General Johnson - Don't Walk Away

Earlier this month the great General Johnson passed away. It's been a tough year, many of our soul and funk heroes have passed on. Just a reminder I suppose that if we love our 'old school' artists we should show them, honor them and see them perform while they are still around. Just this month alone we've lost the great Gregory Isaacs, Ari Up from the Slits died at the early age of 48, and General Johnson died of Lung Cancer. It's been a bummer to hear about such great artists passing away. Everyone from the wholesome to the exploitative... from Leave It To Beaver's Barbara Billingsley to Penthouse photographer Bob Guiccione...they both passed in October as well. It's a bit much!

Out goes General Johnson as well. General Norman Johnson is probably best known for being in The Chairmen Of the Board. From the well known '(Gimme) Just A Little Time' which charted quite well, to the soul anthem of 'Gone Fishin'' the Chairmen 'brought it' to the soul fans. '(Gimme) Just a little more time' is classic soul by the chairmen, and additionally the General penned 'Want Ads', and 'One Monkey Don't Stop The Show' for Honeycone.

He started out in 1961 performing and writing with The Showmen, known best for 'It Will Stand' on Minit Records. Then with the Chairmen Of The Board cut several records for Invictus. One of which was recorded in a very heavy Funkadelic fashion with Bernie Worrell and Eddie Hazel called 'Skin I'm In'. Mr. Johnson has an impressive catalog and recorded just about every style of soul music possible from 1961 to his death this month. An incredible artist with so many contributions to soul music.
This tune in particular is a classic nice little stepper from his self titled solo LP released in 1976. This is excellent soul music. One of my absolute favorite soul tunes EVER.

I guess why I'm personally affected by these deaths is that I'm heavily entrenched in the eras of the past. It would feel different if we had staples of artists today that were making waves like the ones before. Just a lot happened that was important and vital in musics history. Like, how many pop bands these days perform with any instruments? Probably very few. Certainly fewer compared to those of the 60's, 70's, and even the 80's. And, the same goes for talent. General Johnson had an immense amount of talent and skill. I hope you enjoy this sophisticated soul number done by the man who now chairs the soul council in the sky!




General Johnson - Don't Walk Away

The Metros - Since I Found My Baby

It's funny, the first thing that came to mind for me when I posted "Since I Lost My Baby' by The Temptations was this tune. While the Tempts are hugely well known, the opposite can be said for The Metros. Although they were lesser known, the influence of the budding Motown sound is clear. From the sharp arsenal of instruments and the full production, you can tell Motor city had it's affect on The Metros.

This tune from their 1967 RCA LP "Sweetest One" is a marvel of a tune and a smokin' hot soul dancer. I've been wanting to retread or back step into my DJ material from my years as a mod. No tune better exemplifies the sound that I was into at that time. It's an essential northern soul tune. I like to call it secret agent soul. It's slick, smooth, polished and ever so deadly. Reminds me of the crisp 'big boy' sound system at 330 Ritch Street back when Kitty, Kirk Harper and I (and frequent guests) would DJ the soul nite called 'In and Out' once a month. Things like this tune always sounded so incredible on that huge sound system. Although, I was mostly known for playing funkier and more southern type stuff, I had my moments of glazing the soul donuts too. I was just as happy to button the fourth button and break out the talcum power when it came to numbers like this. It was a great period for me, expanding my interests in 60's and 70's club soul, be it funky or northern, pop or underground.

The Metros were Percy Williams, James Buckman, Robert Suttles, and Arthur Mitchell. All incredibly talented vocalists. Produced by Jack Ashford (Hotel Sheet) and Joe Hunter, also known as the Pied Piper production team. This song also features a young guitarist known as Dave Hamilton. Sadly this was their only full length LP, and only book cased it with a few 45 releases. They formed in 1966 and quickly separated late the next year.
Too Bad, The Metros had such great potential. 

That's two 'Since I ____ My Baby' tunes in one week! But, I'll spare you all from my horrific 'blanked my baby' jokes. Just glad that now, what was once lost, is now found. Cheers.

GO METROS!


The Metros - Since I Found My Baby

The Temptations - Since I Lost My Baby

Speaking of slow burners, here's one from the emperors of sweet soul. I haven't listened to this for a great length of time. Probably since my mod days back when we constantly played The Actions' version. I had been thinking about Motown lately as I had just watched the Tammi Terrell special on 'Unsung'. The Tammi Terrell story is simply an incredible one, and you should do whatever you can to see it.

Just today I came across this LP, 'Temptin'' by The Temptations at a thrift store. It has all the classic elements of Motown production..  clean and crisp piano, elegant strings, drums that crackle like a great northern soul storm, and topped with a silvery coating of vocals. It's a great underplayed song. Just a genius, sincere and heartfelt tune about bitter loss.

I actually give The Action a lot of credit for doing a fine cover of this song. They had the chance to do it over, giving it strength in new parts of the song. But, the Tempts are still kings in my book and no one can hold a flame to the arsenal of beautiful music they put out. This being just another fine example of what they and the Motown squad had to offer in 1965.


