Search - Syl Johnson :: Twilight & Twinight: Masters Collection

Sly Johnson's Review of Avid Oldies Collector Article

Syl Johnson | The World | 01/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My name is Syl Johnson, I am the Entertainer, Producer and Author of the song "Come On, Sock It To Me" and I am The Producer and Performer of "Different Strokes". After reading your article I must tell you I am very hurt and very pissed that you have this so untrue story about me. The most important thing in this article however is the statement that I hooked up with Peter H. Wright. Well that is so untrue! I and Howard Bedno became Partners at that time, Peter H. Wright was no where in the picture. Furthermore I was not born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Marshall County. These are just a few of untrue statements in this article. I suggest to you for the future when you write an article about me you should contact me direct.

Cordially, Syl Johnson

"

A Largely Unheralded Master Of Soul

COMPUTERJAZZMAN | 08/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sylvester Thompson was born on July 1, 1936 in Holly Springs, Mississippi and, with brothers Jimmy and Mac, turned to music at a young age. He and Jimmy would use the surname Johnson as guitarists and vocalists {Syl also plays a mean harmonica], while Mac would pursue his goals as a bassist and vocalist under his own name, most notably with Magic Sam.



At the start in the 1950s, Syl, who also worked briefly with Magic Sam, performed as well with Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Jimmy Reed, before cutting his first solo sides with the Federal label in 1959. These included Teardrops b/w They Who Love that year, I've Got Love b/w Lonely Man in 1960, I've Just Got To Find My Baby b/w I Just Gotta Make Her Mine in 1961 and, in 1962, Little Sally Walker b/w I Resign From Your Love, I Wanna Know b/w Well Oh Well, and Please Please Please b/w I'm Looking For My Baby.



None charted, but in the meantime he had also been touring with the great Howlin' Wolf before trying his luck with the TMP-Ting label for which he cut I've Got To Get Over b/w Falling In Love Again in 1965. In 1966 he then turned up with Zachron where Straight Love, No Chaser, and Surrounded all failed, and in 1967 with Special Agent where his luck was no better with Do You Know What Love Is? b/w The Love I Found In You.



But he persevered and finally, in August 1967, after hooking up with Peter H. Wright's Chicago-based Twilight label, he had a # 12 R&B/# 97 Billboard Pop Hot 100 with Come On Sock It To Me b/w Try Me [a year later his back-up group, The Deacons, would have a # 24 R&B instrumental hit with the same song under the title Sock It To Me (Part 1) for the Shama label].



Later that fall Syl was back on the charts with Different Strokes which, b/w Sorry 'Bout Dat, reached # 17 R&B/# 95 Hot 100, followed by three straight failures - Ode To Soul Man b/w I'll Take Those Skinny Legs, Send Me Some Loving b/w I'll Resign, and I Feel An Urge b/w a different version of Try Me.



By now the label had changed subtly from Twilight to Twinight since, it turns out, the Hush Record company out in California owned the rights to the first choice. In December 1968, Dresses Too Short peaked at # 36 R&B b/w I Can Take Care Of Business, but failed to crack the Pop Hot 100. Another full year, and two more failed releases [I Can Take Care Of Homework b/w Take Me Back and Don't Give It Away b/w Going To The Shack] would then pass before Is It Because I'm Black? topped out at # 11 R&B/# 68 Hot 100 b/w Let Them Hang High.



Then, in the spring of 1970, under the billing Syl Johnson & The Pieces Of Peace, Concrete Reservation went to # 29 R&B b/w Together Forever, but failed to make the pop lists, and in July One Way Ticket To Nowhere hit # 24 R&B but only # 125 on the Hot 100 "bubble under" charts b/w Kiss By Kiss. Approximately one year later he would have his final Twinight hit when Get Ready made it to # 34 R&B b/w Same Kind Of Thing - again missing the pop charts.



In 1972 Syl joined Willie Mitchell's Hi Records and with that label would have 10 hit singles to 1976, the best being Take Me To The River in 1975 [covered by The Talking Heads in 1979]. With that Syl reached # 7 R&B/# 48 Hot 100 and this, along with his other Hi hits, may be found on the compilation titled Complete Syl Johnson on Hi Records. After leaving Hi he charted twice more, once with Shama in 1977 (Goodie-Goodie-Good Times - # 93 R&B) and again in 1982 with Boardwalk (Ms. Fine Brown Frame - # 60 R&B). In 2002 he would re-emerge with brother Jimmy on a collection titled Two Johnsons Are Better Than One.



This Collectables effort, however, which has excellent sound reproduction and liner notes, concentrates solely on the Twilight/Twinight cuts of this largely unheralded Master of Soul. Unfortunately, in typical fashion for them they also chose to omit the last two Twinight hit B-sides."