mover in the paper and asked about the rate, and he said it was 20 an hour. So I reserved and told him where to meet me.

When it came time, he brought a guy with him and it took all of ten minutes to load and leave. When we got to my apt, we all got out and walked to the back when he demanded I pay him $40. I was shocked! All I had was the twenty we agreed upon and some change as I had not received my Employment Insurance and was dead ass broke. I pointed out that we did not need a second and he replied that he always brought a second so cough up the $40 or we leave with your stuff.

I was lucky enough to be a block away from my new job, so I stopped in and told my boss about it, he called the police who got there in record time and they went back with me to confront the would be thieves. The outcome was in my favor, I handed over the 20 after they took my stuff off the truck and put it on the sidewalk. He was not happy that the cops told him that if he tried to collect any more money or contact me, that I could call him (he gave me his card in front of him) and he would take care of it.

I never saw or heard from him again. Serves him right. See I didn't get mad like the song says....but I did get even.