The Temptations - Since I Lost My Baby

Dynasty - Adventures In The Land Of Music

Absolute classic 80's mid tempo stomper here. A tune I have a serious love affair with. I have to admit, the first time I heard it was thanks to the folks in Camp Lo. They were up on sampling 80's stuff way before most. Fortunately this LP was in every dollar bin across the entire bay area. I think I pick it up every time I see it. Probably have ten of 'em at this point. This song just makes you want to move slow and throw your hands in the air. So slow it's almost like moving through water. The string and horn arrangements are among the most powerful I've ever heard. This tune carries an amazing presence that even when played out, regardless of its drippingly slow tempo still gets heads nodding and lovers and slow dancers getting to a grind. Classic stuff here. This song from the album of the same name, was just one of many offerings by Dynasty. Dynasty gave up so many tunes for the Solar label during the late 70's and far into the mid 80's. All dope shit. Solar is a label I loved way back as a kid. I used to buy the 45's right off the rack in the record store. Here now, off the SB rack for you to enjoy.


Dynasty - Adventures In The Land Of Music

Kevin Johnson - You Walked Out On Me

Here's another example of a straight up anthem of mine. It's just indie enough for me to have a strange personal love affair with it. Something so incredibly 'home-spun' about it yet funky as all hell. One song that I sing along with word for word. And, one you can always see me air-keyboarding the funky synthesizer riff to. The deep funk bass line and tight drum machine make it probably the earliest possible appearance of true g-funk sound. Not to mention the vocals sound like the blueprint for Nate Dogg's entire style. It'd be a kick, and totally make sense if this was his relative. From the beginning slow backwards slap of the snare right into heavy funk, it's a serious bomb track. Part of it's appeal is Kevin's total lack of excitement. His lackadaisical approach sets the tone for this ridin' anthem. He's slow and steady and it's a 'ha-ha I told you so...good ridance' kind of vengeful break up song. He simply asks... after you leave, close the door. But, the little bit of melodic scatting he does at the end is priceless. Quality modern soul funk 45 by Kevin Johnson who perhaps never got to record any more. A song that makes you wanna bump it driving in your car, in the summer, with the windows down.
I struggled with this one quite a bit. It wasn't cheap. But, it just was one of those that wasn't turning up for me EVER. So, I had to take the plunge. Couldn't wait to have it any longer. More hard earned dollars going straight to Mr. Craig Moerer. But, I simply just had to have this. Now, you can benefit from my purchasing power with this limited mp3. Wow, I'm watching too much late night TV while writing these posts.



Kevin Johnson - You Walked Out On Me

Frieda Nichols - Sweet Peter

How's about a fat juicy slice of sister funk? Straight up, no holds, knuckle up, dragged down to the bone, hassle free heavy funk from mama Frieda Nichols. Bold and Sassy funk with guitar sounds sliding up and down the neck and tickles from the Hammond. On The H & S record label out of L.A., but definitely of New Orleans inspiration. It has that flat footed drum stomp, tight snare and nice fitting tambourine. I can even can go far as to say it sounds as though could have been produced by Edwin Bocage. Love tunes like this, that at times sound as though they are played at the wrong speed. Or, perhaps she had a few hits of helium before the recording?

Not much info on this one, although it is from 1977 and credited as Frieda and Homer Brown and his group. Don't know diddly squat about Ms. Nichols or Mr. Brown. If you do, please let me know. Did I mention I love the comments section? Especially if you've got info to share.

Mind you, Sweet Peter is no carbon copy! Did she say 'photo-static'?? Holy crap!


Frieda Nichols - Sweet Peter

Tatsuro Yamashita - Solid Slider

The lovely DJ Mama Bear played a little Tatsu' last time I went a' Sweaterfunking. She bumped "Dancer" from his lovely 1977 LP called 'Spacy' on RCA. I was reminded just how sweet and mellow Japanese Boogie can be. This tune however is appealing to my interests in 'soft rock' funk. Half sung in English and Japanese it's feeding my developing ears into the realm of blue eyed boogie. It's turning out that many Japanese artists were right in pocket with the 'soul easy rock' bag. In fact they often capture the mood better than their 'blue-eyed' contemporaries.

Tatsuro Yamashita has a large catalog of great soul music. Still pumping out music to this day, and over 20 LP's released from 1972. Originally in the Sugar Babe Group, he then went and recorded a long list of solo LP's. His 80's stuff is great. Probably the best, most well rounded of the 80's Japanese Boogie artists.

This tune bears a stark resemblance to Boz Scaggs' "Low Down". Complete with similar pop bass, 'woo-ooh-ooooh--ah ooh' creepy backing vocals and overall sleazy mood. So, hats off to TY for out bow-tie-in' the bow tie funkers. And, honorary mention in the soft rock, soul funk hall of fame.


Tatsuro Yamashita - Solid Slider

Dennis Landry - Sing My Song

Something bout this tune just does my head in. One of my favorite funky 45's. Probably my preferred tune by Mr. Landry. He had one other pretty juicy 45 release, "Miss Hard to Get" b/w "M’m’M’m’ Good". That 45 may have been a year or two earlier. I faintly remember it being a reply to Mr. Big Stuff, at least of sorts. "Sing My Song" has all the treasured elements of great funky soul. Great Backings vocals, Smart Horns, subtle strings, and equipped and empowered by early synth soundings keyboards. Pure Genius. Starting off in New York City and finally givin' shouts to the 'Frisco Bay' Dennis was spreading his 'song' like a new dance craze. The flip instrumental version "Concentration" is equally banging. Just straight instrumental madness. Whatever that keyboard lick is..I just can't seem to get enough. Pressed in 1974 on Soul Unlimited records, it's one of those soul recipes that has all the tasty ingredients.




Dennis Landry - Sing My Song