Jump to content

Soul Great Syl Johnson Finds 'justice' At Last

By Mike in News Archives
Published 22 Nov 2010

 Share

Syl Johnson is sitting in the South Side offices of his Numero Group record label and examining a 40-year-old portrait of himself in a rare moment when he wasn't playing a gig, running a recording session or working a day job. The face in the photo is partially shaded, slightly ominous, deadly serious, staring down at the camera as if to say, "I've got better things to do than stand around posing for photographs."

"That's a guy who didn't drink, who didn't smoke, who didn't chase women, who was never very far from music," Johnson says when asked about his younger self. "I was good. Like Obama - he was a community organizer, right? - I knew how to organize. You couldn't organize and be a whiskey head."

The organizer appears on the cover of "Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology" (Numero Group), a four-CD, six-LP box set that is in many ways the Chicago label's crowning achievement, and quite possibly Johnson's as well. It documents the earliest portion of his career in Chicago as a quadruple-threat singer-musician-songwriter-producer who released quality music at a steady rate but never quite ascended to star level. Johnson trafficked in every style of the day, presaging some trends, piggybacking on others. "I've got to get over," Johnson sang on a 1965 single, and he worked all the angles: soul and funk, but also blues, pleading ballads, a hint of pop, protest music.

full article at

http://leisureblogs....ce-at-last.html



 Share
Go to articles

Members Comments

Recommended Comments

Mike

We're proud to be putting Syl Johnson on stage 2 Fridays from now at Dig Deeper in Brooklyn on Dec 3rd, it's going to be superb, for any of you lucky enough to be around New York then here's all the details:

https://www.fryer-man...ic.php?f=1&t=58

may wanna add it to the event guide

if enter location it'll show on map as well which is a bit light on us events

Link to comment
Social source share
Guest JIM BARRY

Guest JIM BARRY

Posted

We're proud to be putting Syl Johnson on stage 2 Fridays from now at Dig Deeper in Brooklyn on Dec 3rd, it's going to be superb, for any of you lucky enough to be around New York then here's all the details:

https://www.fryer-man...ic.php?f=1&t=58

like the great man sang...."it took a whole lot of doing but we did it"..........magic stuff.:lol:

Link to comment
Social source share
Guest oldsoulgit

Guest oldsoulgit

Posted

saw syl johnson at dave box's birthday at the frobisher he was awesome

Me and the late Glenn Hunter were there aswell, fantastic night, cheers Jim.

Link to comment
Social source share
Anoraks Corner

A worthy project and a sumptuous piece of packaging...but why did the guy in the YouTube clip insist on throwing the discs down to give it some kinda 'weight = quality' approach!? Did anyone else cringe when he cut through the packaging...no protection over the cover, so the blade could've gone and cut the sleeve there and then...ouch!

:lol:

Link to comment
Social source share
KevH

ehhhh...... Pitchfork only gives it 6.8 out of 10. Syl is not as raw as James Brown, not as funny as Joe Tex & not as successful as Al Green. Numero shouldn't have bothered & just done a concise single CD..............

James Brown biographer Douglas Wolk reviews Syl Johnson's Complete Mythology

An "also ran" with a most distinctive voice.Love all his stuff.Now what am i doing DEC 2nd onwards???:rolleyes: .

One i like is "Take me back" on Twinight,soundclip anyone?

Link to comment
Social source share
cementman

Saw him in Perth Oz 18 months ago. Totally brilliant and so in control of his guitar. Did "Is it because I'm black" absolute awesome poignant record. Real energy in his performance considering he's on the wrong side of 70. His show had something for everyone, ballads, soul and blues thumpers and funk.

Well known producer too, apparently took a girl from the band backing him in Australia over to the States and is writing and producing for her. He hung around after the show and chatted until we got thrown out. Seemed genuinely appreciative of the almost all white audiences knowledge and love of soul music.

Didn't drink when he was younger, but I think he likes a smoke, (allegedly) even though his wife is a police commisioner!

I'd love to see him perform again and will definitely buy the anthology.

Link to comment
Social source share



×
×
  • Create New...