Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson (actually Sylvester Thompson , born July 1, 1936 in Holly Springs (Mississippi) ) is an American musician ( vocals , guitar , harmonica ) of Chicago blues , soul and rhythm and blues .
Live and act
Syl Johnson, a brother of bassist Mac Thompson and guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson , worked in Chicago a. a. with Magic Sam , Billy Boy Arnold, and Junior Wells ; In 1959 Jimmy Reed recorded for Vee-Jay Records . In the same year he presented his first album under his own name on Federal Records . From 1959 to 1962 he toured with Howlin 'Wolf ; then Willie Mitchell signed him for the local label Hi Records. Around 1970 Johnson recorded for Twilight and Hi; he had a hit with "Come on Sock It to Me", a release from the album Is It Because I'm Black (Twilight, 1970). He also had success in this decade with the titles Is It Because I'm Black? and Take Me to the River (1975), which reached # 7 on the R&B charts and was Johnson's biggest hit. In later years he still recorded for the Shama and Boardwalk label . In 2002 he recorded Johnson's Are Better Than One with his brother Jimmy Two . Johnson was also active as a music producer (including Otis Clay's "Hard Working Woman")
Discography
Albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
R&B | |||
1974 | Back For A Taste Of Your Love |
R&B19 (13 weeks) R&B |
Hi
|
1976 | Total explosion |
R&B56 (2 weeks) R&B |
Hi
|
More albums
- 1968: Dresses Too Short (Twinight)
- 1970: Is It Because I'm Black? (Twinight)
- 1974: Diamond in the Rough (Hi)
- 1979: Uptown Shakedown (Hi)
- 1980: Bring Out The Blues In Me (Shama)
- 1982: Ms. Fine Brown Frame (Boardwalk)
- 1983: Suicide Blues (Isabel)
- 1988: Foxy Brown, Volume 1, December 1988 (Shama)
- 1994: Back in the Game ( Delmark Records )
- 1995: This Time Together by Father and Daughter (Twinight) with Syleena Johnson
- 1995: Bridge to a Legacy (Antone's)
- 1999: Talkin 'About Chicago (Delmark)
- 2000: Hands of Time (Hep 'Me Records)
- 2002: Two Johnsons are Better Than One (Evangeline) with Jimmy Johnson
- 2003: Straight Up (P-Vine PCD-25004, Japan)
- 2013: Syl Johnson With Melody Whittle, featuring Syleena Johnson (Twinight 4086-CD2)
Compilations
- 2000: The Complete Syl Johnson on Hi Records
- 2010: Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology
- 2012: Backbeats Artists Series: Syl Johnson: Mississippi Mainman
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | R&B | |||
1967 | Come On Sock It to Me Dresses Too Short |
US97 (3 weeks) US |
R&B12 (12 weeks) R&B |
|
Different Strokes Dresses Too Short |
US95 (2 weeks) US |
R&B17 (10 weeks) R&B |
||
1968 | Dresses Too Short Dresses Too Short |
- |
R&B36 (9 weeks) R&B |
|
1969 | Is It Because I'm Black Is It Because I'm Black |
US68 (6 weeks) US |
R&B11 (14 weeks) R&B |
|
1970 | Concrete Reservation Is It Because I'm Black |
- |
R&B29 (7 weeks) R&B |
|
One Way Ticket to Nowhere | - |
R&B24 (9 weeks) R&B |
||
1971 | Get ready | - |
R&B34 (5 weeks) R&B |
|
1972 | The Love You Left Behind Back For a Taste of Your Love |
- |
R&B43 (3 weeks) R&B |
|
We Did It Back For a Taste of Your Love |
US95 (3 weeks) US |
R&B23 (16 weeks) R&B |
||
1973 | Back for a Taste of Your Love Back For a Taste of Your Love |
US72 (6 weeks) US |
R&B16 (14 weeks) R&B |
|
1974 | I'm Yours Back For a Taste of Your Love |
- |
R&B68 (6 weeks) R&B |
|
Let Yourself Go Diamond In The Rough |
- |
R&B54 (8 weeks) R&B |
||
I Want to Take You Home (to See Mama) Diamond In The Rough |
- |
R&B40 (13 weeks) R&B |
||
1975 | Take Me to the River Total Explosion |
US48 (7 weeks) US |
R&B7 (18 weeks) R&B |
|
I Only Have Love Total Explosion |
- |
R&B15 (14 weeks) R&B |
||
1976 | Star Bright, Star Lite Total Explosion |
- |
R&B89 (4 weeks) R&B |
|
Bout to Make Me Leave Home Total Explosion |
- |
R&B94 (4 weeks) R&B |
||
1977 | Goodie-Goodie-Good Times | - |
R&B93 (4 weeks) R&B |
|
1982 | Ms. Fine Brown Frame | - |
R&B60 (9 weeks) R&B |
Web links
- The 'Complete Mythology' Of Syl Johnson (2011)
- Interview (2012)
- Interview (2012) in Village Voice
- Syl Johnson at Allmusic (English)
- Syl Johnson at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Johnson, Syl |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Thompson, Sylvester (real name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues, soul, and R&B musician |
DATE OF BIRTH | July 1, 1936 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Holly Springs, Mississippi |